WSOP 2011 November Nine - Sam Holden

888 poker has but one hope left in the 42nd Annual WSOP. And his name is Sam Holden. He hails from the UK and he’s positioned at Seat #6 on a chip stack of 12,375,000. Holden is part and parcel of the famed November Nine and already he has gained international celebrity status for his scintillating poker play.

At only 22 years old, Holden ranks among a young brat-pack of poker stars at this year’s contest. He has had some terrific successes to date – like his 14th place finish at the 2010 UKIPT. While Holden’s live cash paydays are meager – at only $10,000 – he has some sensational online paydays amounting to $285,000.

Holden’s Poker Playing Smarts

Sam Holden gained tremendous experience playing at Kent University where he enjoyed both home and poker society games. Poker became his passion after he graduated and it was then that Texas Holdem NL took priority. It is evident that his playing smarts in Ireland and England have paid off.

Key Stats about Sam ‘The Man’ Holden

Sam’s online gaming name is SamDMND, and he comes from Herstmonceux, East Sussex in the United Kingdom. He is currently living in Cantebury in the UK and he finds himself in 9th place with 12,375,000 chips at Seat #6. This WSOP marks his first at the tournament.

The payday schedule for the November Nine contenders looks as such:

• 1st Place Prize payday of $8,711,956
• 2nd Place Prize payday of $5,430,928
• 3rd Place Prize payday of $4,019,635
• 4th Place Prize payday of $3,011,665
• 5th Place Prize payday of $2,268,909
• 6th Place Prize payday of $1,720,396
• 7th Place Prize payday of $1,313,851
• 8th Place Prize payday of $1,009,910
• 9th Place Prize payday of $782,115

Would Holden Settle for Anything Less than Victory?

The ever-pragmatic Holden is well aware that he’s at the bottom of the pile. And while that does significantly affect his chances at out-muscling the bigger players – like the top 3 – he does expect to play well by playing selectively. Given the option of a second-place payday he would certainly take it. He’s had loads of poker-playing inspiration from fellow poker stars in David Vamplew (EPT winner in London) and the likes of Neil Channing and the Blackbelt Poker fellows. Of the November Nine, it’s Pius Heinz that Holden is most impressed with. Time will certainly tell if that’s a bet he’s willing to go up against…