-- Chip count: 13,040,000

-- Age 38

-- From Brooklyn in New York

-- Former professional chess player, who hustled games in New York City's public parks for money

-- Discovered he could make a far better living playing poker, and has been doing so the last several years

-- 12th time to cash at the WSOP (more than any other finalist); best previous finish was 15th place in the $2,000 buy-in Limit Hold'em event this year

Back in New York, Schwartz is a pro player who plies his trade online and in Atlantic City. He’s no stranger to Vegas, though, having cashed in 12 WSOP events over the years. How has he managed to do it again this time? ‘I maintained my cool. Mostly. I went on tilt [once] but, luckily, I caught myself.’