A Dutchman, a Swede, and a Norwegian Walk Into a Bar...
Except this isn't a joke, as this time the bar is on the main stage of the Penn & Teller Theatre, littered with ESPN cameras broadcasting a poker game �� the biggest poker game of them all �� to millions and millions of viewers around the world as the three men play for $10 million and most coveted prize of the all �� the World Series of Poker Main Event gold bracelet.
The final day of the 2014 WSOP Main Event has arrived.
Back in July, 6,683 entrants ponied up the $10,000 entry fee for a shot at having their dreams come true of winning this magnificent event and pocketing a life-changing $10 million. Now, just three of those players remain, and it's anybody's ballgame.
On Monday evening, the 2014 November Nine was back in action with Jorryt van Hoof leading the way. It took 56 hands and several hours of play before the first elimination was had, and that was Mark Newhouse �� the ninth-place finisher for two year's running now. Newhouse was followed out the door by Bruno Politano, Dan Sindelar, Andoni Larrabe, Billy Pappas, and William Tonking before the trio of van Hoof, Martin Jacobson, and Felix Stephensen concluded play for the night.
To read a more complete version of the recap of play from nine down to three, please click here.
All told, 244 hands were played out on Monday, and when the dust settled van Hoof remained at the top of the mountain. The Dutchman bagged up a leading 89.625 million in chips, nearly 25 million more than Jacobson's 64.75 million in second place. Stephensen finished on 46.1 million, which is the short stack, but the Norwegian still has over 38 big blinds to work with. Judging by Monday's dynamic, one could expect another long day on the felt for the final group. In previous years during the November Nine era (2008-present), only 2009 took longer to go from nine players down to three.
Van Hoof, Jacobson, and Stephensen are scheduled to be back later this evening, and each are guaranteed a tad over $3.8 million. Second place will earn nearly $5.15 million, and then the top prize hits eight-figure territory with $10 million to the champion.
PokerNews will be here live when the cards get in the air at 5:30 p.m. PT from Las Vegas, Nevada, and we'll see you then!