Dren Ukella has been playing poker “forever” and first kicked off with five card draw. A brick builder by trade, Dren was born in Germany but grew up in Kosovo until his family returned to Germany when he was 14. Married with three children, Dren’s biggest cash to date was winning €37,000 in a NLHE tournament in Belgium.

Although he has studied the game and read various poker books, he says “I know the other guys are better than me”. If he wins, he plans to take some time off and go on a two-three month vacation with his family.

Poker pro Davidi made his first impression at EPTs when he made the TV stages of EPT Barcelona last year, eventually finishing 11th for his biggest ever live win: €46,000. His reputation then shifted from ‘solid’ to ‘spectacular’ when he went on to win the $2,000 Pot Limit Hold’em event at  the World Series,  the first Belgian ever to win a coveted WSOP bracelet. He reached his 2nd WSOP final table only a week later.  Davidi perfected his poker skills during a trip to Los Angeles in 2003. He had gone to the States to learn English, but it was Texas Hold’em that he mastered. In 2006 he also took down the Euro Finals of Poker in Paris.

They don't come much more relaxed than Martin Nielsen, the former merchant banker now competing at his second major final table this summer. After earning $120k at the Bellagio in July, Martin resigned from his job of five years, figuring that there was more to life than battling the rat race in London. "I bought a ticket to Indonesia for the autumn," he said. "That's my only plan for this year.

But that plan might have to change now." He admits that he's much less experienced at poker than most of the other finalists but has been using some instinctive mathematical knowledge to make solid decisions based purely on odds. It has served him well. He's never appeared flustered and has eased to the final table with a chip-leader's stack of more than a million. "I may have found another job now," he said.

It's final table time at the PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona Open and the excitement is palpable at the Gran Casino in the Port Olympic. Of the 619 runners who entered play on Days 1a and 1b only eight remain in contention for a first prize worth €1,361,000.

Last year, roommates Mark Teltscher and Sander Lylloff played heads-up for the title and this year it's EPT San Remo champ Jason Mercier and his roomie, Canadian Sam Chartier at the final table. Can the BFFs replicate the successes of Lylloff and Teltscher a year before? Only time will tell.

The TV crew is just getting organized at the final table and we should get down to business shortly. Tune in to PokerListings.com throughout the day for comprehensive coverage of this event, including live updates, photography and an interview with the winner. Game on!

Here are the chip counts for the final nine:

1. Martin Nielsen	$1.22 million
2. Sebastian Ruthenberg	$1.2 million
3. Samuel Chartier	$879,000
4. Dren Ukella	$734,000
5. Fintan Gavin	$701,000
6. Davidi Kitai	$600,000
7. Jason Mercier	$526,000
8. Daniele Mazzia	$359,000