Seat 9: Phil Stelzer (673,000)
Phil Stelzer is 69-years old and hails from Columbia, Missouri. As such, he is affectionately known as "Columbia" Phil. He has been playing poker since 1950 when he used to play for baseball cards. He is married with five children and twelve grandkids (he has two sets of twin grandchildren born eight days apart).
Stelzer's poker ambition is to be a WSOP Champ, much like his favorite player Stu Ungar, and he has a golden opportunity before him here today. Thanks to a fourth-place finish in Event #2 $345 NLHE, Stelzer is in contention for the "Casino Championship" title, which would qualify him for the National Championship $1 Million Freeroll next month in Las Vegas. With an early Steve Goff elimination, all Stelzer would need to do is finish in fourth place or higher. Can he do it?