The final nine players in the World Series of Poker main event emerged from a field of 6,494 players. They 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: The player' chip counts are in parentheses. 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. There are 194.87 million in chips in play.

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1. Darvin Moon (58,930,000)

AGE: 46

HOMETOWN: Oakland, Md.

OCCUPATION: self-employed logger

PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: none

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2. Eric Buchman (34,800,000)

AGE: 30

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: president of Card Player Media, 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: 52

HOMETOWN: Coral Springs, Fla.

OCCUPATION: semiretired, cash game player

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

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7. Phil Ivey (9,765,000)

AGE: 32

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.