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In 2010, professional poker player John Racener beat all but one player in the World Series of Poker Main Event. After coming so close to ultimate victory, Racener is playing this year’s Main Event with a taste for blood and an eye on the incredible $8.7 million first-place prize.

Racener’s poker performance since last year’s final table certainly indicates that he’s capable of an all-out win. Over the past year, the Florida native has earned a 4th place finish in the World Poker Tour Five Diamond event, earning him $232k. He’s also made two final tables and two other money finishes at the 2011 WSOP, giving him another $300k. Although this money can’t compare to the massive $5.5 million he acquired for his runner-up finish in the 2010 Main Event, it demonstrates his consistency and unwillingness to retire despite apparent total financial security.

In an interview with PokerListings, Racener described how his recent success has created a number of opportunities, including the chance to appear in the season finale episode of the HBO series Entourage. Racener made a cameo in a poker scene and enjoyed meeting the cast of the show, despite having to miss a $25k heads-up event due to scheduling conflicts.

Historically, players who make the final table of the Main Event one year have a difficult time cashing the next, simply due to the odds of such an occurrence given the massive registrant pool the WSOP attracts. Racener, however, won’t be satisfied with anything less. He considers his incredible run last year to be a great advantage, and said that he learned an incredible amount from the 10-day experience.

As of now, Racener has finished Day 2B with 100,000 chips. Perhaps best of all for Racener, Jonathan Duhamel (last year’s winner) has been eliminated.