With WSOP Main Event Final Table Looming, Players Prepare

Published on October 18, 2012 by Tom Jones

The World Series of Poker Main Event is the most lucrative poker tournament in the world each year, and the 2012 edition is no different. The main event, much like in previous years, took a hiatus for several months at the end of July when the final table was reached. This year, however, the wait is a little shorter than in the past, with players returning to Las Vegas October 28th-30th.

In past years, since the the format was changed to allow for the break, the main event resumed in November. This year that date was moved up, leaving players less time to prepare for their opponents. For some, that will serve as an advantage, while others will find the new structure a disadvantage.

Jesse Sylvia is in the best position to take home the top prize of $8.52 million. The rest of the players will be chasing the chip leader, who holds 43,875,000 in chips.

Much like the Super Bowl and other major sporting event finals, players at the final table of the WSOP main event have technology they can use to break down their opponent. Much like football coaches breaking down game film, the final table players can watch their opponents play throughout the event, and look for various tells.

Some players in recent years have latched on to professional players to help prepare. Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, and Phil Ivey have all been known to lend assistance to the final table participants. Negreanu was a final table participant himself a few years back, while Ivey and Hellmuth have previously won the main event.

In the best position to chase down the leader is Andras Koroknai, sitting in second position with 29,375,000. Greg Merson from Maryland is close behind Koroknai with 28,725,000. Connecticut's Russell Thomas is in fourth heading to the final table, with 24,800,000.

Steven Gee, Michael Esposito, Robert Salaburu, Jacob Balsiger, and Jeremy Ausmus round out the final table. None of the final five players are over 17,000,000 in chips. Ausmus is the short stack with 9,805,000.