6 PokerStars Players at WSOP MAIN EVENT Final Table

POKERSTARS MILLION DOLLAR MEN DOMINATE  THE 2008 WSOP MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE

Six PokerStars players have made it to the final table of the 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Out of a 6,844-strong starting field, each of the nine final table players are guaranteed a significant pay day when they return to Las Vegas on November 9 to conclude the Main Event.

The “PokerStars Million Dollar Men” consist of six PokerStars players who will take part in the final-table battle as they vie for the top prize:

Dennis Phillips, 53 from Missouri, USA; has been one of the chip leaders throughout the last few days of the Main Event. He is the current chip leader with 26,295,000 chips.

Ivan Demidov, 27 from Moscow, Russia; has had a phenomenal event with this year’s WSOP, his first major live tournament. He is in second position with 24,400,000 chips. If he walks away with the title, Ivan will become the first Russian to win the WSOP Main Event.

Peter Eastgate, 22 from Odense, Denmark; a fearless and unpredictable player, Peter ranks as one of the top five online pros in Denmark. He enters the final table with 18,375,000 chips.

Ylon Schwarz, 38, New York, USA; no stranger to WSOP tournaments, Ylon has had 11 cashes in WSOP events since 2005. He enters the final table with 12,525,000 chips.

Darus “Dennis_TO” Suharto, 39, Ontario, Canada; won a satellite tournament on PokerStars and progressed through two levels of online tournaments to win his seat in the WSOP.  He enters the final table with 12,520,000 chips.

David “Chino” Rheem, 28 from Californian, USA; has had five WSOP cashes in the last three years and has been among the chip leaders throughout the Main Event. He enters “The Final Nine” with 10,230,000 chips.

In the 39-year history of the WSOP, this year marks a change as play at the final table breaks until November’s conclusion. Joe Hachem, Team PokerStars Pro and 2005 WSOP Champion said, “This is how poker should be, and the lives of the PokerStars Million Dollar Men are about to change.  It’s going to be
a great ride, as we now start a 117-day countdown to the conclusion of what can only be described as an epic poker journey.  I’m looking forward to getting to know these six players better and helping PokerStars earn another WSOP championship.”

“The break in play will make for a different dynamic at the final table, build more excitement for the sport, and allow the public to better understand the personalities of the players,” said Chris Moneymaker, Team
PokerStars Pro and 2003 WSOP Champion. “The benefit to the PokerStars Million Dollar Men of being with us is that these 6 players have the support, skill and knowledge of Team PokerStars behind them, a team already featuring 3 World Series Main Event Champions. I think we have a great chance to bring the WSOP title back to PokerStars for another year.”

Over 1,000 PokerStars qualifiers competed in this year’s 39th World Series Main Event and 123 of these PokerStars players have cashed at this year’s event - winning more than $9 million between them. There is another $32.6 million up for grabs in November, and with six of the final nine playing for
PokerStars, and competing for the remaining $32.6 million in prize money, that total is set to rise.

Among Team PokerStars Pro, Daniel ‘Kid Poker’ Negreanu won his fourth WSOP bracelet in the Limit Hold’em Event, cashing $204,874. Poker legend Barry Greenstein won his third WSOP bracelet in the Seven Card Razz Event, and Italian poker pro Dario Minieri dubbed “Super Dario” recorded his first
major live poker win and took home the WSOP bracelet in the No-Limit Hold’em Six-Handed event.

Daniel Negreanu said, “I would have loved to go further in the Main Event, but regardless, it has been a very exciting WSOP - not just for me, but the rest of Team PokerStars, and for thousands of players from around the world who won their entry to the Main Event on PokerStars. As in previous years,
we’ve had an incredible series.”

In 2008 over 2000 players qualified through PokerStars satellites and tournaments to win their $10,000 buy-in to the Main Event, plus spending money and luxury hotel accommodation.

The final table will be broadcast on November 11th, from 9pm on ESPN

2008 World Series of Poker Main Event Final Table:

Finalist Name      Age            Hometown         Chip Count

Dennis Phillips 53  St Louis, Missouri    26,295,000

Ivan Demidov 27      Moscow, Russia      24,400,000

Scott Montgomery 26     Perth, Ontario, Canada    19,690,000

Peter Eastgate 22     Odense, Denmark    18,375,000

Ylon Schwartz 38   Brooklyn, New York        12,525,000

Darus Suharto 39     Toronto, Ontario, Canada      12,520,000

David Rheem 28    Los Angeles, California     10,230,000

Craig Marquis 23  Arlington, Texas       10,210,000

Kelly Kim 31  Whittier, California     2,620,000