The 2015 WSOP Main Event is comprised of little-known pros and recreational players who battled their way through the 6,420-player starting field. And the only hope for a marquee pro to land among the 2015 November Nine died when Daniel Negreanu busted out in 11th place. However, this certainly isn’t to say that this year’s final-table group is insignificant. In fact, as we’ll discuss below, the 2015 November Nine could be very beneficial to U.S. online poker.
The November Nine are mostly from Key US iPoker States
From a realistic standpoint, American online poker advocates couldn’t have asked for better representation on the final table. Two of the players – Thomas Cannuli (Erma, NJ) and Josh Beckley (Marlton, NJ) – are from New Jersey, where iGaming is legal and growing. Four of the other players are from states that are definitely considering legal online poker.
The chip leader, Joseph McKeehen, hails from Pennsylvania, which is probably the closest state to regulating online gaming. Patrick Chan is from New York, a state that’s quickly moved into serious iGaming discussions. Neil Blumenfield and Max Steinberg are both from California, where politicians seem on board with iPoker; it’s just the tribes, race tracks and card rooms that need to compromise.
Here’s a full look at the 2015 Main Event final table:
1. Joseph McKeehen: North Wales, Pennsylvania – 63,100,000 chips
2. Zvi Stern: Herzilya, Israel – 29,800,000
3. Neil Blumenfield: San Francisco, California – 22,000,000
4. Pierre Neuville: Knokke-Heist, Belgium – 21,075,000
5. Max Steinberg: Oakland, California – 20,200,000
6. Thomas Cannuli: Erma, New Jersey – 12,250,000
7. Josh Beckley: Marlton, New Jersey – 11,800,000
8. Patrick Chan: Brooklyn, New York – 6,225,000
9. Federico Butteroni: Rome, Italy – 6,200,000
Here’s how the November Nine can help American Online Poker
Regulation is moving rather slowly throughout the U.S., with just Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada currently offering iPoker. But much of the 2015 WSOP Main Event final table can further things along through interviews, media appearances and social media. Specifically, they can help popularize the game in their home states and make people realize just how much fame and fortune poker can offer.
For example, New Jersey doesn’t need any help legalizing the game. But Beckley and Cannuli can at least help make iPoker more attractive to New Jersey residents by doing TV and newspaper interviews. McKeehen, who currently has a massive chip lead, can boost poker popularity in Pennsylvania. Likewise for Patrick Chan (NY), Blumenfield (CA) and Steinberg (CA), all of whom are guaranteed $1 million at the least.
That said, in the nearly four-month buildup to the 2015 Main Event final table, which runs from Nov. 8-10, we can expect some positive press for online poker in some very important states.