A BBQ restaurant owner (who has been in business since 1953) and real estate investor from Salem, Alabama, Bobby Gunter has been married for 33 years and has one son. The 56-year old Gunter learned to play poker at a WPT Boot Camp and one his entry into this tournament via a mega satellite.
Gunter's enjoys playing no limit hold'em and his favorite player is Daniel Negreanu. He hopes to one day win the WSOP, but before he can do that he'll need to get through today. He is among the short stacks with 144,000.
John Holley is a 49-year old professional fisherman from Destin, Florida. He was recently divorced and has three children, ages five, seven and eleven. Holley claimed to have had a vision that he'd make the final table of this event after he did a good deed. In addition, Holley says his kids want to see him make a TV final table. Although today's final table will not be televised, a Holley victory would earn him a spot in the WSOPC Championship and a chance at that TV final table along with $1 million.
"This has been the most challenging year in my life going thru . . . the Gulf oil spill but God has told me to take it one step at a time," Holley confessed. A WSOPC final table seems like a step in the right direction. Holley's 315,000 in chips will be the fifth largest in the room.
Farid Nasserazad was born in Iran 47 years ago and now resides in Atlanta, Georgia where he works as a car dealer. He came to the U.S. in 1979 with his father and built a new life from scratch. "It has been a blessing and I love living here," Nasserazad exclaimed.
Nasserazad began playing poker in 2004 when his cousin taught him how to play. He believes in doing whatever it takes to stay focused and positive, a trait he developed as a chess champion in high school and swimming for pre-Olympic trials in 1978. Nasserazad hopes to one day become a WSOP champion, a feat he could certainly accomplish today since he is the owner of the second largest stack of 1,697,000.
Aside from poker, Nasserazad enjoys playing tennis and dabbling in photography.
Yair Alon was born in Israel and is currently a 45-year old manager living in Panama City Beach, Florida. He is the father of two children and starts today fourth in chips with 404,000.
A 48-year old IT Architect from Cumming, Georgia, Steven Marshall learned to play poker in 2007 by utilizing books, the internet and experience. He is a former college basketball coach, a Gulf War veteran, and a self-proclaimed "big Ohio State Buckeye fan."
Marshall, who won Event #5 at the Gulf Coast Poker Championship, hopes to one day make a living playing poker and may make some appearances on the L.A.P.T. since he'll soon be moving to Brazil. In fact, Marshall's wife could not be here today because she is in Brazil getting their new house in order. Marshall starts the final table as the short stack with 106,000.
Jason Cluxton is a 35-year old former U.S. Army Ranger who spent two years in Afghanistan and four years in Iraq. He is now a protective security contractor living in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cluxton didn't begin playing poker until 2008 when he dabbled online. His favorite game is 2-7 Lowball and his favorite player is none other than Dennis Phillips. Cluxton starts the final table third in chips with 589,000.
Jerry Monroe is a 43-year old and self-employeed in the real estate business. Born in Germany, he now resides in Columbus, Georgia and is married with two children, Austin and Dakota.
Monroe began playing poker in 2006 and learned through trial and error. His favorite game is hold'em and he is a fan of Daniel Negreanu. His poker ambition is to one day win a WSOP bracelet, but before that he'll have the opportunity to win his first WSOPC gold ring here today. Monroe starts the final table on the third shortest stack with 154,000.
Welcome back to the IP Casino Resort & Spa in Biloxi, Mississippi, one last time this year for the final table of the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event.
A field of 270 is left with just nine hopefuls, looking to earn the title of champion and the first-place prize of $95,253. Leading the way is Travis Lutes with 1,725,000, but we all know that entering the final table with a chip lead does not necessarily translate into a victory. Farid Nasserazad is right on Lutes' heels with 1,697,000 and will be looking to claim the crown. Here is how the final table shapes up:
Seat 1- Jerry Monroe (154,000)
Seat 2- Jason Cluxton (589,000)
Seat 3- Steven Marshall (106,000)
Seat 4- Yair Alon (404,000)
Seat 5- Farid Nasserazad (1.697,000)
Seat 6- John Holley (315,000)
Seat 7- Robert Gunter (144,000)
Seat 8- Bob Talbot (276,000)
Seat 9- Travis Lutes (1,725,000)
It should be an exciting afternoon and we are scheduled to get under way in about half an hour. PokerNews will be live from the tournament floor then. See you at the top of the hour!
