We're just 48 hours away from the resumption of the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event. Monday's play begins with nine contestants at 7:45pm ET and will air on ESPN2, ESPN3.com, and WSOP.com on a 15-minute delay. Play continues on Monday until three people remain. Then, the final three will battle it out at 8:45pm ET on Tuesday and continue until a winner is crowned. Tuesday's action will air on ESPN, ESPN3.com, and WSOP.com on a 15-minute delay.You can bet on the Main Event at several places around Las Vegas. According to odds released by Caesars Entertainment, Jesse Sylvia (pictured), who hails from Massachusetts and holds down the chip lead at 43.8 million, was fetching 3:2 odds to win when betting opened in Las Vegas. If you want to wager on Sylvia or any member of the Octo-Nine, betting closes at 7:30pm ET on Monday, or 4:30pm PT in Las Vegas.
Hungary poker player Andras Koroknai holds down the second largest chip stack in the Main Event entering the 2012 WSOP October Nine at 29.3 million. Accordingly, he's a 3:1 favorite to win poker's most prestigious tournament and bank the $8.5 million top prize. Coming in behind Koroknai on the Main Event leaderboard is Greg Merson, who is a 5:2 favorite to win and clocks in at 28.7 million in chips.
Connecticut's Russell Thomas is fourth on the WSOP Main Event leaderboard entering the Octo-Nine finale and is stacked with 24.8 million in chips. When betting opened, Thomas was 4:1 to win. There's a big drop-off in chips from Thomas to Steve Gee, who is fifth overall with 16.8 million. Gee is fetching 6:1 on any bet made.
Michael Esposito has virtually the same stack as Gee – 16.2 million – and consequently had the same odds – 6:1 – when betting opened. Also coming in at about the same chip stack is Rob Salaburu (pictured). The lover of "huevos rancheros" is stacked with 15.1 million in chips and is getting 7:1 odds. Salaburu hails from Texas and is one of eight Americans at the Main Event final table.The two short stacks belong to Jake Balsiger and Jeremy Ausmus, who are getting 8:1 and 11:1, respectively. Ausmus recently signed a deal to represent the U.S.-friendly site HogWild Poker and also welcomed a brand new baby into the world.
Here are the 2012 WSOP Main Event betting lines from Caesars Entertainment along with the chip stacks of each player:
Jesse Sylvia – 3/2 (43,875,000)
Andras Koroknai – 3/1 (29,375,000)
Greg Merson – 5/2 (28,725,000)
Russell Thomas – 4/1 (24,800,000)
Steve Gee – 6/1 (16,860,000)
Michael Esposito – 6/1 (16,260,000)
Rob Salaburu – 7/1 (15,155,000)
Jake Balsiger – 8/1 (13,115,000)
Jeremy Ausmus – 11/1 (9,805,000)
On Tuesday prior to three-handed play, Eric Drache and Brian "Sailor" Roberts will be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. Bobby Baldwin and Crandell Addington will give introductory speeches inside the Penn and Teller Theater area. General admission seating begins on Monday at 3:45pm local time and on Tuesday at 5:00pm local time. Read more about the Poker Hall of Fame Class of 2012.
In case you're wondering about the blinds and antes, the Main Event resumes with 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 45 seconds left in Level 34, with antes of 40,000 and blinds of 150,000-300,000. Koroknai will have the button. The small blind will be in Seat 9 with Esposito and Thomas will be in the big blind in Seat 1.
We'll have continuing coverage of the Octo-Nine on Monday and Tuesday right here on PocketFives.
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