43rd Annual World Series of Poker: Final Nine

The final nine poker players pretend to grab the tournament bracelet after securing their spots the World Series of Poker tournament early Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. At center holding the bracelet is Jack Effel, tournament director. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Elisabeth Hille of Norway rakes in a pot during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Hille is one of only two women remaining. Players were scheduled to continue until nine remained. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The final nine poker players line up after securing their spots the World Series of Poker tournament early Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Greg Merson of Laurel, Md., left, plays poker during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. At right is Gaelle Baumann of France, one of only two women remaining. Players were scheduled to continue until nine remained. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Wilfried Haerig of Germany, second from right, is seen just before he was outed from the tournament during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Players were scheduled to continue until nine remained. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jesse Sylvia of West Tisbury, Mass., plays poker during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Sylvia was one of the final nine players in the tournament and ended as the chip leader. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Greg Merson of Laurel, Md., is seen at the final table while playing poker during the World Series of Poker early Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Merson was one of the final nine players in the tournament, finishing in 3rd in chip count. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jacob Balsiger of Tempe, Ariz., plays poker during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Balsiger was one of the final nine players in the tournament. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Several of the remaining players are seen at one of the feature tables while playing poker during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Players were scheduled to continue until nine remained. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Russell Thomas plays poker during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Thomas was one of the final nine players in the tournament. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jeremy Ausmus of Las Vegas plays poker during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Ausmus was one of the final nine players in the tournament. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Steven Gee of Sacramento, Calif., plays poker during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Gee was one of the final nine players in the tournament. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Fans cheer on Norwegian player Elisabeth Hille during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Hille finished 11th. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Michael Esposito of Seaford, N.Y., plays poker during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Esposito was one of the final nine players in the tournament. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Robert Salaburu of San Antonio, Texas, plays poker during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Salaburu was one of the final nine players in the tournament. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Andras Koroknai of Hungary, right, plays poker during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Koroknai was one of the final nine players in the tournament. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Linda Drucker of Las Vegas cheers on Henderson player Scott Abrams during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Abrams finished 12th. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jacob Balsiger of Tempe, Ariz., center, plays at the final table during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Balsiger was one of the final nine players in the tournament. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Greg Merson of Laurel, Md., tosses in a chip while playing poker during the World Series of Poker early Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Merson was one of the final nine players in the tournament. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jeremy Ausmus of Las Vegas plays poker at the final table during the World Series of Poker on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Ausmus was one of the final nine players in the tournament. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Andras Koroknai of Hungary, right, plays poker during the World Series of Poker early Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Koroknai was one of the final nine players in the tournament and finished second in chip count. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Fans cheer Gaelle Baumann of France cheers after winning a hand by going all in at the World Series of Poker tournament early Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Baumann placed 10th. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Gaelle Baumann of France is seen after being eliminated from the World Series of Poker tournament early Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Baumann placed 10th. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Chip leader Jesse Sylvia of West Tisbury, Md., front, hugs Russell Thomas of Wallingford, Pa., after securing a spot in the final nine the World Series of Poker tournament early Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Both men finished in the final nine. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Andras Koroknai of Hungary, third from left, holds a Hungarian flag with other tournament players after securing his spot in the final nine at the World Series of Poker tournament early Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Poker players Russell Thomas, left, and Jacob Balsiger examine the tournament bracelet after securing a spot in the final nine the World Series of Poker tournament early Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Both men finished in the final nine. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Chip leader Jesse Sylvia of West Tisbury, Md., lines up with other players after securing a spot in the final nine the World Series of Poker tournament early Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

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The World Series of Poker continued at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Monday, July 16 until nine final players remained–eight Americans and one Hungarian.