World Series of Poker Final Table 2012: Player Profiles
(Associated Press) - The final nine players in the World Series of Poker main event, as determined July 17 after an eighth session of no-limit Texas Hold ‘em at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The finalists emerged from a field of 6,598 players and were set to compete Monday and Tuesday for the tournament’s top prize of $8.53 million, plus a gold championship bracelet worth $150,000. All nine finalists were paid ninth place prizes of $754,798 in July; higher finishers win at least $971,360 and will be paid the difference from ninth-place money after they finish their run. Players are in order of their seating arrangement at the final table.1. Russell Thomas (24,800,000 in chips)
AGE: 24
HOMETOWN: Hartford, Conn.
OCCUPATION: insurance actuary
PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Three cashes for $126,796
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2. Jake Balsiger (13,115,000)
AGE: 21
HOMETOWN: Tempe, Ariz.
OCCUPATION: college student
PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: One cash for $3,531
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3. Jeremy Ausmus (9,805,000)
AGE: 33
HOMETOWN: Las Vegas
OCCUPATION: poker professional
PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 13 cashes for $114,623
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4. Steve Gee (16,860,000)
AGE: 57
HOMETOWN: Sacramento, Calif.
OCCUPATION: poker professional
PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 4 cashes for $480,822, including a gold bracelet in 2010 for winning a $1,000 buy-in no-limit Texas Hold ‘em event.
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5. Greg Merson (28,725,000)
AGE: 24
HOMETOWN: Laurel, Md.
OCCUPATION: poker professional
PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 5 cashes for $1.3 million, including a gold bracelet this year for winning a $10,000 buy-in six-handed no-limit Texas Hold ‘em event.
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6. Jesse Sylvia (43,875,000)
AGE: 24
HOMETOWN: Las Vegas
OCCUPATION: poker professional
PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: One cash for $2,954.
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7. Robert Salaburu (15,155,000)
AGE: 27
HOMETOWN: San Antonio
OCCUPATION: poker professional
PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: none.
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8. Andras Koroknai (29,375,000)
AGE: 30
HOMETOWN: Debrecen, Hungary
OCCUPATION: poker professional
PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: two cashes for $39,371.
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9. Michael Esposito (16,260,000)
AGE: 44
HOMETOWN: Seaford, N.Y.
OCCUPATION: commodities broker
PRIOR SERIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS: two cashes for $24,934.
