Peter Feldman - 1st place

	Marty the Mascot guards Peter's dough

	Gavin Smith - 2nd place

Hand 296: They got all in pre-flop. Gavin's KQ of spades was trailing Peter's AJ off. Board came A 2 T K A and Peter is the winner.

Peter "Nordberg" Feldman finished in 1st place, earning $532,950, the gold and diamond WSOP Circuit Championship ring, and the entry to the WSOP Tournament of Champions.

Gavin Smith finished in 2nd place, earning $293,930.

Here are the payouts for today's final table:

They're moving chips back and forth. No one is ready to give up. Gavin has about 550K to Peter's 1.15 million.

Hand 273: Peter raised to 36K and Gavin called. Flop was 8 6 3; Gavin checked, Peter bet 55K, Gavin moved all in; Peter folded.

Hand 266: Gavin called, Peter checked; flop was T 6 5; Gavin bet 20K, Peter called. Turn was another 5; Peter checked, Gavin bet 40K, Peter moved all in and Gavin called, (197K) showing J5 for trips. Peter had 7 4 for the open-ended straight draw. River was a deuce and Gavin doubled up.

Hand 254: Gavin called, Peter checked. Flop: K 5 2; Peter checked, Gavin bet 15K, Peter popped it to 45K; Gavin moved all-in; Peter folded.

Hand 251: Peter raised on the button to 36K; Gavin moved all in. Peter folded.

Hand 247 (102 of heads up play): Peter raised on the button; Gavin popped him back; Peter moved all in and Gavin called immediately, showing pocket Kings. Peter was trailing with pocket 6s...Until the board came 6 2 9 6 7 giving Peter quads and the double-up.

Gavin has about 215K and Peter has about 1.5 million.

Hand 237: Peter raised to 36K and Gavin called; Flop was K 7 J; Gavin checked, Peter bet 50K, Gavin called. Turn was a 4; Gavin checked, Peter bet 110K, Gavin moved all in. Peter mucked.

Play has resumed. Blinds are now 6K/12K with 1K ante.

Here are the chip counts from the break:

More moving chips around.

~ Hand 234: Gavin called from the button; Peter checked. Flop was J 9 8; Peter bet 15K; Gavin called. Turn was another Jack; Peter checked, Gavin bet 30K, and Peter called. River was a deuce; Both checked. Peter had an 8 for 2 pair, but Gavin had J4 for trip Jacks and the win.

End of level - 15 minute break.

~ Hand 220: Gavin called from the button, Peter raised to 30K and Gavin called. Flop was 9 9 7; Peter bet 70K and Gavin jacked it up to 170K; Peter folded.

~ Hand 221: Peter raised to 30K and Gavin called. Flop was A 8 J rainbow. Gavin checked, Peter bet 40K and Gavin called. Turn was another Ace; Gavin checked, Peter bet 60K, and Gavin called. River was a 5; Gavin checked, Peter bet 150K and Gavin started studying, trying to get a read. He finally called, showing 85 for Aces and 8s and that was good.

Gavin: 1.136 million Peter: 565K

About Hand 218: Gavin called from the button and Peter checked. Board was checked to the river: 5 4 5 A 7. Peter bet 30K and Gavin called, showing AQ and taking it down.

Peter: 1.486 million Gavin 215K

Somewhere around hand 208: Gavin called from the button; Peter raised to 30K; Gavin moved in and Peter called. Gavin's A4 was trailing Peter's AQ, but Gavin apologized in advance for the bad beat. Board came 6 4 T 5 8 and Gavin doubled up to about 746K. Peter has about 954K.

A lot of pushing chips back and forth - not a lot of action. Where's the caffeine??  They've played about 50 hands heads-up so far.

Hand 184: Gavin raised to 35K and Peter called. Flop: 7 3 6. Both checked. Turn was an 8. Gavin bet 50K and Peter called. River was a J; Peter checked, Gavin bet 100K and Peter called. Gavin had A8 for a pair of 8s, but Peter held a Jack for top pair and won the pot.

Peter: 1.25 million Gavin: 451K

Hand 175: Peter called and Gavin checked; flop was 4 3 8 with 2 spades. Gavin bet 20K and Peter bumped it to 60K - Gavin called. Turn was an Ace; Gavin bet 110K and Peter called. River was the 3 . Gavin checked, Peter bet 300K and Gavin folded.

Hand 170: Gavin raised to 35K; Peter bumped it on up to 120K; Gavin moved all in. Peter folded.

Gavin just re-took the chip lead. He has 971K to Peter's 730K.

Hand 169: Peter raised to 30K from the button and Gavin called. Flop was Q 5 4; Gavin checked, Peter bet 40K and Gavin jacked it up to 120K. Peter folded.

Hand 165: Peter raised to 30K and Gavin called. Flop was 5 4 3; Peter bet 40K and Gavin called. Turn was a 6; both checked; River was a deuce, making a straight on the board. Gavin bet 140K and Peter considered a few moments, then called, playing the board. Gavin was also playing the board and they split the pot.

Hand 160: Gavin called and Peter checked. Flop was Q 9 5; Peter checked, Gavin bet 15K and Peter called. Turn was a deuce; Peter checked, Gavin bet 40K, Peter bumped it to 200K and Gavin moved all in. Peter called and showed 9 2 for two pair, but Gavin had 9 5 for bigger two pair. River was an 8 and Gavin doubled up.

Peter: 909K Gavin: 792K

Gavin raised to 35K; Peter raised another 80K, then Gavin popped it again to 255 total. Peter moved all in for another 355K. After some thought, Gavin called. Peter was ahead with pocket Kings; Gavin had pocket 4s. Board came Q 9 3 2 6 and Peter doubled up and took the chip lead.

Peter has about 1.251 million to Gavin's 450,000.

Hand 146: Gavin raised to 25K and Peter called. Flop was A T 4; Peter checked, Gavin bet 40K and Peter folded.

Hand 147: Peter raised to 25K and Gavin called. Flop was A J 7; Gavin checked, Peter bet 40K and Gavin called. Turn was a Ten; both checked. River was a 4; Gavin bet 90K and Peter folded.

Blinds are now up to 5K/10K with 1K ante.

Players are taking their 15 minute break now. Here are the chip counts:

There are 2 minutes left in this level.

	Matt Russell - 3rd place

Hand 145: Matt moved all in from the button and Gavin called from the big. Matt's AT offsuit was trailing Gavin's AK of diamonds. Board came J 4 4 8 7 and Matt was history.

Matt Russell finished in 3rd place, earning $161,500. Matt is a 27 year old real estate investor from Houston, TX, who learned to play poker online.

Hand 142: Peter called from the small and Gavin checked. Flop was A 4 4 with 2 spades - both checked. Turn was a Queen; Peter bet 10K and Gavin called. River was 9 and Peter bet 30K; Gavin called, showing King-high. That was good, as Peter only had Jack-high.

Hand 134: Gavin raised to 25K from the small; Matt called from the big. Flop was T 6 2; Gavin said "all in" and Matt folded.

Hand 133: Matt raised to 40K from the button. Gavin moved all in from the big blind, putting Matt to the test. Matt showed an Ace and mucked his hand.

Hand 127: Peter completed the small and Gavin checked. Flop was 8 3 2; Peter checked, Gavin bet 12K and Peter called. Turn was a 4 and both checked. River was a Queen and Peter checked, Gavin bet 35K and Peter called. Gavin showed Q3 for two pair and took down the pot.

Hand 126: Matt raised to 16K from the small; Peter bumped it up another 55K and Matt folded.

Hand 124: Peter completed the small; Gavin checked. Flop was Q 4 3; Peter bet 10K; Gavin popped it to 30K and Peter folded.

Hand 121: Matt called from the button; Peter completed the small; then Gavin bumped it up to 38K from the big. Matt and Peter folded.

Hand 112: Peter called from the small and Gavin checked. Flop was T 9 6; Peter checked, Gavin bet 8K and Peter called. Turn was a Jack - both checked. River was a King; Peter checked, Gavin bet 45K and Peter called. Gavin showed 63 off for a pair of 6s, but Peter had KT for two pair and the win.

Hand 113: Gavin raised ot 25K from the small; Matt called from the big. Flop was K 5 2; Gavin bet 50K, Matt announced "raise" and Gavin's cards hit the muck.

Hand 111: Gavin raised from the button to 25K; Peter announced "raise" from the big blind and Gavin winged his cards into the muck.

Hand 107: Peter raised to 24K from the small and Gavin called from the big. Flop was K 7 5; Peter bet 35K and Gavin called. Turn was a J; Peter checked, Gavin fired 65K into the pot, and Peter folded.

Hand 105: Peter raised on the button to 40K; Gavin bumped it up to 90K and Peter folded.

With that previous hand, Gavin re-took the chip lead:

	George Abdallah - 4th place

Hand 101: George moved all in from the small blind and Gavin called immediately from the big, showing AQ offsuit. George had A2 of clubs. Board was A 6 5 Q J (one club) and George was gone.

George Abdallah finished in 4th place, earning $129,200. George is a restaurant owner from Houston, TX who attributes his poker knowledge to learning from Sammy Farha. George also won an WSOP Circuit Event in Tunica earlier this year, in Pot Limit Omaha.

After that last hand, Gavin is no longer in the lead. Here are the counts:

Blinds are now 4K/8K with 1K ante. Play has resumed.

Hand 99: Gavin raised to 22K. Matt moved all in. Gavin folded.

Hand 100:  Gavin raised to 22K.  Matt moved all in for another 98K.  Gavin called, showing A9 of spades.  Matt had AK off.  Board came 8 3 2 5 T (no spades) and Matt doubled up.

End of level - they are coloring up the 500 chips.

Hand 94: Gavin raised to 21K; Matt moved all in from the big blind (another 58K). Gavin folded.

	Kenny Brown - 5th place

Hand 93: Matt raised to 30K. Peter re-raised to 100K. Kenny pushed his last chips in from the big blind. Back to Matt, who folds. Kenny had pocket 7s and was ahead of Peter's KJ of clubs. Board came J 4 2 8 9 and Kenny was, finally, done.

Kenny Brown finished in 5th place, earning $96,900. Kenny is from Gulf Shores, AL and has been playing poker for about 25 years.

Hand 88: Gavin raised from the small blind to put Kenny all in and Kenny called, showing K4 offsuit. Gaving was actually behind with K2 offsuit, but the board came 9 A 3 7 A making a split pot. Kenny survives another one.

Hand 89: Peter raised to 18K. Gavin moved all in from the button. Peter called, showing pocket Kings. Gavin had AJ of diamonds. Board came 4 3 6 8 8 and Peter doubled up.

Play has resumed. Blinds are still 3K/6K with 500 ante (30 minutes left at this level).

Hand 83: Matt called, then George bumped it up to 26K from the small blind. Gavin called from the big and Matt also called. Flop was 2 3 J rainbow; Gavin checked; Matt bet 20K; George folded and Gavin raised to 40K. Matt called; turn was another 3. Gavin bet 60K; Matt struggled with his decision and he and Gavin did a little coffee-housing (chatting about the hand). FInally Matt folded.

Time for dinner break. Here are the chip counts:

They are taking an hour and a quarter for dinner, so play should resume about 8:15pm central time.

Approximate chip counts:

	Dana Diephouse - 6th place

Hand 79: Dana moved in for 21K from the small blind and Matt called from the big. Dana's 8 7 was in bad shape against Matt's Q 9 . Board came 8 9 4 5 T and Dana was history.

Dana Diephouse (pronouced DEEP-house) finished in 6th place, earning $80,750. Dana is a poker dealer at the Belle of Baton Rouge casino. He won his way into this event via a single table satellite.

Hand 76. Peter limped on the button and George completed the small blind. Gavin pumped it up another 35K from the big blind and the others folded.

Hand 75: Gavin raised to 22K; George re-raised from the big blind, another 36K and Gavin beat him in the pot. Flop was A 8 J rainbow. Check-check. Turn was a deuce; check-check. River was another Ace. George checked, Gavin bet 45K and George called. Gavin showed KJ for two pair and George mucked.

Hand 73: Peter raised to 18K under the gun. Gavin called. Flop was 9 K 5; Peter checked, Gavin bet 32K, and Peter moved all in. Gavin folded.

Hand 68: George called under the gun; Matt called from the small blind and Peter checked his option. Flop was Q Q J. Checked to George, who bet 12K. Peter check-raised him and George folded.

Hand 67: Gavin raised to 22K; Matt, in the big blind, announced "raise" and as he was looking at his chips, Gavin folded.

Hand 65: Dana raised, then Kenny moved all in. Dana called immediately, showing KT of diamonds. Kenny was ahead with KJ of hearts. Board came J 7 5 2 4 and Kenny doubles up - again.

Hand 62: Gavin raised to 22K; Matt moved all in from the small blind. This time, Gavin folded.

Here are the approximate chip counts:

Hand 59: Peter raised to 18K from the cutoff; Gavin moved all in from the small blind. Peter folded. There's a lot of that going around.

	Allie Prescott - 7th place

Hand 58: Allie moved all in, then Peter moved all in from the button. Allie's A9 offsuit was behind Peter's AJ of diamonds. Board came Q 6 2 K 4 and Allie was done.

Allie Prescott finished in 7th place, earning $64,600. Now Allie has to sweat the $700K he stands to lose to Gavin if Gavin wins this tournament.  Allie is a 24-year-old real estate investor and graduate of Tulane University here in New Orleans.

Hand 57: Gavin opened for 22K, then George (big blind) moved all in. Gavin folded and George takes it down.

End of level. Blinds are now 3K/6K with 500 ante.

Hand 55: Peter raised to 12K under the gun. All folded to Matt in the big blind, who jacked it up to 60K. Peter folded and Matt showed AK offsuit.

Hand 54: Kenny moved all in for 21,500 from the button. Allie called the extra 17,500 from the small blind and showed J4 offsuit. Kenny was ahead with AQ offsuit. Board came 4 K A Q 9 giving Kenny another double up. That cat's got more than 9 lives.

Hand 53: This time Matt raised to 60K. Everybody dumped their hands.

Hand 52: Matt raised to 12K; Gavin moved all in. Matt folded.

Allie moved all in on Hands 39 and 40 and was not called.

Hand 38: Gavin raised to 200K (which has almost everyone covered). Allie called all in and showed T6 of spades. Gavin's T8 offsuit has him dominated. Board came 4 3 9 8 4 giving Allie the runner-runner flush and the double up.

Play has resumed. 30 minutes left in this level. The levels are 2 hours, but ESPN has to change the tape in the cameras every 90 minutes, so breaks occur every 90 minutes and do not coincide with the end of level. Blinds are still 2K/4K with 500 ante.

Players on break. Here are the rough chip counts:

	Ben Gordon - 8th place

Hand 35: Ben and Gavin get all in before the flop. Ben's pocket 7s were ahead of Gavin's AK off. Board came 5 Q 6 A 5 giving Gavin the win and sending Ben to the rail.

Ben "Flash" Gordon finished in 8th place, earning $48,450. Ben is a 42 year old attorney from Pensacola, FL.

Allie bumped it to 12K; George called from the big blind. Flop was T 8 3; George checked, Allie bet 35K, and George moved all in for another 70,500. Allie called and showed T9 offsuit for top pair. But George had pocket 3s for the set and the lead. Turn was another T giving George the boat and Allie trips. River was a 4 and George doubled through.

George raised from the cutoff to 16K. Gavin (small blind) bumped it enough to put George all in. George folded, showing pocket tens. Gavin showed pocket 5s.

Hand 25: Gavin popped it to 14K (he's been doing that a lot) and Allie called from the button. Flop was 6 K T rainbow; both checked; turn was 2; both checked; river was a ten. Gavin bet 20K and Allie folded.

Hand 23: Gavin raised from the cutoff to 14K. Kenny moved all in from the button for another 9500. Gavin had to call, apologizing in advance, when he turned over 52 of spades. Kenny had AJ offsuit. Board came 2 9 8 J 4 (no spades). Kenny doubled up.

	David Babin - 9th place

Hand 21: Dana moved all in under the gun, then David called all in. Dana's AK off was ahead of David's A7 of clubs. Board came A 9 K 4 and the river was irrlevant - David was toast.

David Babin finished in 9th place, earning $32,300. David "Super Dave" Babin is a 28-year-old account manager for an insurance company who has only been playing for about 2 years. He won his way into this event via a $200 satellite right here at Harrah's New Orleans. Not a bad return on $200.

Hand 16: Ben and Gavin limped, then Kenny moved all in for 6K. Allie called from the button, then David moved all in over the top. Everybody got out of the way and David's pocket 8s were ahead of Kenny's AT offsuit. But the board came 6 Q A 7 T to give Kenny the win and about 6 times his starting stack of 6.

	Brian Townsend - 10th place

Hand 17: Brain raised to 59.5K; Matt said "call", even though he has just a bit more than Brian. Both players have chips left. The flop is K Q Q and they both threw their last chips in. Matt was ahead with AK to Brian's AT (gutshot). Turn and river were 8 9 and Brian was out.

Brian Townsend finished in 10th place, earning $22,610.  That's pretty good considering he's only been playing for about 2 years.  He's a 24-year old graduate student studying electrical engineering.

Hand 14: Matt moved all in; no callers.

Hand 12: David popped it to 12K; George bumped it on up to 36K. David folded.

Hand 11: Dana raised to 13K from early postion. Ben raised to 48K on the button. After some thought, Dana folded.

Hand 8: Gavin raised to 14K and Matt moved all in from the button, for another 10.5K. Gavin called. Matt's A Q was ahead of Gavin's 6 5 . Flop was 5 9 4 , giving Gaving the lead with a pair, but Matt had a lot of outs: any club, Ace, or Queen. Turn was A giving Matt the lead again; river was T and Matt doubled up.

Here are the approximate chip counts:

Play has resumed. 500 ante, 2K/4K blinds. Levels are now 2 hours long.

Hand 4: Ben called; Gavin called; Dana completed the small blind and Allie checked his option. 4-way flop was Q 2 8 . Checked to Gavin, he bet 8K and all folded.

Hand 5: Brian called; Allie completed the small blind and David checked the big. Flop was 6 J A . All checked, turn was 4 . Allie bet 12K and Brian called. River was 9 ; Allie moved all in; Brian folded.

End of level. They are taking a short break to color up the 100 chips.

Hand 3: Peter raised to 9K; Dana called from the big blind. Flop was 3 4 Q . Peter bet 15K and Dana folded.

Hand 2: Brian raised from the button and Gavin came over the top from the small blind, enough to put Brian all in; Brian folded.

Hand 1: Kenny moved all in under the gun and everyone folded.

Players have been introduced and cards are in the air. Button started in the 6 seat (Ben).

Almost ready to start. About 10 minutes left in the current level with 400 ante, 1500/3000 blinds.

Apparently a drunken prop bet was made last night between Gavin and Allie. Gavin is giving odds, $1 million to Allie's $700,000, paid to whichever of them wins today's final, over 10 years. If neither of them wins, the bet is off; if they get heads up (the final 2) the bet is off. So there's a lot more riding on this final than just the prize money!

ESPN is making some final adjustments to the set and the audience is being seated. The final 10 players are being seated now so they can open their chip bags. Here they are, with chip counts and seat assignments:

And here's what they are playing for:

The winner also receives a gold and diamond WSOP Circuit Championship ring and an entry to the WSOP Tournament of Champions.

Things are a bit snug here today on the set. There is a boom camera over my head, so I have to be careful not to make any sudden movements. Of course there isn't much room to move anyway. All the lighting is on the table, so there is no light over here where the media is seated. Let's hope I don't drop my pen, as I would never be able to find it in the dark.

Play should begin shortly after 2pm, so stay tuned!