Shamus
Tournament Director Jack Effel just shared an anecdote about how this event came to be.
"My wife, Elisha, and I were sitting around the house and talking about the World Series and wondering how could we commemorate it being the 40th annual WSOP," Effel explained. It was Elisha, he says, who came up with the idea for the $40K buy-in event.
Effel then handed the mic to our announcer for today's event, and he is currently introducing the players -- just a few more minutes and the cards will be in the air.
Shamus
We're still some way away from the start of play -- likely another 15-20 minutes at least. Most of the players have arrived, and a few are enjoying some of the complimentary Jack Link's beef jerky recently distributed to them by staff. A few others are busy finishing up their pre-final table interviews. Those that are here are each being wired with microphones for the filming.
Meanwhile, the bleachers here in the small arena located in the back right quadrant of the Amazon ballroom have already filled with spectators, with many more standing in what I suppose we're going to call the Jack Link's Beef Jerky lounge. (The area that was last year called the Milwaukee's Best Light No-Limit Lounge.)
There's a nervous excitement in the air as players, media, and fans ready for this hugely anticipated final table. Player announcements coming soon.
Shamus
The ESPN crew is currently setting up to film today's final table for broadcast later this summer. The players have yet to arrive, and their chips remain in their bags at the table, so we're likely looking at a bit of a wait before proceedings get underway. Stay tuned!
Shamus
Vitaly Lunkin - Seat 9
Russian Vitaly Lunkin has earned over $750,000 in tournament winnings since making his first small cashes in tournaments in his native Moscow earlier this decade. Lunkin has since made several final tables at other events in Europe. In the World Series of Poker, Lunkin cashed in the Main Event in 2006, earning $14,597 for his 829th place finish. Then last year Lunkin broke through and won his first WSOP bracelet, taking one of the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em tourneys (Event No. 27). In that one, Lunkin was the last one standing of the whopping 2,706 entrants, thereby earning himself a $628,417 payday.
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