The final nine players in the World Series of Poker main event, along with their chip counts in parentheses. The finalists emerged from a field of 6,494 players and will compete Nov. 7-10 for the tournament's top prize of $8.55 million. Ninth place will win $1.26 million; higher finishers will win at least $1.3 million.

NOTE: Chips have no monetary value. One player has to win all the chips in play to take the title, and lose all his chips to be eliminated.

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1. Darvin Moon (58,930,000)

AGE: 45

HOMETOWN: Oakland, Md.

OCCUPATION: self-employed logger

PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: none

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2. Eric Buchman (34,800,000)

AGE: 29

HOMETOWN: Valley Stream, N.Y.

OCCUPATION: poker player

PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: nine cashes since 2004 for $320,893; including 114th at the main event in 2006 for $51,129

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3. Steven Begleiter (29,885,000)

AGE: 47

HOMETOWN: Chappaqua, N.Y.

OCCUPATION: private equity, former Bear Stearns Cos. executive

PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: made it to Day 3 of 2008 main event

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4. Jeff Shulman (19,580,000)

AGE: 34

HOMETOWN: Las Vegas

OCCUPATION: publisher of Card Player Magazine, poker player

PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 15 cashes since 2000 for $289,551, seventh at main event in 2000 ($146,700)

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5. Joseph Cada (13,215,000)

AGE: 21

HOMETOWN: Shelby Township, Mich.

OCCUPATION: poker player

PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: two no-limit Texas Hold 'em cashes in 2009 ($28,214)

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6. Kevin Schaffel (12,390,000)

AGE: 51

HOMETOWN: Coral Springs, Fla.

OCCUPATION: semi-retired, cash game player

PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 324th in 2008 main event ($32,166)

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7. Phil Ivey (9,765,000)

AGE: 33

HOMETOWN: Las Vegas

OCCUPATION: poker player

PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: seven gold bracelets and 35 cashes since 2000 for $3.46 million. Two wins in 2009, including a $2,500 Omaha/seven card stud high-low eight or better ($220,538) and no-limit deuce to seven draw lowball ($96,367)

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8. Antoine "Tonio" Saout (9,500,000)

AGE: 25

HOMETOWN: Saint Martin des Champs, France

OCCUPATION: poker player

PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: none

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9. James Akenhead (6,800,000)

AGE: 26

HOMETOWN: London

OCCUPATION: poker player

PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: two cashes last year, including one at the World Series of Poker Europe and a runner-up finish in a $1,500 buy-in no-limit Texas Hold 'em tournament ($520,219)

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Information from: World Series of Poker, Associated Press interviews.