Kevin Schaffel at WPT Legends of Poker Final

Kevin Schaffel, one of the November Nine, has reached the final table of the 2009 Legends of Poker at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles.  The 51-year-old is the chip leader with 2,234,000 in chips.

When 2009 started, Kevin Schaffel was a no-body on the big poker scene; now he is one of the hottest players in the world.

He secured a place at the 2009 WSOP Main Event Final Table in July, and tomorrow he will play for the $1,009,000 top prize at the WPT Legends of Poker.

Schaffel is the chip leader with 2,234,000 in chips. Todd Terry is in second place with $2,219,000. Prahlad Friedman and Toto Leonidas are other contenders for the prestigious WPT title.

Whether he wins it or not, the Legends of Poker experience will be very valuable for Schaffel. He will get a feeling for what it's like to play a final table in a major poker event, something he hasn't been close to before.

He has cashed a few times in the WSOP, WPT and EPT, but his only notable final table appearance prior to 2009 is from a side event at the 2007 Legends of Poker, where he took fifth place and $21,375.

Kevin Schaffel will earn a lot more than that, very shortly. He has already secured a minimum of $89,220 at the Legends of Poker and he has a decent to make it all the way and take home one million dollars.

Winning the $8,546,435 first prize in the 2009 WSOP Main Event will be more difficult as Schaffel will be in sixth place with a relatively small stack when the action starts again in November.

But he definitely has the chance to add a million or two to his poker bankroll.

Note: Steven Begleiter, another of the 2009 November Nine, finished in ninth place at the 2009 Legends of Poker, earning $39,240.