On Tuesday morning Dean Hamrick was eliminated and the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event was put on pause. The first place prize of $9.1 million and the title of World Champion are both going to have to wait until November 9th and the return of the nine finalists to the Rio in Las Vegas to be claimed.

The ‘November Nine’ is a diverse group made up of a Russian, a Dane, two Canadians and five Americans. There’s also a chess player, a salesmen, and a college student as well the usual collection of professional poker players. It is salesman Dennis Phillips who will carry the chip lead over 117 days until play resumes. Phillips, who plays at his local casino a few times a week, ended with 26,295,000, putting him 1,895,000 ahead of Russia’s Ivan Demidov.

Here are the official chip counts and seating assignments for the 2008 November Nine:
Seat 1: Dennis Phillips - 26,295,000
Seat 2: Craig Marquis - 10,210,000
Seat 3: Ylon Schwartz - 12,525,000
Seat 4: Scott Montgomery - 19,690,000
Seat 5: Darus Suharto - 12,520,000
Seat 6: Chino Rheem - 10,230,000
Seat 7: Ivan Demidov - 24,400,000
Seat 8: Kelly Kim - 2,620,000
Seat 9: Peter Eastgate - 18,375,000

Craig Marquis opened for 525,000 and Schwartz, the chess player from Brooklyn, NY, re-raised to 1,625,000. After some debate Marquis put in the third bet to 4,500,000 causing Schwartz to move all-in. Following some time in the tank Marquis folded allowing Schwartz to show pocket Aces.
Marquis then found himself on the ropes in the 19th hand when he got involved in another big pot. After Hamrick raised to 750,000, Marquis re-raised to 2,100,000 and Hamrick shoved for 3,339,000 more. Once again Marquis went into the tank before calling; he showed As Qh while Hamrick showed pocket queens. Hamrick dodged the aces on flop, but the board went runner-runner flush for Marquis.
Two hours later those two got involved in another pot which this time lead to the elimination of Hamrick and thus the birth of the ‘November Nine’. Hamrick moved all-in for his last 3,420,000, Marquis then moved all-in over the top to isolate. Hamrick showed As Jc while Marquis held pocket queens. This time the queens held up and it was all over for Hamrick.

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