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When the November Nine left Las Vegas in mid-July the poker world assumed they wouldn’t be seeing those players at a final table until November. That’s where Russian poker pro, and charter member of the November Nine, Ivan Demidov had a difference of opinion.
In what can only be described as a historic poker feat Demidov has made the final table of the Main Event at WSOP-Europe in London. When play resumes Thursday Demidov will have 1,006,000 chips, good enough for third place. But while the Las Vegas final table lacks any big names, the London final table has more than its fair share.
Joining Demidov will be Daniel Negreanu, John Juanda, Scott Fischman and cash game specialist Bengt Sonnert. For Negreanu it will be his third WSOP final table of 2008. The man who won Event #20 ($2,000 Limit Hold’em) will sit down with 1,002,000 chips. Fischman will be making his first final table appearance since 2005 when he finished runner-up to Allen Cunningham in Event #2 ($1,500 No Limit Hold’em).
The real story though may be Juanda. One of the most respected tournament players in the world, Juanda is the chip leader with 1,349,000 thanks to a day that saw him blaze through opponents at a steady pace. Juanda has three WSOP bracelets to his credit with his last win coming in 2003.
Right behind Juanda is another Russian, Stanislav Alekhin, who will unbag 1,278,000 chips as he hopes to hold off his countryman Demidov and catch Juanda. Alekhin, along with Finnish-born Toni Hiltonen are complete mysteries as neither appear to have any live event success prior to the WSOPE Main Event.
Live updates will be available as action happens via WorldSeriesofPoker.com as the players chase down the £868,800 first place prize.
WSOP Europe Main Event Final Table Chip Counts
1. John Juanda - 1,349,000
2. Stanislav Alekhin - 1,278,000
3. Ivan Demidov - 1,006,000
4. Daniel Negreanu - 1,002,000
5. Robin Keston - 849,000
6. Scott Fischman - 732,000
7. Toni Hiltunen - 386,000
8. Bengt Sonnert - 385,000
9. Chris Elliott - 281,000
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