Antoine Saout (pictured above) along with James Akenhead seem to like the idea of being at two WSOP final tables in the same year. (Image Courtesy CardPlayer)
What began three days ago with 334 players has now been whittled down to just 36 as Day 3 of the 2009 WSOP Europe draws to a close. Among those players still in the hunt for the $1.27 million first-place prize are a surprising number of well-known players, including a couple who have already gone deep in a WSOP Main Event this year.
Two of the 2009 WSOP November Nine - Antoine Saout and James Akenhead - are trying to accomplish what Ivan Demidov did last year by making both WSOP Main Event final tables in the same year (Demidov placed third in the 2008 WSOP Europe Main Event and then went on to place second in the 2008 WSOP Main Event). They will have no easy road toward that lofty goal though as they will have to climb over the likes of Men "The Master" Nguyen, David "Devilfish" Ulliott, Liz Lieu, Doyle Brunson, who is gunning for his 11th WSOP Bracelet, Daniel Negreanu, Barry Shulman and Yevgeniy Timoshenko, who already has a WPT Championship win under his belt this year.
All of these players, however, are chasing current chip leader and WSOP bracelet winner Matt Hawrilenko, who took the chip lead away from Steven Fung toward the end of the night. Fung dropped to second.
Play wrapped up in the early hours of the morning when 2007 WSOP Europe Main Event runner-up John Tabatabai busted out on the bubble to leave the 36 who would walk away with some cash in their pockets. The goal for play on Day 4 will be to reach the illustrious final table, but, much like the goal on Day 3 was to play down to 27, they will have to play it by ear when the end of the day draws near.
