Event #73: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT - World Championship

The starting field of 7,221 has been whittled down to just nine players, and the 2017 World Series of Poker Main Event has reached its final table. The nine finalists in the world's biggest poker tournament are all guaranteed to earn at least $1,000,000 apiece, while they continue the battle for the $8,150,000 first-place prize on Thursday, July 20.

Two of the players taking their seats at the final table on Thursday have been there before. Former November Niners Antoine Saout and Ben Lamb both sat in the Main Event final table spotlight before, both have performed under pressure already, and both return to poker's biggest stage in three days' time. Michael Ruane, who reached the November Nine last year, just came up short, bubbling the final table in 10th place.

Scott Blumstein leads the finalists, bringing 97,250,000 to the table on Thursday, good for 27 percent of the total chips in play. Fan favorite John Hesp is second in chips, bagging 85,700,000 chips, or 24 percent of the total. Lamb will be the shortest coming in with 18,050,000, just behind of Saout's 21,750,000.

"I feel amazing, I can't believe it's real," Blumstein said afterward. "I have a great group of guys and we're going to get to work and prepare for Thursday. This is one of the biggest moments of my life. And I'm super excited."

Here is a taste of what all nine players were thinking right after the final hand was dealt.

Here's the lineup for Thursday's final table:

Day 7 of the Main Event started with 27 players remaining — three tables, each with a massive rail. There were the haves and the have-nots, with Christian Pham, Valentin Messina, and Jack Sinclair in the former category, and Jake Bazeley, Marcel Luske, and Michael Sklenicka part of the latter.

Pham started out as the chip leader with a massive stack of 31,440,000. Things didn't go his way, though, and he was eliminated before the first pay jump. Pham first lost a ton of chips in a pot against Dan Ott, then he doubled Michael Krasienko, and he eventually crashed in a hand against Benjamin Pollak. Pham got it in with top pair and a flush draw, but he wasn't as live as he might have hoped, looking at the top set of his French opponent. A blank on the river saw Pham exit in 19th place, worth the $263,532 he was already guaranteed for making Day 7.

By that time, a small legion of players had already departed. German player Robin Hegele had been the first to exit. The Day 5 chip leader got it in ahead with queens to Sinclair's ace-ten, but an ace hit the turn to end his dreams of millions. Czech player Sklenicka (ace-six to ace-nine), Bazeley (tens to ace-king), and Florian Lohnert (sixes into nines) also hit the rail around that time.

Marcel Luske, the Dutch rounder who made deep runs in 2003 (14th, $65,000) and 2004 (10th, $373,000), came close again but had to say his goodbyes in 23rd place when his ace-eight didn't improve against jacks. This time, his Day 7 run was worth $263,532.

Like Pham, Luske, and the others, David Guay, too, had to settle for a just over a quarter million dollars. Guay dropped out in 22nd place as his deuces did not hold up against ace-king. Canadian player Jonas Mackoff (ace-nine to ace-jack) and Randy Pisane (queens to ace-nine, ace on the turn) were the others to bow out before the prospective prize went up to $340,000.

Richard Gryko was the first to receive that amount when his king-queen didn't improve against the pocket tens of Saout. Krasienko (queens into kings) and Alexandre Reard (ace-queen into ace-king) had to settle for the same payout as the next two casualties.

With $450,000 now locked up, Messina made his exit. He, too, got it in behind, and he didn't catch up, either. Messina's queen-jack couldn't outrun Lamb's ace-jack, and that was it for the Frenchman. Karen Sarkisyan signed for the same payout, losing queen-eight to the pocket deuces of Sinclair.

As the 13 remaining players had guaranteed themselves over a half million dollars and had the final table in their sights, one might have expected play to tighten up a bit and the players to get a bit more serious. The contrary is what happened, though, as Scott Stewart ordered a beer and chugged it right in front of the ESPN camera, getting cheered on by his fanbase in the stands, shouting, "U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!"

While Stewart had the most vocal rail and seemed to enjoy his deep run the most, 13th place was to be the final station for him. He got it in good with ace-nine to the king-queen suited of Blumstein and even flopped an ace, but Blumstein made a flush on the river to send Stewart home.

While a part of the rail followed Stewart out the door, the atmosphere was anything but dead inside the Brasilia Room of the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. Stewart's fans' roars were replaced by those from supporters of the other players. Especially when Bryan Piccioli hit a miracle eight on the river to come back from behind against the trips of Antoine Saout, one must have been able to have heard the uproar from the other side of The Strip.

By that time, the tournament was already down to 11 players, though, as Richard Dubini had lost with queens to Blumstein's ace-deuce suited when the latter hit an ace on the flop. The last Portuguese player, Pedro Oliveira, departed in 11th place, and the two tables were merged to just one. Oliveira got it in with two pair to John Hesp's flush and did not find a full house on the river to save him.

With 10 players remaining, just one more player had to go for the final table to be set. While that took only a couple hands last year, this year, it took a bit more play to get down to the final table.

The Main Event structure made for a ton of big blinds in play when ten-handed play began, but that didn't make for a dull situation. Action was fierce, and the hands were as interesting as they could come. Chip leaders clashed, short stacks doubled, and a big confrontation eventually provided the most impactful hand.

Last year's November Niner Michael Ruane got it in with ace-king to Piccioli's pocket tens and failed to hit. Two hands later, the dream of back-to-back final tables was over for Ruane; he lost with ace-six to jacks to become the final table bubble boy.

The nine remaining players return to action on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. local time to commence the final table. When play gets under way, the clock will have 8 minutes and 30 seconds left in Level 37 (400,000/800,000 with a 100,000 ante). Play is scheduled to continue Thursday until six players remain, with Friday reserved for playing down from six to three. On Saturday, the three remaining players will play down to a winner.

Who are you rooting for? The former November Niners, now aiming to one-up their last score in the Main Event? The recreational player who's not afraid to take on the big guys? One of the solid pro's looking to make a name for themselves? Take your pick.

PokerNews will be your primary source for live updates of all the action, so be sure to check back for your minute-by-minute poker fix. Before the final table gets under way, player profiles of all finalists, quotes, interviews and more will be posted straight from the heart of the poker world — the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas!

Career Earnings and More Stats for the finalists

Feature Table Hand #186: Michael Ruane moved all in for his remaining 1,900,000 from middle position. Damian Salas shoved all in over the top, and the action folded to Antoine Saout in the big blind. He open-folded   , and the two remaining players showed their cards.

Salas tabled   , and Ruane opened   .

The flop was     and Salas was still out front. The turn was the  , and Ruane needed to hit one of the two remaining aces in the deck. The river was the  , and Ruane was eliminated in 10th place, falling just short of a second-consecutive appearance at the Main Event final table.

The nine remaining players all celebrated with their rails, as they're set to return on Thursday, July 20th for their shot at $8,150,000.

Damian Salas	25,750,000	3,900,000
Michael Ruane	0	-2,000,000

Hand #178: John Hesp raised to 1,600,000 from the hijack, and Scott Blumstein called from the cutoff. Jack Sinclair three-bet to 5,400,000 from the big blind, Hesp folded, and Blumstein called.

The flop came    . Sinclair bet 4,000,000, and Blumstein called. The turn was the  . Sinclair bet 7,500,000, and Blumstein called. The river was the  , and Sinclair bet 13,000,000. Blumstein tanked for about two minutes and finally called.

Sinclair mucked his cards, and Blumstein tabled    to scoop the massive pot.

Hand #179: Hesp raised to 1,600,000 from late position, and Benjamin Pollak three-bet to 4,000,000 on the button. Hesp called. The flop came    , and both players checked to the   on the turn. Both players checked to the   on the river. Hesp checked, Pollak bet 4,500,000, and Hesp folded.

Hand #180: Sinclair raised to 1,600,000 on the button and raked in the pot, scooping up the blinds and antes.

Scott Blumstein	96,550,000	32,600,000
John Hesp	85,300,000	-5,900,000
Benjamin Pollak	33,575,000	5,500,000
Dan Ott	28,275,000	-200,000
Damian Salas	23,550,000	-200,000
Antoine Saout	23,150,000	-300,000
Jack Sinclair	22,400,000	-28,400,000
Michael Ruane	17,700,000	-1,500,000
Bryan Piccioli	17,600,000	-200,000
Ben Lamb	16,050,000	-200,000

Hand #166: Jack Sinclair raised to 1,500,000 from early position, John Hesp called on the button, and Scott Blumstein called in the small blind. The flop came    , and action checked to Hesp, who bet 3,000,000. Both Blumstein and Sinclair mucked.

Hand #167: Sinclair raised to 1,500,000 from under the gun, and Blumstein three-bet to 4,500,000 on the button. Sinclair folded.

Hand #168: Action folded around to Sinclair, and he received a walk after unsuccessfully opening the last two hands.

Hand #169: Damian Salas raised to 1,600,000 from under the gun, and everyone folded, sending the blinds and antes to the Argentinian.

Hand #170: Hesp raised to 1,500,000 from late position, and Sinclair called on the button, as did Salas in the big blind. The flop came    , and Salas checked. Hesp bet 3,000,000, Sinclair called, and Salas folded. The turn was the  . Hesp bet 3,000,000 again, and Sinclair folded, sending the pot to the chip leader.

John Hesp	82,900,000	11,400,000
Scott Blumstein	67,150,000	500,000
Jack Sinclair	51,500,000	-7,000,000
Benjamin Pollak	29,575,000	-1,400,000
Dan Ott	27,375,000	-2,700,000
Antoine Saout	24,850,000	-1,400,000
Damian Salas	24,750,000	-400,000
Michael Ruane	21,900,000	5,000,000
Bryan Piccioli	17,300,000	-500,000
Ben Lamb	15,650,000	-4,900,000

Secondary Table Hand #190: Pedro Oliveira raised to 1,500,000 from the hijack and John Hesp called from the big blind.

They checked to the turn of a      board where Oliveira bet 2,200,000. Hesp check-raised to 5,000,000, Oliveira reraised all in for just about 15,000,000, and Hesp called.

Oliveira:   
Hesp:   

Oliveira trailed with two pair against Hesp's flopped flush, and found no help from the   river, ending his Main Event in 11th place for $675,000.

John Hesp	71,500,000	16,875,000
Pedro Oliveira	0	-16,575,000

Hand #188: Antoine Saout opened with a raise to 1,200,000 from under the gun. Action folded around and Benjamin Pollak put out a three-bet to 4,000,000 on the button. Everyone folded and Pollak was able to take down the pot.

Hand #189: Bryan Piccioli opened shoved all in from the small blind for 8,650,000. Saout thought for a bit, shrugged, then called from the big blind and the hands were tabled.

Piccioli:   
Saout:   

The flop came down     putting Piccioli in a deep hole as Saout flopped trips. The   on the turn didn't help him improve either. But the river was the   and Piccioli's rail exploded with a cry of cheers and screams as he hit a miracle two outer to make a full house.

"It's an 888 conspiracy!" Someone on Piccioli's rail yelled.

Piccioli doubled to over 17 million after being the shortest stack in the tournament just moments before. Saout's stack is still healthy despite the hit, as he sits with just over 44 big blinds.

Antoine Saout	26,650,000	-10,050,000
Bryan Piccioli	17,900,000	8,450,000

Hand #180: Benjamin Pollak raised to 1,400,000 from under the gun, Jack Sinclair three-bet to 4,000,000 from the small blind, and Pollak gave it up.

Hand #181: Sinclair raised to 1,300,000 from the button and received no action.

Hand #182: Pollak raised to about 11,000,000 from the small blind, covering Bryan Piccioli's stack in the big blind. Piccioli took a look at his cards and slid them towards the muck.

Hand #183: Sinclair raised to 1,500,000 from the hijack, Pollak three-bet to 4,100,000 from the button, and Sinclair folded.

Hand #184: Pedro Oliveira raised to 1,400,000 from the hijack and received no action.

Hand #185: Sinclair received a walk in the big blind, showing   .

Hand #186: Sinclair raised to 1,800,000 from the small blind, and Oliveira folded his big blind.

Hand #187: John Hesp raised to 1,500,000 from the cutoff, Pollak three-bet to 4,700,000 from the big blind, and Hesp folded.

Jack Sinclair	58,800,000	3,900,000
John Hesp	54,625,000	-3,195,000
Antoine Saout	36,700,000	-1,700,000
Benjamin Pollak	28,875,000	3,800,000
Pedro Oliveira	16,575,000	-1,100,000
Bryan Piccioli	9,450,000	-1,700,000

Hand #156: Scott Blumstein raised to 1.3 million in early position, and Daniel Ott reraised to 3.1 million. Action folded around to Blumstein, who called. The flop came    , and Blumstein checked to Ott, who fired out 2.1 million. Blumstein made the call, and the   hit the turn. Another check from Blumstein led to Ott firing 5.9 million. That was enough to get Blumstein to kick his hand in.

Hand #157: Action folded around to Michael Ruane in the small blind, and he completed. Damian Salas checked his option, and the flop came down    . Both players checked, and the   hit the turn. Ruane bet out 900,000, and Salas called to see the   complete the board. Ruane checked to Salas, who checked behind as well. Ruane showed   , and Salas mucked his hand.