Video Vault: The 2010 November Nine
When the November Nine was conceived of over two years ago, one of the major reasons was so the general public could get to know the final table participants before a champion was crowned. The World Series of Poker Main Event is one of the few tournaments that a player can make a name for himself without actually winning. To make the November Nine has become a big deal. In the few months between playing down to nine and the Final Table, we've had the chance to get to know some of the November Nine and the men behind the players.
The Grinder
The first bracelet at the 2010 World Series of Poker was awarded to a guy that could win the last one. Michael Mizrachi is without a doubt the most famous player in the November Nine Final Table. A well known name in the sport for a long time, he captured his very first WSOP Bracelet in fantastic style by winning the $50,000 Poker Players Championship. Kristy Arnett chatted with the winner from Event #1 of the 2010 World Series of Poker. Will he be winner of Event #57?
The Court Jester
Every November Nine has the player that is the ��go to�� guy for a good time. The 2010 WSOP Final Table has Filippo Candio. First of all the Italian doesn��t stop talking and secondly anyone who has seen him play (7?5? anyone?) knows he get his kicks from living on the edge. At the Full Poker Merit Cyprus Classic right after making the November Nine, I got Filippo to embrace his cheeky side.
The Breakout Star
For people in the know, John Racener has been a name to watch and beware of. However, it was not until he made the final table that everyone sat up and took notice of the lanky kid from Florida. Aside from the regular press coverage that comes with the WSOP Main Event Final Table, Racener is also starring in a reality show based on his life in the surreal poker world. I chatted with Racener after a brutal fifth place finish in the pot-limit Omaha event at the World Series of Poker Europe. No matter where he finishes on Saturday, we have only seen the first of John Racener.
The Chip Leader
There was Dennis Phillips, then there was Darvin Moon, both of them good ole boys from the heartland of America who managed to come out of nowhere to start their respective final tables on top. Yet, neither captured the title. Jonathan Duhamel has the chips and that's where the comparison ends. He was Master and Commander when play was ten-handed this summer, so there's no reason to think the fiery Canadian won��t go out without a fight. Could he be the first Final Table chipleader to win since Jamie Gold?
The Everyman
The mainstream media does not appreciate the everyman at the poker tables. Just look how long it took Lindgren to get his well deserved love from the poker world. At this Final Table John Dolan is "The Everyman." He is the genuine article - the poker player that is brutal to play against but you can��t dislike no matter how many bad beats he ��dolans�� out. He lived up his break before the Final Table by traveling all over Europe in search of another flop. I saw him at three different tournaments in six weeks. Here is Dolan at EPT London before heading stateside for the inevitable.
The Rest of the Best
Let��s not forget the rest at the table, these are only the handful of players we have managed to catch up with. The morning after playing down to nine Lynn Gilmartin, Kristy Arnett and myself caught up with the 2010 November Niners to find out what was going through their heads. Let the refresher course begin.
Lynn Gilmartin with Senti, Nguyen, & Cheong
Kristy Arnett with Mizrachi, Jarvis & Duhamel
Candio, Racener & Dolan with Yours Truly
Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for all the coverage as we play down to the 2010 WSOP Main Event Champion! Let's Shuffle Up and Deal!
