Here's another look at the nine players who make up this year's World Series of Poker final table, by order of ascending chip count:
9. James Akenhead (6,800,000)
- Age: 26
- Hometown: London, England
- Notable: Former train conductor. ... Finished ninth at WSOPE main event in September. ... Has 25 tournament cashes over the past two years, including a runner-up finish in a WSOP event in 2008.
- Age: 25
- Hometown: Saint Martin des Champs, France
- Notable: Former engineering student. ... Finished seventh at WSOPE main event in September. ... Won WSOP main event seat via $50 online satellite.
- Age: 33
- Hometown: Las Vegas
- Notable: Owns seven WSOP bracelets, including two victories in 2009 World Series. ... Has more than $12 million in career tournament earnings. A finish of fifth or better will move him to first on the all-time list. ... Widely considered poker's best player.
6. Kevin Schaffel (12,390,000)
- Age: 51
- Hometown: Coral Springs, Fla.
- Notable: Oldest member of the November Nine. ... Finished 324th in the 2008 WSOP main event, winning $32,000, and also was 42nd in 2004 main event for $60,000. ... He's a scratch golfer.
- Age: 21
- Hometown: Shelby Township, Mich.
- Notable: Can break Peter Eastgate's record of youngest main event champion by 340 days. ... Had two other cashes at 2009 WSOP. ... Has more than $500,000 in career tournament winnings online.
- Age: 34
- Hometown: Seattle
- Notable: Finished seventh in 2000 WSOP main event, which was won by Chris Ferguson. ... Father Barry won the WSOPE main event in September. ... Receiving coaching from 11-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth.
- Age: 47
- Hometown: Chappaqua, New York
- poker pro Eric Buchman is the pick of ESPN's Lon McEachern to win the title.
- Notable: Worked for 24 years on Wall Street with Bear Stearns & Co. ... Won his WSOP main event seat out of a 22-player home game.
- Age: 29
- Hometown: Valley Stream, N.Y.
- Notable: Nine cashes WSOP since 2004 for $320,893, including 114th at the main event in 2006 for $51,129. ... Best WSOP finish is second in 2006 limit hold'em event.
- Age: 45
- Hometown: Oakland, Md.
- Notable: Self-employed logger who won his seat via a live satellite in Wheeling, W.Va. ... Doesn't own a computer, credit card or cell phone. ... Never put all of his chips at risk en route to the final table.
