Poker sites compete to recruit 2009 WSOP Main event finalists

  • 8-28-2009
Unlike the 2008 WSOP Main Event, in where the online poker site PokerStars.com dominated the field with  six sponsored players at the final table, this year most poker sites had to compete against each other to have their brands exposed at the final table.

Since the WSOP implemented a new rule this year prohibiting more than three players wearing apparel with logos, patches or promotional language from the same entity at the Main Event's final table, the two largest online poker sites in the world, PokerStars.com and Full Tilt Poker have already completed their selection of representatives for this year’s final table.

21 year old Joe Cada, the youngest player at the final table, has recently signed with PokerStars as its third representative in November. Cada, who currently holds the fifth largest chip stack, will join PokerStars pros Eric Buchman, second in chips, and Kevin Schaffel, sixth in chips, as PokerStars representatives at the final table.

Full Tilt Poker already picked its three November Nine representatives. Full Tilt's squad is headed by Team Full Tilt member Phil Ivey and comprises recently signed pros Steven Begleiter and James Akenead.

November Nine finalist Jeff Shulman, who is fourth in chips, is the CEO of SpadeClub, the subscription-based online poker site powered by Card Player Magazine. Finally, French player Antoine Saout, recently signed a contract with the WSOP official on felt sponsor, Everest Poker.

That leaves chip Maryland native and Final Table chip leader Darvin Moon, who supposedly declined at least two major endorsements, as the only player at the final table who doesn't have a sponsoring deal with an online poker or gaming site.

"I'm not interested. If you sign, then they want you to represent them for the next year. I'm my own person. I'm not interested in anybody telling me what I gotta do and when I gotta do it. Money don't mean nothing. Freedom is everything." he says.

The 2009 World Series of Poker final table will resume play at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on November 7, 2009 and will continue day-to-day until the final Heads up is set. The last two players will resume play Tuesday, November 10. ESPN is expected to provide same day coverage of the winning hand and the awarding of the champion’s bracelet.

Full Tilt Poker

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