The 2010 WSOP November 9

Why I will win...

"As chip leader going into the final table, I'm the favorite to win, but that doesn't mean it's over. The real war starts on Nov. 6 and I plan on bringing everything I have to be up for the challenge and win this tournament.

I'm the youngest player but I really don't mind about that. I've played so many hours on PokerStars in the past few years and gained so much experience from online sessions. I also managed to finish in 15th place in the WSOP tournament prior to the Main Event, so for me it's two in a row. That tournament gave me a lot of extra experience to bring to the table, which made me a lot more confident about my game. I'll go into the final and play the best I can to win that coveted bracelet. Now I have to wait a couple of months before going back to war, but I'm going to prepare like never before. I'll put the hours in playing sit-n-gos and other tournaments on PokerStars. With the arrival of the latest WCOOP series, the timing's great for honing my game further.

Obviously being chip leader in the WSOP Main Event is a dream come true. I've been dreaming about the WSOP for years and in those dreams I was also winning the tournament, so it's far from over. Life is a little different since making the November Nine, but the only thing I'm thinking about is the final table. I'll do everything I have to do to get that bracelet.

I've never been that ready to go back in the ring, and now it's time. I truly believe I have everything you need to be the champion, I just need to prove it now, so let's do it!"

Why I will win...

"I'm second in chips, with double what third has, so I like the spot I'm in. I feel like my chances are really good based on my starting stack. I do have the chip leader to my left, but besides that I feel really good about where I'm sitting and how I've been playing. You have to believe you're going to win.

I'm really looking to November, I'd like to play it already; I'm kind of over sitting around waiting for it. I understand why there's the wait and there's some good to it, but four months seems like a really long time. It changes the dynamic. I'm appreciative and understand the exposure it gives us but at the same time I'd rather just play, it's not nearly as important as the tournament itself.

I went into the final day with around 20 million chips and got up to 46 million to take to the final table. I opened a decent amount but I also picked up a decent amount of hands. I really don't have any set plan for the final. I'm going to play a few tourneys here and there leading up to November. I won't be drinking the night before, but health-wise not too much has changed - I probably should do something!

I hadn't really thought about it but it would be funny to see a picture of yourself on the wall as you walk into the WSOP Tournament Room. There are a lot of very good players at this final table, but there's no one I'm really worried about. I respect everyone there. I made the final table of a $1K tournament at this years' WSOP, so I think that experience definitely can't hurt.

From travelling recently with the others, I'm a little closer to the rest of the guys now, but it doesn't change anything. I'm ready to play."

Why I will win...

"When I actually think about winning, I want second place. I'm not really afraid of coming first, but if I have the choice, I'd prefer second. I don't like the amount of exposure you get for first place. I want to say I'm reserved, but really I'm lazy, so that would bar me from being a poker ambassador. I'm not going to throw it though and will be trying my hardest.

I'm in a tough spot third in chips with the two chip leaders to my left, so I don't want to say I can win this right out of the bag. I've played a lot with these kids and I think I have their games down; plus in terms of online winnings, I have more than most of the others. Experience-wise, I think that will help, especially as I've probably made more final tables online.

Life's not changed that much since making the November Nine. I live with a couple of friends who also grind online, so I still wake up and we'll go eat and play poker, just like before.

I've been travelling a lot recently, which I wasn't been able to do before. Visiting London for the WSOPE was a bit different from my previous trip there. I travelled by bus to seven European countries in 11 days. It was terrible! We were on the bus for most of the time, so it's a lot more comfortable this time.

Everyone asks me if I want to move up the money, but it's already so much, I'm happy with what I'm getting, although I guess I would be a bit unhappy coming in ninth as we've already been paid out. I don't want to go there and get nothing on top of that. I have a lot of friends coming, so it'd be a downer to go out early."

Why I will win...

"Having made the final table of the PLO at the WSOPE, I feel like my momentum has rolled over. Everyone's congratulating me, but I came fifth and I really wanted to win. People say it means I'm saving the good luck for November, which cheers me up as I am very superstitious. Whatever routine I did after the first day of the Main Event — ordering room service, eating the same thing, walking the same route, using the same bathroom — I did for the eight days we played.

I've recorded the WSOP on TiVo so I'll be watching out for tells and what people do when they bluff. I'll be expecting them to do the opposite though, because they're going to be studying themselves and vice versa with me. It's going to be really interesting with lots of mind games.

When I return from Europe, I'll have four weeks back home before the final table to start thinking about strategy and certain situations that'll come up so I'm ready for them. I'm really happy with fourth spot in chips because every time I do well in a tournament, I'm usually in the middle of the pack going into the final.

I'm starting to get anxious and really excited. I want it to come and I want to be Champion. I want the stuff that comes after being Champion, that's going to be the fun part! I have had some crazy dreams; before I made the final table I had a vision where I'm going to win the main event.

I'm in a good spot and they're going to be afraid of me. I feel like I play the best, and I know how to put my chips in with the best of it. If I do that and I give 110%, I can't see how I'm not going to come first."

Why I will win...

"The wait for the final is a little agonizing at times. It's one of these things that you kind of just want it to happen already! That said, I'm glad I was able to have the time off, and now I'm trying to prepare as much as I can. I've hired Sorel Mizzi to be my coach. We're going to put in a lot of hours, coming up with the right game plan, so I'm the one holding the bracelet come November.

My father was diagnosed with cancer a month before the WSOP. I was ready to cancel my plans, but he pushed me toward playing. I'm so happy that things have worked out this amazingly. He's back on the golf course feeling a lot better, and I'm close to achieving every poker players' dream.

I've been preparing for this tournament since I left the Series last year. I wrote 'Why not me?' on my hand every day before playing. I also wrote 'no emotion' and 'no ego', to remind myself to stay level-headed and confident in my abilities during the ups and the downs.

Being in this position now is very surreal but at the same time I felt it was finally my time to shine.

My father was a professional golfer. Caddying for him during his year on the Champion's Tour definitely helped play a role in my being a part of this November Nine. He was playing against the world's best there and I had to do the same thing to get to where I am. The preparation that elite athletes take to get ready for a big event are the same steps I try to emulate before sitting down in a big tournament.

I really feel that I have both the ability and the work ethic that will be necessary to overcome the remaining eight players. I LOVE my seat at the table, having direct position on Mizrachi and the three chip leaders.

Being the first Canadian WSOP Champion would be absolutely amazing. It's definitely playing as an extra motivator for me. The money is a big thing, but holding my place in history means even more!"

Why I will win...

"After the main event, I returned home to Italy to spend time with my friends and family. I needed to relax, so I didn't play poker for three weeks, until the FTP Cyprus Classic, where I played the $25K High Roller. Playing against the greatest players in the world is the best way to stay focused for the final table.

During the Main Event, I played my best poker for eight days. You also need luck to reach the final table, which of course I had. To help prepare for November, I've been speaking to poker friends like Max Pescatori.

As the last European standing and the first Italian ever to reach the Final Table, I feel pressure because I'm proud of the achievements. I've been playing professionally for the last four years and in 2009 I won the Italian Championships. That experience helped me a lot during the bubble period; I waited to find good spots without any hurry and my patience paid off.

All the players are changing during the break, I know my opponents and they are all very good. I know how to handle tough players and I've got a secret weapon – when I started playing poker I watched the WSOP on television and I had the dream I'd reach the final table of the Main Event.

Every night, when I went to bed, I said to myself, 'You can do it' and I have! I've already seen this picture in my mind, but now it's true and I'm very happy and proud of that. To all the people asking if I'm going to win the WSOP 2010 on Nov. 6: You're all invited to find out! We'll play in the big arena where I feel like an ancient Roman gladiator. With humility and respect for my opponents, but without fear, I'm going to win the Main Event."

Why I will win...

"I don't know if I'm going to win, but I'm going to give it my best shot. I worked very hard to get to the final and I'm not going to give up when I get there. I'm going to put the time and effort in, playing as best as I can.

It's going to be a pretty fun table, it's crazy how young everyone is. I've been around for so long I feel like the old guy with gray hair. I don't have many chips, but I've been in worse situations and pulled out miracles; hopefully the poker gods will be on my side. I've had an amazing World Series, so I'm not going to complain. If it's not me though, I'd like to see John Racener win because he's a friend of mine.

I'll work out what I'm going to do in the final in November. I adjust all the time, so it's no big deal for me. I just want to finish higher than seventh place, because both my good friend Chino Rheem and Phil Ivey finished there. If I pass seventh, they say I'm going to win it. The plan is to sit tight until that happens. No bluffing (bluff!). It's a tough table, you've always got to give people the respect they deserve. I respect everyone's game until I see something different.

I've watched a little WSOP footage, a lot of it's of me, so I'm watching to see what I've done right and wrong. I'm sure the others are studying it, so I might mix it up. I think 'Good luck!,' because even I don't know what I'm going to do next.

There's still a long way to go, but it'll be cool if I have the two nicest bracelets in the most prestigious events in the world."

Why I will win...

"To this day, I honestly don't think it's truly sunk in yet. Sometimes at work, I take a deep breath to reflect on it. Many poker pros spend their whole career trying to accomplish this, and I was fortunate enough to do it at my first-ever WSOP event and fourth live tournament.

Each morning before I started the tournament I set myself a goal, determined by where I ended the previous night. I always played level by level, table by table. My goal was to always to chip up, trying to finish the night as chip leader of my table. As long as I finished in the top two of my table, I was happy with my performance.

I've been losing a lot of sleep lately due to the wait. I pretty much have the same pre-falling asleep dream of how the final table plays out. Of course it has me winning it! I haven't done any research on my opponents because I'm sure they will try and change their style by November.

I've played with most of the guys at the final table one time or another during this tournament. I already know how I want to play each player, I'm just hoping the cards and my chip stack will allow me to. I'm just going to play the game that got me here. I believe in my ability to assess the situation and go with my gut instinct.

I believe in karma and I have a big heart. I think this is how I'm getting rewarded. I keep asking myself, 'Why I haven't played the WSOP before, and how did I make it this far my first time out?' The only answer I can come up with is that 'It's meant to be.'"

Why I will win...

"I still don't think I've fully grasped the magnitude of this situation. After I see myself on television and hear the discussion relating to it, I'll start planning my strategy. Things are going to get very real, very quickly.

I'm fortunate to have a lot going on in my life outside of poker to keep me both sane and grounded, including playing in a band. While I want to win more than anything I've ever wanted professionally, I'm going to be just fine if it doesn't happen this year. That said, I'm pretty excited that the poker I get to work on now is centered around winning the greatest tournament on earth. It's pretty badass.

I plan to spend time with Phil Galfond and other high-stakes players discussing strategy for the final table. It'll be interesting to see how everyone adjusts after seeing themselves on TV. I suspect that a few of the guys may make big changes to their approach. I think the most important part about picking up reads will actually go down at the table. Fortunately, I think that benefits me as I'm very confident in my ability to pick up on tendencies, making the correct adjustments on the fly.

As the shortest stack, my options will be pretty limited when we start the final. If I double up once or twice, I really like my chances. I have a lot of experience with short-handed No-Limit. I would love to battle it out with a few of the best players at the table, showcasing some great poker on the world's biggest stage.

I'll definitely be bringing my A-game and putting everything I can into trying to win. It's cheesy, but it would literally be a dream come true. I think my chances are a lot better than my stack-size makes them appear."