With the final table of the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event quickly approaching, everyone seems to have opinions regarding the eventual outcome. And some people feel so strongly about it after having watched the coverage on ESPN and/or paid attention to the live updates as the tournament played down in July that they wouldn’t mind putting some money on it. There are several ways to do so.
Significant chip disparities, age differences, ability to handle the lights and cameras, levels of experience, and sheer desire to win are all factors that must be taken into consideration when making picks. While Phil Ivey is the fan favorite to win, it has to be remembered that he has a noteworthy chip deficit to worry about. And though Darvin Moon has a monster stack with which to start the action, his incredible run of cards may have hit a wall with the four-month break. There are many factors to consider, including the odds placed on the players’ heads, when placing a bet.
First, let’s look at those players’ chip stacks, noting that play will begin on November 7 with blinds at 120K/240K and a 30K ante:
| Seat 1: | Darvin Moon | 58,930,000 |
| Seat 2: | James Akenhead | 6,800,000 |
| Seat 3: | Phil Ivey | 9,765,000 |
| Seat 4: | Kevin Schaffel | 12,390,000 |
| Seat 5: | Steven Begleiter | 29,885,000 |
| Seat 6: | Eric Buchman | 34,800,000 |
| Seat 7: | Joe Cada | 13,215,000 |
| Seat 8: | Antoine Saout | 9,500,000 |
| Seat 9: | Jeff Shulman | 19,580,000 |
Bodog is one of the most popular sites offering odds on the 2009 WSOP final table, as there are numerous betting categories. The primary one gives the odds of each player winning the event as follows:
| Darvin Moon | 2/1 |
| James Akenhead | 15/1 |
| Phil Ivey | 7/2 |
| Kevin Schaffel | 12/1 |
| Steven Begleiter | 11/2 |
| Eric Buchman | 3/1 |
| Joe Cada | 10/1 |
| Antoine Saout | 13/1 |
| Jeff Shulman | 4/1 |
But a betting person can also wager on which player will be the first eliminated from the final table, with odds listed here:
| Darvin Moon | 33/1 |
| James Akenhead | 2/1 |
| Phil Ivey | 9/2 |
| Kevin Schaffel | 4/1 |
| Steven Begleiter | 10/1 |
| Eric Buchman | 10/1 |
| Joe Cada | 4/1 |
| Antoine Saout | 23/10 |
| Jeff Shulman | 10/1 |
One can also wager on whether the eventual winner will be a European player (Akenhead or Saout), which is listed as +800, or an American (the remainder of the players), which is at -1600. Bodog lists odds for the position in which Darvin Moon and Phil Ivey will finish, as shown here:
- Darvin Moon: Win (17/10), 2nd-3rd (10/11), 4th-5th (17/10), 6th-7th (11/2), 8th-9th (12/1)
- Phil Ivey: Win (4/1), 2nd-3rd (23/10), 4th-5th (7/4), 6th-7th (3/2), 8th-9th (3/1)
To place a bet on Bodog and be part of the excitement that will go down in Las Vegas, download Bodog now, use bonus code “POKERWORKS” to get a 110% signing bonus on deposits up to $500, and place your wagers.
Sportsbook.com also has opportunities to wager. In addition to betting on sports and other competitive events around the world, the site put odds on the WSOP final table players as well, which are listed as follows:
| Darvin Moon | +250 |
| James Akenhead | +1200 |
| Phil Ivey | +500 |
| Kevin Schaffel | +1200 |
| Steven Begleiter | +550 |
| Eric Buchman | +400 |
| Joe Cada | +1200 |
| Antoine Saout | +1500 |
| Jeff Shulman | +600 |
Players who sign up for a Sportsbook Poker account here, which also allows for betting on events like the WSOP, will receive a 100% bonus on any deposit up to $1000 by simply downloading the program through the link in this paragraph.
Another popular website offering betting odds on the WSOP Main Event is Betfair, which also sponsors the WSOP Europe each year in London. Betfair has its odds listed as follows:
| Darvin Moon | 5.4 |
| James Akenhead | 15.5 |
| Phil Ivey | 6.6 |
| Kevin Schaffel | 17 |
| Steven Begleiter | 8 |
| Eric Buchman | 5.4 |
| Joe Cada | 14 |
| Antoine Saout | 20 |
| Jeff Shulman | 7.4 |
Download Betfair here and use the bonus code “PN1500” to qualify for a 100% bonus on deposits up to $1500. When registration is complete, the betting can begin.
Note that all listings above were listed on the respective sites as of November 2. Check sites for updated odds before betting, and each site will direct bettors as to the process of doing so.