Second woman player to ever make final table falls just short in 10th as WSOP Main Event reaches ‘Octo-Nine’

Tournament director Jack Effel, center holding the coveted World Series of Poker gold bracelet, poses with the nine players who reached the final table. They are, from left, Russell Thomas, Jacob Balsiger, Jeremy Ausmus, Steven Gee, Greg Merson, Jesse Sylvia, Robert Salaburu, Andras Koroknai and Michael Esposito. They made it after a week of playing long, grueling hours at the Rio in Las Vegas at the 43rd annual WSOP. The “Octo-Nine,” as they’re being called, will return to Las Vegas on Oct. 28 to determine a winner, who will earn nearly $9 million and a place in poker history.