He’s no ordinary Joe any longer. Philadelphia’s Joe McKeehen , 24, became poker’s world champion on Tuesday, leading wire to wire at the final table to capture his very first World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet and the top prize of $7,683,346 in gaming’s richest and most prestigious event. McKeehen used his chip advantage throughout, constantly putting pressure on his opponents and having a hand in their demise time and time again. He ended play in July by knocking out the noted professional Daniel Negreanu in 11th place, and then proceeded to knock out the 10th, 9th, 8th, 7th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd place finishers too, on his way to poker’s top crown. With the victory, McKeehen, despite his young age, has now won nearly $11 million playing poker for a living.

2015 WSOP Main Event Runners-Up

JOSH BECKLEY | Earnings: $4,470,896 AGE 24

PREVIOUS WSOP CASHES 4

PREVIOUS WSOP BRACELETS 0

Josh Beckley’s four previous WSOP cashes have all come this year. This fifth cash, though, obviously tops them all, and he’s guaranteed a seven-figure payday. Prior to the Main Event, the New Jersey native had $219,000 in career earnings.

NEIL BLUMENFIELD | Earnings: $3,398,298 AGE 61

PREVIOUS WSOP CASHES 2

PREVIOUS WSOP BRACELETS 0

At 61 years old, Neil Blumenfield would be the eldest player in the November Nine most years. In fact, before this year, the record for oldest player ever to make the November Nine was 57, by Steve Gee in 2012. As it happens, Blumenfield is only the second oldest player at this year’s final table, behind 72-year old Pierre Neuville.



The former high-school debate champion has two WSOP cashes on his resume, and before today his best live tournament score was just over $38,000.

MAX STEINBERG | Earnings: $2,615,361 AGE 27

PREVIOUS WSOP CASHES 11

PREVIOUS WSOP BRACELETS 1

Max Steinberg is the only player at this final table who already has a WSOP bracelet on his poker resume. He won a $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em event in 2012 . He’s also made a name for himself in the world of daily fantasy sports, and actually won his Main Event entry on Draftkings, an official WSOP sponsor.

OFER ZVI STERN | Earnings: $1,911,423 AGE 36

PREVIOUS WSOP CASHES 1

PREVIOUS WSOP BRACELETS 0

Zvi Stern hails from Israel, and is the first Israeli November Niner since Amir Lehavot in 2013. Stern has only one previous WSOP cash, a 63rd place the $1,500 Limit Hold’em Shootout in 2008

THOMAS CANNULI | Earnings: $1,426,283 AGE 23

PREVIOUS WSOP CASHES 2

PREVIOUS WSOP BRACELETS 0

Thomas Cannuli is the youngest player in the 2015 November Nine at age 23. The New Jersey native has already assured himself of the biggest live tournament score of his career. Before this event, he had only about $50,000 in career tournament earnings, and is now guaranteed a seven-figure payout.

PIERRE NEUVILLE | Earnings: $1,203,293 AGE 72

PREVIOUS WSOP CASHES 19

PREVIOUS WSOP BRACELETS 0

Pierre Neuville is the oldest remaining player at 72 years old. In fact, he’s the oldest November Niner in history, beating the previous record – Steve Gee was 57 when he made the Main Event final table in 2012 – by 15 years. He is also the first Belgian to make the November Nine since it’s inception in 2008. Neuville has a long history of success in European poker tournaments, and this is his 20th WSOP cash. He does not yet have a World Series bracelet; the closest he came was a second-place finish just last year. Winning this event would provide a capstone to Neuville’s already outstanding poker career.

FEDERICO BUTTERONI | Earnings: $1,097,056 AGE 25

PREVIOUS WSOP CASHES 2

PREVIOUS WSOP BRACELETS 0

Federico Butteroni has made a name of himself over the past few days with his emotional celebrations when winning key hands. That excitement is sure to carry over to November, as the stakes become ever higher.



The 25-year old Italian has only two previous WSOP cashes, both of which came this year. One of them was a 20th place finish in the Monster Stack event, and with his deep run in the Main, Butteroni is making quite the mark on the WSOP’s signature events.