November Nine Final Table Photo Blog #1

As you're (hopefully) aware the final table of the 2009 WSOP Main Event went from nine players to two yesterday in a long-winded 17-hour session.

We were there for every second of it, camera in hand, and we managed to get some good shots of the action.

Instead of making you sort through them all to find the best ones we're going to put them all in one place. Luckily for you that place is right here.

Welcome to the first installment of the 2009 WSOP Main Event final table photo blog.

Click on the thumbnails to make them big and easy to see!

The final table was held in the Penn and Teller Theater, a big space with two big balconies and plenty of orchestra level seating.

The table itself was on the stage, flanked by two giant projection screens.

The WSOP staff was very accommodating this year in terms of photo access. The whole show ran really smoothly and they had it set up in such a way that having photographers on the stage didn't pose much of a problem.

Each of the final able players was introduced separately, with short bios read by tournament director Jack Effel, and each had their own cheering section voicing their support.

It seemed like everyone there was pro-Ivey, and even if he didn't have as vocal a group of supporters as some, he did have rapper Ja Rule there to sweat him.

The whole introduction took about an hour. The first hand was dealt at 12:57 p.m.

Obviously Norman Chad and Lon McEachern were in attendance, doing their trademark ex-wife jokes and straight guy routine, respectively.

Lacey Jones also did interviews with Dennis Phillips and Peter Eastate of last year's November Nine as we got ready to play.

By the time play actually began the energy level was high, more akin to a football match than a card contest.

Darvin Moon and Joe Cada, who will be playing heads-up for the title tomorrow night, were sitting at opposite ends of the table.

Both players ended up playing pretty loose, and thanks to a cooperative deck they both ended up reaping the rewards.

Even Phil Ivey was smiling for much of the day. Although when he was busted with AK all-in preflop against Moon's AQ he wasn't smiling quite as much.

The money shot on the right shows what we understand to be millions and millions of dollars, but we're just a little skeptical about the color of that currency, so to speak.

Tomorrow we'll be back in the Penn and Teller theater for the heads-up match, taking more photos and bringing you all the action live.

For the full photo gallery from yesterday click through here.

Click through to our 2009 WSOP section for leads to live updates, news and more WSOP blog posts. Check back 10 p.m. Monday for the conclusion.