The final table for the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event is rapidly approaching, taking place October 29 – 30, 2012 and the October 9, as the competitors have been dubbed, are getting ready to play for the lion’s share of an over $62 million prize pool.

After 6,598 players sat down at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada this past July to be dealt in to the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event, 9 players are left, and those players will duke it out for the bulk of the $62 million plus in prize money on October 28th.

First place will win over $8.5 million and the title of World Poker Champion for the year. The contenders include 8 Americans and 1 Hungarian, namely the following (in order of starting position):

1. Russell Thomas of Hartford, CT with 24,800,000 in chips

2. Jacob Balsiger of Tempe, AZ with 13,115,000 in chips

3. Jeremy Ausmus of Las Vegas, NV with 9,805,000 in chips

4. Steven Gee of Sacramento, CA with 16,860,000 in chips

5. Greg Merson of Laurel, MD with 28,725,000 in chips

6. Jesse Sylvia of West Tisbury, MA with 43,875,000 in chips

7. Robert Salaburu of San Antonio, TX with 15,155,000 in chips

8. Andras Koroknai of Debrecen, Hungary with 29,375,000 in chips

9. Michael Esposito of Seaford, NY with 16,260,000 in chips

And if you’re wondering why they’re being called the October 9 this year instead of November 9 like usual, it’s simple: the final table of the 2012 WSOP Main Event was moved up one week to allow for the November 6, 2012 US Presidential election.