Tonight, tonight, they'll be good poker tonight, tonight ESPN will show the final table! Tonight, tonight, we'll see the winner tonight, at least those of us who have cable!
Yes, I'm pretty excited for ESPN's airing of the final table of the No-Limit Texas Hold'em Main Event at the World Series of Poker tonight, so excited I am making up lyrics to the tune of West Side Story songs. The action gets underway at 8 PM EST, and we'll be treated to the 9 players playing for the biggest prize not only in poker history, but in any sporting event, ever: $7.5 million dollars. So who's going to be at the poker party? Here's the lineup at the final table of the 2005 WSOP Main Event.- In Seat 1 Joseph Hachem, 39, a pro from Australia -- you'll recognize him by his mates cheering "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!" every time he takes down a pot. Or by these pictures of Hachem.
- In Seat 2 Andrew Black, 39, an Irish man known as "The Monk," who credits Buddhism for his improved poker play. Other trivia: Black has a law degree from Trinity College in Dublin, and he finished 14th at the WSOP in 1997. 2005 marked his fifth year in the WSOP.
- In Seat 3 John Derick "Tex" Barch, 34, is a Texan who has a business degree from the University of Montana. He has a wife, two kids, and owns a beer garden. So life was pretty good for this poker veteran before making the final table.
- In Seat 4 Daniel Bergsdorf, 27, hails from Umea, Sweden, where he was a truck driver, at least he was before doing so well at his 1st WSOP. He goes by "Berka" and is single.
- In Seat 5 Mike Matusow, 37, is a pro who's had quite a good year after getting out of jail. Read more about him in this profile.
- In Seat 6 Aaron Kanter, 27, starts at the final table as the chip leader. "AK" qualified for the WSOP through winning a series of satellite tournaments at Party Poker -- and it only cost him $50.
- In Seat 7 Brad Kondraki, 24, is a single law student at U Penn, so he was looking pretty good to the ladies even before becoming one of poker's newest millionaires. A newcomer to the WSOP, he's only been playing poker for 2 years.
- In Seat 8 Steve Dannenmann, 38, is a CPA and mortgage banker from Maryland, who's married with one kid.
- In Seat 9 Scott Lazar, 42, is a production assistant for independent films, originally from NY. Lazar is, like Antonio Esfandiari, also known for his skills as a magician and goes by the nickname "Magic." This is his 4th WSOP.
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