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

Here’re the final 10, and their chip positions

Darvin Moon 44.3m
Eric Buchman 36.78m
Steven Begleiter 26.495m
Jeff Shulman 17.9m
Jordan Smith 15.43m
Joseph Cada 13.4m
Kevin Schaffel 13.08m
Phil Ivey 10.21m
Antoine Saout 10.2m
James Akenhead 5.1m

UPDATE: Jordan Smith is out. November Nine is set. We’ll be learning more about them in coming hours/days/weeks/months, I am sure.

In a surprising move, play ended Saturday after just three levels of play in the main event, as the field is now down to about 400 players after three levels of play, which included nearly two hours of hand-for-hand play. Chip counts are unofficial at the moment, but it appears that Frenchman Ludovic Lacay will be the chip leader with 1,608,000 chips. Tom Lutz is listed in 2nd place with 1,600,000 chips. Other notables returning tomorrow with unofficial chip counts: Jordan Morgan (1,489,000), Blair Hinkle (1,399,000), Bertrand Grospellier (1,250,000), Nichoel Peppe (880,000), Kenny Tran (850,000), Tom Schneider (790,000), Lou Diamond Phillips (755,000), Dennis Phillips (630,000), Kara Scott (580,000), Joe Hachem (570,000), Noah Boeken (515,000), Joe Sebok (412,000) and Joe Serock (400,000). The returning players resume at 12 noon tomorrow, guaranteed at least $27,469.

The bubble was reached after 13 hands during hand-for-hand play. Kia Hamadani had about 160,000 in chips when they were about 20 players for the money, unfortunately for him, he took several hits to his stack until he was all in for his 500-chip ante. His last hand was 4-3o, which was crushed by someone making a large bet on a Q-Q-6 board with 9-2o. A nine on the turn and river meant that Hamadani would finish in 649, consoled by the fact that Jack Link’s Beef Jerky gave him a free entry to the 2010 Main Event.

Notables who can sleep in tomorrow: Phil Hellmuth, Patrick Bruel, Kelly Kim, Surinder Sunar, Matt Brady, Mark Gregorich, and Jesper Hougaard.

Official chip counts will be available in the morning, so return to Pokerati to see what’s turns up next.

Tao of Pokerati at the 40th WSOP
Las Vegas, NV

Episode 11.29: Poker de la Liberté (feat. Benjo)
3:06

At the moment, there’s about 4,000 registrants already signed up, most of which are on days 1c and 1d, so don’t be surprised if you hear rumors about Monday’s day 1d being “closed” for registrations to add some entrants to days 1b and 1c. Notables who have already been eliminated today include: Jerry Yang, Freddy Deeb, Orel Hershiser, John Phan, Gabe Kaplan, Davidi Kitai and 2009 EPT Grand Final winner Pieter de Korver. The unofficial chip leader is Dragan Galac at 110,000 in chips, followed by by 2006 EPT Grand Final winner Jeff Williams at 106,000.

Other notables with chips: Jason Alexander (84,500), Eli Elezra (84,300), Tom Schneider (57,000), Phil Laak (46,000) and Jimmy Fricke (45,000). Follow the last level of play at the WSOP site here. Chip counts should be available in the early morning hours, but if you want to see who decided to pay their $10,000 today, a list of Day 1a entrants can be found here. More stuff this weekend, so come back to Pokerati often.

Watch Jeffrey Pollack Vlog on Day 1A of the 2009 WSOP Main Event on RawVegas.tv

(Follow @Pokerati here.)

Tune in live or get the podcast:

http://www.pokerroad.com/the_poker_beat/live/

I’m actually on the bench for today’s show to make room for Dennis Rodman. But if he doesn’t show, I gotta be ready to go.

God bless Ty Stewart for saving the WSOP. I mean, this guy should get Salesman of the Century Award for finding someone stupid enough to shell out millions of dollars to sponsor a stagnant product in an industry with a murky future.

Pope Benedict should make Ty a saint for providing the WSOP a secure financial future and also giving me and the rest of the derelicts in the poker media an endless amount of material to work with this year. As one of my Canadian colleagues noted, “Premium meat snacks at this year’s WSOP. The jokes, they write themselves.”

I haven’t seen a deal that bad since the Ruskies signed away Alaska in 1867 to Secretary of State William Seward for $7.2 million. If that Seward’s deal never happened, Sarah Palin would be speaking Russian.

But now we know … the official new name of the biggest annual mass pilgrimage to the desert this side of Mecca is:

the World Series of Poker Presented by Jack Link’s Beef Jerky

Mmm, tasty!

Click the link and come up with your own funny pokery sayings that can fit in with Jack’s marketing message that dried beef snacks are a better alternative (from a mom’s perspective) than chips. From our perspective, we’re just happy to be able to provide you a link to a presenting sponsor that honors hirsuteness doesn’t require age verification first. (Hi kids, welcome to poker!)

Anyhow, always interesting and presumably good for the game when a new player sits down. We’ll be sure to let you know what they bring to the table. Click below for the well-crafted official details:

JACK LINK’S® BEEF JERKY TO SERVE AS PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER®

Las Vegas & Minong, Wisc. (May 18, 2009) – There’s a famous saying in poker: “All you need is a chip and a chair.” But with today’s news, the saying may become, “All you need is a stack and some Jack.”

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is proud to announce the addition of Jack Link’s® Beef Jerky as the new presenting sponsor of the world’s longest-running, richest and most prestigious poker tournament.

The tournament will now be known as the World Series of Poker Presented by Jack Link’s Beef Jerky.
“The game of poker is all about sharing good times with great friends. Jack Link’s enthusiasts and poker fans are cut from the same cloth – they are fun-seeking, adventurous spirits,” said Jeff LeFever, director of marketing, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky. “The World Series of Poker Presented by Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is the most esteemed gaming event in the world, and poker’s untamed spirit truly embodies the Jack Link’s brand. Being part of this thrilling tournament is just one more way Jack Link’s is helping people to Feed Their Wild Side.”

Jack Link’s has agreed to a multi-year deal which begins at the 40th Annual World Series of Poker Presented by Jack Link’s Beef Jerky getting underway at the Rio® All-Suite Hotel and Casino on May 26, 2009. The WSOP sponsorship is one of the most significant event partnerships for the Jack Link’s brand.

Jack Link’s, the No. 1 brand of beef jerky and the fastest-growing meat snack manufacturer worldwide, leads the nearly $3 billion meat snack category. As the recognized category leader, Jack Link’s offers more than 100 premium meat snack products in more than 40 countries. In addition to its premium products, Jack Link’s is known for its popular Messin’ With Sasquatch advertising campaign which has achieved nearly cult-like status. The commercials feature pranksters playing sophomoric pranks on an unsuspecting Sasquatch.

“This is a great fit between two category-leading brands,” said Ty Stewart, WSOP vice president. “We’ve found a savvy and fun sports marketer who fits our culture and we welcome Jack Link’s to the WSOP family.”

Under terms of the agreement, Jack Link’s will be visible on the tournament floor, including the poker tables, the new Wild Card Café (replacing the No Limit Lounge) and signage throughout the venue. In addition, Jack Link’s is committed to advertising on World Series of Poker telecasts on ESPN. Jack Link’s products will be available for sale throughout the Rio, including the popular poker kitchen.

A WSOP-branded national promotion will also be forthcoming as part of the deal.

JACK LINK’S BEEF JERKY – Feed Your Wild Side.

Headquartered in Minong, Wis., Jack Link’s is the No. 1 U.S. meat snack brand and fastest-growing meat snack manufacturer worldwide. The Jack Link’s brand represents a heritage of quality and consumer trust. Jack Link’s products are available in retail outlets worldwide. Check out www.JackLinks.com for more information on the Jack Link’s brand.

ABOUT THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Presented by Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world awarding millions of dollars in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970. In 2008, the event attracted 58,720 entrants from 124 different countries to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and awarded over $180 million in prize money. The creation of the new delayed Main Event final table more than doubled ratings on ESPN year over year. The WSOP in December, 2008 was named the 7th most admired sports brand in North America by the Turnkey Sports Survey, trailing only the older and more established NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR and PGA Tour among sports properties. In addition, the WSOP has experienced groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent in 2007 of the World Series of Poker EuropeSM. For more information on the World Series of Poker, please visit our website at www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

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