Well into Friday eve, the ESPN production crew is testing small-scale pieces of their tech set-up, and the Rio is readying itself for a big crowd …

twitpics: @JoyKendra

World Series bossman Jeffrey Pollack scoping out the scene during setup at the WSOPenn-and-Teller Theater:

The first of a series of Inside Deal shows this weekend, along with daily episodes of the Poker Edge podcast.

The day before the November Nine return to conclude the World Series of Poker Main Event comes word from Matt Savage on the passing of poker veteran Hans “Tuna” Lund earlier this morning of cancer at the age of 59. Winner of two WSOP bracelets, along with two appearances at the WSOP Main Event final table (2nd in 1990 and 3rd in 1992). The 1990 final table featured a heads-up duel with Mansour Matloubi, culminating in one of the more dramatic hands in WSOP history (apologies in advance for the tacky promotion running along the bottom of the screen):

CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell has been very busy today reporting from the Penn & Teller Theatre at the Rio as ESPN and the WSOP staff are busy preparing the final table to resume Saturday at 12 noon Pacific time.

Rovell has done brief interviews with WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack, chip leader Darvin Moon, and former Bear Sterns executive Steve Begleiter. The Pollack interview appears below, with the other two interviews after the jump:

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Some astute Pokerati commenters have broken down the November Nine prizepool bump (note to self: actually read WSOP media guide; people worked hard on that) … and man, the economy the economy … Thanks to KevMath, Mean Gene, and Fifth Street Journal for showing us how such an infinitesimal little slice of the WSOP can reveal so much more.

Read their tri-alogue for relevant microeconomic calculations, and even some suggestions on how Harrah’s might want to gamble with these funds in the future.

In a nutshell, last year $25 million held in the Nov-9 interim accrued $98k in interest. This year remaining payouts total $16 million; but the extra money that brings to the party — thanks to a drastic drop in short-term T-bill rates — is only $1,321.

ALT HED: Lack of Interest in the November Nine?

via the PPA …

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL) have submitted their petition asking Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to ignore requests seeking to delay enforcement of the UIGEA.

[DC] Bachus Kyl Letter (11/03/09)

Another example suggesting that change is afoot unless Barney Frank & Friends can save American-friendly online poker sites in 25 days or fewer when you count Thanksgiving:

Click above to see the full letter, and click below for my Google translation from corporate bank-speak to poker English:

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The long wait is almost over as the November Nine take their place at the final table Saturday afternoon. The following look at stack sizes, seat position, blind levels, M, etc. is part of a much larger post I made over at 2+2 regarding the final table, the information taken from the WSOP November Nine Media Guide:

Final Table Details

1 – Darvin Moon 58,930,000
2 – James Akenhead 6,800,000
3 – Phil Ivey 9,765,000
4 – Kevin Schaffel 12,390,000
5 – Steven Begleiter 29,885,000
6 – Eric Buchman 34,800,000
7 – Joseph Cada 13,215,000
8 – Antoine Saout 9,500,000
9 – Jeff Shulman 19,580,000

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From GSN’s press release:

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Here’s the ESPN E:60 segment in case you missed it. His first job: flipping burgers at McDonald’s. Parents briefly felt like failures when his life turned all-casino. He’s been technically homeless, sleeping under a bridge in Atlantic City. Built his bankroll by taking his last $50k and turning it into 2 Months $2 million. And eventually, he was the MVP helping “The Corporation” felt Andy Beal for 8-figures +.

Great stuff from a non-pokery ESPN reporter who gets to find out firsthand what it’s like being the craps cooler Ivey believes cost him more than $240k.

Saw this truck parked downtown (next to Binion’s) this weekend. And not only did it finally teach me the proper/awkward way to spell and punctuate “Jack Link’s” Beef Jerky … but also it made me laugh seeing that the title sponsor of the 2009 WSOP is also a major sponsor of Snack Man!

(Seriously, how have JLBJ not chosen Darvin Moon to be “their guy” at the final table?)

Thanks to Nolan Dalla, here’s a copy of the November Nine Media Guide.

It’s 26 pages filled with information, including bios of the final 9, how they’ll be seated, and how much additional interest was earned from holding more than $15,000,000 in an account at Goldman Sachs (hint: not much). Also included is information on the Poker Hall of Fame, a promotion with title sponsor Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, and other stuff about this year’s WSOP.

From the current issue of Bluff Europe:

We never thought we’d say this, but Barry [Shulman], we salute you! Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to go and throw up.

For those who missed it:

A review from Wicked Chops:

If Anderson was straight, and if Anderson awarded a “winner” to these types of segments, Maria clearly would’ve “won” the segment by being the hottest in the group BY FAR. Anderson would be like, “Thanks panel for all of your interesting points. You are all successful woman who should be role models to the young girls of America. Maria, I will award you winner of this segment for being the best looking while making your valid and intelligent points.”