THE FINAL NINE

It took over thirteen hours to narrow the field from twenty-seven to nine, but the final table is finally set at the World Series of Poker. Because of late hour when play ultimately ended, WSOP officials decided to give everybody a little extra rest and delay the final table until 4:00pm Friday, rather than 2:00pm time that was originally scheduled.

Unfortunately, this may result in a very late night for everyone involved, but somehow, I don’t think the players will mind too much, since they are all now millionaires.

Courtesy of Harrah’s and the World Series of Poker, here are the players vying for $7.5 million.

Aaron Kanter (10,700,000 chips) – Also known as “AK”, Kanter is a 27-year-old professional poker player from Elk Grove, California. He earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Chico State and was formerly a loan officer. Kanter is currently engaged to be married, and his fiancée is no doubt loving the looks of their future together (as are her parents). This is Kanter’s first year at the WSOP.

John Derick Barch (9,330,000 chips) – Most commonly referred to as “Tex”, the 34-year-old Barch used to be a professional poker player, but now owns a beer garden. Born in Richardson, Texas, he now lives in McKinney, Texas, with his wife and two children. He earned a business degree fro the University of Montana. This is Barch’s third year at the WSOP.

Andrew Black (8,140,000 chips) – Black is a charity worker from Dublin, Ireland, originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland. 39-years-old, Black (also known as “The Monk”), graduated with a law degree from Trinity College in Dublin. He is no stranger to success at the WSOP, as he finished 14th in the Main Event in 1997. This is his fifth year competing in the World Series.

Mike Matusow (7,410,000 chips) – “The Mouth”, 37, is a professional poker player, and a member of the Full Tilt Poker team. Born in Los Angeles, he currently resides in Las Vegas, and used to be a poker dealer. Matusow has been very successful at the WSOP, having cashed eighteen times. He also holds two WSOP bracelets; the first in 1999 in No-Limit Hold’em and the second in 2002 in Omaha Hi/Lo.

Steve Dannenmann (5,460,000 chips) – Dannenmann is a 38-year-old CPA and mortgage banker from Severn, Maryland. He was born in Brooklyn Park, Maryland and is married with one child. Keeping with the Maryland theme, Dannenmann received a bachelors degree from the University of Baltimore. This is his first WSOP.

Joseph Hachem (5,420,000 chips) – Hachem gives true meaning to the “World” Series of Poker, as he was born in Lebanon, but now lives in Australia. He has played poker for ten years and is married with four children. This is Hachem’s first WSOP.

Daniel Bergsdorf (5,270,000 chips) – the final international player at the final table, Bergsdorf, a 27-year-old truck driver, hails from Umea, Sweden. Also going by the nickname, “Berka”, he is in his first year at the WSOP.

Scott Lazar (3,370,000 chips) – Lazar is a 42-year-old production assistant for independent films and lives in Studio City, California. He is originally from Woodmere, New York and is currently single with two sons. He is also a professional magician and goes by the appropriate nickname, “Magic.” This is his fourth year at the WSOP and has cashed once (until now).

Brad Kondracki (1,180,000 chips) – the youngest competitor at the final table, Kondracki is a 24-year-old law student at the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Cornell University (safe to say this guy is smart). Kondracki was born and still resides in Kingston, Pennsylvania. This is his first World Series.