Allen Carter - 1st place

Final table payouts:

*Plus a $25,500 seat in the Season 7 WPT Championship.

	Bobby Suer - 2nd place

It took about 35 hands, but then all the chips went in. Bobby was holding A K and was ahead, poised to double up against Allen's A 4. The flop came J 5 3 leaving Bobby in the lead and giving him a flush draw. It also gave Allen a gutshot wheel draw, needed a non- deuce. The miracle card hit the turn: the 2 gave Allen the straight. Bobby still had outs, needing a club on the river to make a flush, but it was the Q and this event is over!

Allen Carter finished in 1st place, earning $1,000,000 plus a $25,500 seat in the WPT Championship.

Bobby Suer finished in 2nd place, earning $501,082.

Bobby has only been playing big tournaments for a couple of yeaers and he has already accumulated over $200,000 in earnings, including two WPT cashes and one in the WSOP.  His best finish before today was a second place in a Bellagio $3,000 prelim at the 2008 Five Star World Poker Classic, which earned him a six-figure payday.  Bobby is 47years old, is a radiologist, and married with four children. He was born and raised in California.

Allen is 40 years old and plays online as "AawwNutz".  He has plenty of online tournament victories, but only a handful of live cashes. His biggest was a fourth-place finish in $2,500 no-limit hold'em at the Bellagio Five Diamond World Poker Classic last spring. He's married with four children, and he was born and raised in Texas. He has a Bachelors of Accounting from Angelo State University and a Masters degree from University of Texas, Dallas, but his career switched gears 15 years ago when he left accounting to become an entrepreneur.

About 20 hands into heads up, they got all-in preflop. Bobby held AK off and was at risk. Allen held pocket deuces and was ahead. The board came K J 5 3 4 and Bobby doubled up to over 2.4 million with a pair of Kings.

On the next hand, the flop was K 5 4 -- all spades.  Allen bet 300k, Bobby raised to 1 million, then Allen moved all-in.  Bobby tanked for a long while, then folded.

Level 23:  Blinds 60k/120k with 20k antes.  Play continued.

About 15 hands into heads-up play, Allen is dominating the action. Bobby has only picked up three pots (plus one walk). On the 16th hand, Bobby moved all-in and did not get called, so he picked up his fifth pot.

	Soheil Shamseddin - 3rd place

Hand 122: On the first hand back from the break, Soheil opened for 300k from the button and Allen called from the big blind. The flop came K T 5 and both checked. Turn was the T and Allen checked again. Soheil bet 400k and Allen called. River was the A and Allen checked again. Soheil said "all-in" and Allen insta-called. Soheil wanted to muck his hand, but was forced to show his J7 off (uber-squadoosh). Allen held QT off for trip Tens to take the pot.

Soheil Shamseddin finished in 3rd place, earning $263,725.

Soheil has earned more than $500,000 in live tournaments including two WSOP final tables (finishing fourth both times) and one WPT cash, which came in last season's WPT World Championship. He also won two different $2,500 no-limit hold'em events at the 2008 Bellagio Festa al Lago, taking home a combined total of $153,355. Soheil is 52 years old and was born in Iran, but grew up in Houston, Texas, where he lives now. He has two children and one granddaughter.

There was a delay as they prepared and filmed the money presentation. Here are the chip counts:

Hand 121: Allen limped on the button, Soheil completed the small, then Bobby kicked it up to 480k from the big. Allen opted out, but Soheil made the call, then checked in the dark. The flop came 7 4 2 and Bobby moved all-in. Soheil called and showed Q J for the flush draw with two overs. Bobby held A T for the nut flush draw with two overs and was ahead with Ace-high. The last two cards came 7 5 and Bobby doubled up.

Another tape change break. Here are the chip counts:

Hand 112: Soheil opened for 200k on the small blind, then Bobby raised to 780k from the big. Soheil let it go.

Hand 113: Soheil opened for 200k on the button. Bobby raised to 640k from the small blind and Soheil called. The flop came J T 8 rainbow. Bobby checked, Soheil bet 600k, and Bobby moved all-in. Soheil surrendered the pot.

Hand 115: Allen opened for 225k on the button and Bobby called from the big blind. The flop came A 3 2. Bobby checked, Allen fired half a million, and Bobby folded.

Hand 116: Soheil opened for 250k on the buttton. Allen called from the big blind. The flop came K 6 2 -- all spades. Both players checked. Turn was the 9 and Allen bet half a million. Soheil folded.

Hand 118: Soheil made it 300k to go from the small blind and Bobby made it one million smooth from the big. Soheil moved all-in (1.675 million) and got the call. Bobby showed KJ offsuit. Soheil showed K Q and had Bobby dominated. The board came A 7 6 J K and Bobby made two useless pair as Soheil turned the flush to double up, winning the biggest pot of the tournament so far and re-taking the chip lead.

Chip counts:

	Hilbert Shirey - 4th place

Hand 109: Hilbert moved all-in (620k) from the small blind and Bobby called from the big. Hilbert held J T and was trailing Bobby's A8 offsuit. The board came A K 9 9 8 and Bobby took the pot with Aces-up.

Hilbert Shirey finished in 4th place, earning $184,607.

Hilbert is by far the most experienced player at this table, and the only one with any WSOP bracelets -- he actually has three of them. He has accumulated nearly $1.3 million in career earnings over the course of his 30-year poker career, which includes 26 cashes at the WSOP and 3 in previous WPT tournaments.
At 61 years old, he has been self-employed his entire life, and he's married with six children.

	Tyler Smith - 5th place

After 102 hands,

Level 22: Blinds 40k/80k with 10k antes. Play continued.

Hand 106: Hilbert opened for 400k, then Tyler moved all-in, then Allen moved all-in. Hilbert quickly folded his pocket 7s. Tyler held A K and was covered, so he was at risk. Allen held pocket Queens and the lead. The board came J 8 4 2 8 and Allen took the pot with Queens-up, chipping up to ~2.2 million.

Tyler Smith finished in 5th place, earning $134,500.

Tyler is 22 years old and is the local player at the table, born and raised right here in Mississippi. He's no rookie with plenty of online experience (playing as 'Tydean') in addition to winning a WSOP ring and $88k in a preliminary event at the WSOP Circuit stop in New Orleans back in May.

	Hyong 'Chuck' Kim - 6th place

Hand 93: Soheil opened for 200k on the button and Chuck moved in for 705k more in the small blind. After tanking for a couple of minutes, Soheil made the call showing A9 off. Chuck was dominating with his AK off and it appeared he would be doubling up. Then the board came A 5 4 T 9 and Soheil paired his kicker on the river to make two pair and bust Chuck -- one hand short of the record.

Hyong 'Chuck' Kim finished in 6th place, earning $105,490.

Chuck is 35 years old and was born in Seoul, South Korea. He grew up in Las Vegas and then studied Information Technology at the University of Texas. He recently left a career in sales to play poker.

Back into raise/fold mode.

I've been covering poker tournaments for three years now and in my memory, the longest a WPT final table has taken to bust the first player was 94 hands. This was at the World Poker Open in Tunica, January of 2007. JC Tran entered the final table as the short stack, starting with fewer than 10 big blinds. He finally busted out in 6th place on hand # 94. They have played 88 hands already at this final table, so we may see a new record set soon.

After another tape change break, play resumed. Here are the chip counts:

Hand 71: Soheil opened for 175k. HIlbert called from the button. Flop was Q 9 9 -- both checked. Turn was a 5. Soheil fired 200k and Hilbert folded.

Hand 72: Soheil opened for 240k. Hilbert shoved for 1.25 million. Bobby folded and accidentally showed his AJ. Soheil folded, showing AJ and saying he would have called if he hadn't seen Bobby's hand. Hilbert picked up the pot and showed his AK.

Hand 82: Chuck opened for 180k from the button and Bobby Suer moved all in from the big blind for 975k. Chuck called, showing AT off. Bobby's AK off was way ahead. The board came K J 3 5 6 and Bobby doubled up to over 2 million.

	Hilbert Shirey

After hand 60, they colored up the 5k chips and

Level 21: Blinds 30k/60k with 10k antes. Play continued.

Hand 64: Battle of the blinds. Hilbert raised to 130k from the small and Bobby called. The flop came Q 6 3. Hilbert moved all-in for 630k. Bobby tanked for a while, and perhaps due to his bad laydown in hand 60, he decided to call. This time he makes the wrong call, showing 76 off for middle pair. Hilbert held 9 6 for the same pair with better kicker and a flush draw. The turn was the 9 giving Hilbert two pair and the double-up.

Hand 65: Allen made it 150k to go utg and Bobby called from the small blind. The flop was 6 4 2 and Bobby moved all-in for 825k. Allen tanked for a while, then mucked his AK face up. Bobby showed A9 as he collected his chips.

Hand 67: Chuck raised to 170k utg and all folded to Soheil in the big blind, who re-raised to 500k. Chuck moved all-in for 920k and Soheil tanked. He said "if you don't have a pair, I have to call. If you have a pair, I have to give you my chips". I guess he decided he was pot committed, as he made the call and turned over 92 offsuit (I kid you not). Chuck's pocket 8s were in good shape to double him up. The board came T 3 3 A 6 and Chuck did in fact double up.

Play resumed following another tape change break. Here are the chip counts:

Hand 60: Soheil opened for 160k utg and Bobby kicked it up to 550k from the big blind. After a bit of thought, Soheil called. The flop came 8 5 4 and Soheil moved all in (1.25 million). Bobby tanked, trying to goad Soheil into talking. Soheil sat unmoving and unspeaking. Someone called for the clock and Bobby eventually folded -- pocket Jacks face up. After standing up and pumping his fist several times, Soheil showed his hand -- pocket 6s.

	Soheil Shamseddin

Hand 46: HIlbert made it 110k from the small and Bobby popped him for another 180k from the big. HIlbert opted out.

Hand 47: Soheil, 120k. Hilbert (button) 400k. Soheil folded.

Hand 50: Bobby opened for 110k and Chuck called from the big blind. Flop came K Q 2. Chuck checked to Bobby, who fired 250k and took it down.

Hand 54: Soheil opened for 120k utg and Hilbert kicked it on up to 450k from the cutoff. All folded back to Soheil, who thought for about a minute, then moved all-in for 405k on top. Hilbert said he had to call, and showed KQ off. Soheil was way ahead with pocket Kings. The board came 8 7 3 3 J and Soheil doubled up to ~1.8 million.

Hand 33: Soheil opened for 150k from the button and Chuck moved in for 860k from the small blind. HIlbert folded his big blind and Soheil tanked for a bit, then mucked his KJ suited face-up.

Hand 34: Tyler opened for 110k utg and Soheil called from the cutoff. The flop was K T 9. Tyler bet 170k and Soheil let it go.

Back into raise/fold mode for the next ten hands.

Level 20: Blinds 20k/40k with 5k antes. Play resumed following a tape-change break. Here are the chip counts:

	Bobby Suer

Hand 28: Allen opened for 110k. Soheil called from the cutoff and Bobby called from the big blind. Flop was K 7 3. Bobby checked, Allen checked, and Soheil fired 350k. Bobby moved all-in, but it was only for 110k more. Allen got out of the pot and afer a bit of joking around, he called. Bobby's K3 off (two pair) left Soheil's T 8 looking for runner-runner. It was all over when the K landed on the turn, giving Bobby the full house and the double-up to almost 1.3 million.

Hand 29: Soheil opened for 160k and Bobby called from the small blind. The flop came A 6 5. Both players checked. Turn was the T. Bobby bet 300k, Soheil announced all-in, and Bobby said "I have to call" and called all-in for less. Soheil held A Q for top pair with the nut flush draw. Bobby helds pocket 5s for bottom set and the lead. Only a spade other than the 6 would give Soheil the pot. River was the 4 and Bobby doubled up again, to about 2.6 million, good for the chip lead. Soheil was left with about 900k.

	Hyong 'Chuck' Kim

Hand 15: Finally some fireworks! Allen raised to 75k from the cutoff, Soheil called from the button,then Chuck moved all-in from the small blind for 462k. Allen folded. Soheil thought about it for a bit, then decided to gamble with his T 7. Chuck was way ahead with pocket Jacks. The flop came Q 8 7 and Soheil picked up one pair, but was still behind. The turn made it interesting: the 9 gave Soheil the open-ender. He would win with any Jack, 7, or 6. A Ten would give Chuck the straight. River was....the T. Chuck doubled up to ~1 million.

Hand 19: Chuck limped, then Hilbert raised to 90k. Allen (bb) made it 250k to play. Chuck got out of the way and Hilbert raised another 400k on top. Allen mucked his AK face up.

Hand 20: Soheil raised to 90k from the small blind and Chuck called from the big. The flop came T T 3 and both checked. Turn was the 3 double-pairing the board. Soheil fired 200k, then Chuck moved all-in for 782k more. After a bit of thought, Soheil let it go.

Hand 21: Allen opened for 75k and Chuck called from the small blind. The flop was J 8 5. Both checked. Turn was the Q. Chuck bet 115k and Allen called. River was the 5 and again both checked. Allen showed AQ off for Queens-up. Chuck mucked his AT

Hand 22: Chuck upped the bet to 85k from the cutoff and Tyler (bb) came over the top to the tune of 260k. Chuck thought about it, then let it go.

The first five hands were taken with a single pre-flop raise. The raisers were Tyler, Bobby, Tyler, Hilbert, & Hilbert.

Hand 6 was a battle of the blinds. Tyler raised to 90k from the small and Allen called from the big. The first flop of the day was K 6 3. Tyler bet 115k and Allen called. Turn was the T. Tyler checked, Allen fired 175k, and Tyler folded. Allen picked up the first contested pot of the final table.

Back to raise/fold for a couple of hands, then

Hand 9: Bobby raised to 87k utg and his only taker was Chuck in the small blind. The flop came Q J 3. Chuck checked. Bobby bet 150k and Chuck tanked for a bit, then folded.

Hand 10: Allen (ug+1) raised to 75k, then Soheil kicked it on up to 225k. All folded back to Allen, who called. The flop came K Q 5. Allen checked, Soheil fired 350k, and Allen let it go.

Then they went back into raise/fold mode, until

Hand 15: Action folded to Soheil in the small blind. He opened for 90k. Chuck moved all-in from the big blind and Soheil let it go.

We might be sitting on the Gulf of Mexico, but we still haven't made it to the river today.

Level 19 (continues): Blinds 15k/30k with 4k antes. About 65 minutes remain in this level. Cards are in the air.

	Soheil Shamseddin - chip leader

Final table action will begin at 4pm central time Saturday. These are the final six players with their chip counts and seat assignments:

Here's what they're playing for:

*Plus a $25,500 seat in the Season 7 WPT Championship.

	That's me with Ken Lambert, after I finished 2nd in the Beau Rivage media tournament

Kaelaine Minton Reporting

Contact Kaelaine