by Mike Paulle

Final Table Placings:

1. David Grey  Henderson, NV, USA  $365,135
2. John Hennigan  Las Vegas, NV, USA $217,110
3. Dewey Tomko  Winter Haven FL, USA $138,160
4. Mark Weitzman  Los Angeles, CA, USA  $108,555
5. Doug Booth  Bowling Green, KY, USA  $78,590
6. Russell Salzer  Las Vegas, NV, USA  $49,345
7. Jeffrey Lisandro  Salerno, Italy  $29,605

Wow! Like THAT! It's over. David Grey doubled through with a 9 8 and then came right back to beat John Hennigan's 9 8 all-in with an 8 7. Two huge hands heads up, and the players that was trying to get a deal done because Hennigan was so hot, is now the Deuce to Seven champ. A breathtaking reversal of fortune in a matter of minutes after two days of struggle.

All the preliminaries are over. It's time for the REAL DEAL, THE BIG DANCE. Bring it on buttercup.

We're heads up with John Hennigan having a 3-1 chip lead over David Grey. 750k to 240k

In a really tough beat, Dewey Tomko raised to 73k from the small blind. Hennigan reraised Tomko all-in for another 60k. Dewey rapped pat with 10 8 6. John drew one to an 8 5 and caught a 10.  

1 $365,135 
2 $217,110 
3 $138,160  Dewey Tomko
4 $108,555  Mark Weitzman
5 $78,590  Doug Booth
6 $49,345  Russ Salzer
7 $29,605  Jeffrey Lisandro

When you go into a tailspin in poker, it's so hard to pull out of it. Mark Weitzman started this Final Table with a prohibitive chip lead seven handed and he beat two. All-in from the small blind for his last 30k or 14k raise of Dewey Tomko in the big blind. Mark rapped pat and Dewey, who'd beaten Mark in this same scenario for the last several hours, took to give Weitzman hope. Tomko turned over 10 9 and a completely disgusted Weitzman mucked. Hennigan has over half the chips three handed.

1 $365,135 
2 $217,110 
3 $138,160 
4 $108,555 
5 $78,590  Mark Weitzman
6 $49,345  Russ Salzer
7 $29,605  Jeffrey Lisandro

Back from dinner, the boys huddled in the corner but it doesn't look like they were able to decide on a deal they could all agree on. Play on. Weitzman still can't win a hand and he is down to 100k.

Dinner break to 10:00.

Chip counts

John Hennigan 380k
David Grey 220k
Mark Weitzman 205k
Dewey Tomko 230k  

Three hours and 15 minutes left to enter the $500 contest to pick the WSOP Champion. Thank you to the hundreds of participants with thousands of picks. I stil don't think any of you picked the winner, but some will get paid on the last longer bet. 12 midnight PST is the deadline for entries.

Now it's Mark Weitzman who can't win a hand. He can't outdraw the blinds drawing one. Mark is down to 140k and the low boy. He looks miserable. A half hour ago David Grey was offering deals to chop the money. No takers wit5h Hennigan having twice as many chips as anyone else. 10 minutes to a break. This 2k ante, 6k/12k level will move up to 2k 8k/16k blinds. That might flush someone. The great Dewey Tomko has been all-in about five times in the last two hours. He's now second in chips.

After several attempts, Doug Booth finally found a way to lose an all-in. With his last 50k on the button, Doug had the bad luck of finding Mark Weitzman waking up with 10 9 5 pat in the big blind. In other words, Mark was playing like John Hennigan. Doug drew on to a 10 9 7 for 5th.

Short break. 2k 5k/10k blinds.

John Hennigan is showing this table the "World's Fair."

Chip counts

John Hennigan 450k
Doug Booth 60k
David Grey 135k
Mark Weitzman 175k
Dewey Tomko 125k  

Russ Salzer has a second in this year's WSOP in a previous event for about $190k. That softens a bit the disappointment he feels about the 6th today. Russ couldn't win a hand here and he raised all-in for his case 30k drawing one. John Hennigan is on the other end the spectrum. He can't hardly lose a hand. John rapped pat inthe big blind on a call of Russ. John was dealt 8 6 in the big blind. That's rough.

1 $365,135 
2 $217,110 
3 $138,160 
4 $108,555 
5 $78,590 
6 $49,345  Russ Salzer
7 $29,605  Jeffrey Lisandro

10 minute break. Same level.

Chip count 6 handed

John Hennigan 265k
Doug Booth 140k
Russ Salzer 80k 
David Grey 150k
Mark Weitzman 325k
Dewey Tomko 125k  

Six guys are probably in the money now. Jeff Lisando raised all-in for 42k over David Grey's 28k lead.  John Hennigan reraised all-in with more than Lisandro. Grey mucked. Both Jeff and John rapped pat  Jeff had 10 9 to John's pat 10 8. On a rabbit hunt, tossing the 10, Jeff wins with a 9 7. But he didn't draw. 

1 $365,135 
2 $217,110 
3 $138,160 
4 $108,555 
5 $78,590 
6 $49,345 
7 $29,605  Jeffrey Lisandro

Every all-in has won so far so the chips are just washing around the table. The question with these big rebuy events: Is anybody even yet? 7th only pays $29k and change.  They are playing like they need to finish higher to get their money back.

Would you believe 5 pm? It's a mad house here. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the horde of mediia coming to cover the one week Wortld Series of Poker.

SEAT 1: John Hennigan Philadelphia, PA $39,000
SEAT 2:  Doug Booth  Bowling Green, KY  $81,000 
SEAT 3:  Russell Salzer  New York City  $132,000 
SEAT 4:  David Grey  Henderson, NV  $79,000 
SEAT 5:  Jeffrey Lisandro  Italy  $185,000 
SEAT 6:  Mark Weitzman  Las Vegas, NV  $322,000 
SEAT 7:  Dewey Tomko  Winter Haven, FL  $190,000 

Some Info on the Final 7:

John Hennigan from Philadelphia, PA, USA has had 12 money finishes and has an overall prize money total of $1,016,933. A man for the big occasion, John has already won 2 WSOP bracelets and has all the tools in his armoury to capture a third, lying in last chip position has his work cut out.

Doug Booth from Bowling Green, KY, USA has been in the money 11 times so far and has an overall total for prize money won of $87,438. Doug's most notable performance, his 4th place finish back in January where he finished 4th at the Jack Binions World Poker Open for $24,801.

Russell Salzer from New York City, NY, USA has had 29 money finishes and has made an incredible 20 final tables out of those finishes. He has an overal prize money total of $346,107 to date. Already cashed 3 times so far in this years WSOP, including just missing out in event #32 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, having to settle for second spot, Russell picked up a handy $191,610

David Grey from Henderson, NV, USA has had 16 money place finishes and has an overall prize money total of $658,240. David already has a WSOP title and bracelet from event #4 in 1999 Seven card stud, and will hoping to double his tally.

Jeff Lisandro from Italy, Europe has had 20 money finishing placings and has earnt himself $1,214,239 to date. The only representative from Europe in the final, Jeff has a lot of experiance and has been close to a bracelet on previous occasions, and will be focused on trying to win his first WSOP title and the coverted bracelet. Jeff starts the final in third chip position.

Mark Weitzman from Las Vegas,NV, USA has had 4 money finishes to date so far, and has an overall prize money total of $146,950. No stranger to WSOP finals as he has finished in third place twice and will be looking to go two better as he bids for his first title and bracelet. He has put himself in a good position and starts the final as the chip leader.

Dewey Tomko from Winter Haven, Florida has had 40 money place finishes and has an overall prize money totall of $2,640,821. Dewey has been playing at the top level for many years now, and will be going for his 4th WSOP title and bracelet, could have been 5th but for having to settle for 2nd place in the $10,000 main event in 2001. Dewey starts the final in 2nd chip position.

Final Table Prize Money Breakdown: