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Reaching a World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table is a rare achievement, but doing it twice places a player in an even smaller group. Since 2000, only ten players have managed the feat, and PokerStars Team Pro Kenny Hallaert is one of them, with final table appearances in 2016 and 2025.
His nine-year gap between appearances ties him with 2009 champion Joe Cada for the joint-second longest wait in the modern era, behind only Michael Mizrachi, who took 15 years to return and ultimately won the bracelet in 2025.
Hallaert’s first final table came during the “November Nine” era, which featured a three-month break before play resumed. His second, in 2025, allowed just a single day off before the finale. He noted that the longer gap in 2016 gave him time to arrange for friends and family to attend, something far harder to organize on short notice in 2025 when mainly his girlfriend was able to join him in Las Vegas.
Despite the logistical challenges, Hallaert said playing straight through in 2025 kept the tournament’s storylines and momentum fresh, whereas the three-month pause in 2016 felt like a full reset, with players returning almost as if starting a new event.
He also reflected on the unexpected fame the November Nine format brought him, recalling being recognized by strangers in Bruges, Australia, and at a music festival following his 2016 run.
Looking ahead to 2026, which introduces a three-week break before the Main Event final table, Hallaert believes this compromise could offer players time to prepare while still preserving audience engagement with the storylines.
