Latest Poker News:November Niner leads WPT Legends final
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“It’s just been unbelievable,” said Schaffel, who appears to have matched Ivan Demidov’s feat of making the WSOPE main event final table while awaiting his shot at a WSOP Main Event title last year.
“I just came off one of the worst streaks of my poker career starting in January and for these two things to happen back to back it’s almost impossible to even dream of.
“I can’t wait to get in to my next tournament and see if I can make another final table.”
Fellow November Niner Steven Begleiter actually held the lead through the first two days at the Bicycle Casino in L.A., but could not hold on busting in ninth place.
Now sitting in the driver’s seat, Schaffel says he’s squarely focused on the task at hand and not November.
“Obviously this is what I’m going to be doing tomorrow and November is November,” he said. “Plus, November is such a different story because I’m [sixth in chips] and three or four people have big chip leads over me. The whole dynamic of the table is going to be different.
“Here I can - not bully people - but be a little more aggressive against the shorter stacks because they can’t knock me out in one hand like five others can do at the Main Event.”
Getting a win here at Legends will be no easy task for Schaffel, who has a final table in a k at Legends in 2007 on his resume.
Coming off a second place finish at the Borgata Winter Open main event this year, Veteran pro Todd Terry is just 10k short of Schaffel’s 2,219,000 chip stack and is feeling great about his game.
“I feel good about the decisions I’m making and the plays I’m making,” he said. “It’s really exciting. I’ve been playing WPT’s for a while now and I’ve had terrible luck in them. I’ve never even cashed in one, so to be going into the final table just about tied for the chip lead is pretty awesome.”
Right behind the two chip leaders sits Prahlad Friedman, who, in addition two deep runs at the 2006 and 2009 WSOP Main Event, is a veteran of the highest stakes cash games online.
Considering the top heavy payout structure at the Bike, Friedman said he will head into his first WPT final table focused on winning.
“I’m trying to make money, that’s my job,” he said. “So I’m not thinking I finally made a WPT final table. I’m just happy I’ve got a chance to win a million and that’s what I’m focused on.
“All the money’s in first so that’s what I’m going to be playing for.”
Mike Krescanko, who has two WSOP Stud final tables and a host of small cashes on his rap sheet, is next on the leaderboard.
Sam Stein, who made ninth at the WPT Bellagio Cup this summer, sits right behind Krescasnko.
“It’s nice to get on TV,” Stein said. “It would have been nice to go back to back on TV - people would certainly notice that - but whatever. I’m still happy. Even though I’m fifth in chips I’m definitely trying to win. It’s the only thing on my mind.”
Rounding out the final six is the venerable Toto Leonidas.
The Full Tilt pro has over million in career earnings, but joins the entire group in making their first WPT final table appearance.
“I’ve been longing to get to a final table at the WPT,” he said. “I’ve blown up in a lot of WPT tournaments before. I’ve been close a couple of times, so this feels pretty good.”
The action will get underway at 4 p.m. PT with a ,009,000 first place prize on the line.
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