News / Dave Allan / 13 October 2008 / Leave a comment

The World Series of Poker Europe has finished for a second year but the poker world's attention will very shortly, if it ever indeed left, turn back to the American version with the beginning of the final table next month, writes Rob Eddy.

As you are no doubt aware, organisers of the WSOP this year took the unusual step of halting play when the final table of the Main Event was decided, with the players returning to Las Vegas dubbed the 'November Nine'.

This is meant to create the suspense ahead of the climax, generate more interest in poker and the event itself as well as more income I suppose, while the last rites of the whole tournament will be screened almost 'as live'.

Whether it pans out the way the organisers hope remains to be seen but it certainly has given the players the time to make some moves of their own to give themselves the best chance of raking in the huge pot of $9.1 million, as well as the coveted gold bracelet.

While Ivan Demidov has been continuing his good run, in particular with his third-place finish in the WSOPE Main Event, 'November Nine' chip leader Dennis Phillips, who still leads the betting on Betfair to be the last man standing, became the first player to do the expected and hire a poker coach.

He has joined forces with Roy Winston and his partner Joe McGowan, who both operate as coaches for Oracle Poker Consulting - and of course it will be money well spent if he sustains his chip lead right till the very end.

"Dennis's play so far has been extraordinary. My partner Joe McGowan and I are going to help with his preparation for the challenges he will face not only at the final table, but on the way there," Winston said.

"This is a unique experience to have weeks to prepare before play and we want Dennis to have every opportunity and will be there with him along the way."

Whether or not it will give him any advantage is probably doubtful as all the players have the opportunity to seek advice and assistance if they so desire, while they have all lost the momentum they may have been feeding off to get there in the first place.

However, he played really well at the recent European Poker Tour High Rollers event in London to finish tenth - on the final table bubble - in what has an extremely high quality field.