Final table money results:

	Vadim Trincher - 1st place

HUH 40: Vadim completed, Amnon checked. Flop came T 7 4 rainbow. Amnon checked, Vadim bet 80k, Amnon raised to 225k, and Vadim called. Turn was a 6 and Amnon bet 350k. Vadim called. River was another Ten and both checked. Amnon showed KT for trips to take the pot. Vadim mucked and Amnon chipped up to almost 3 million.

HUH 42: Vadim - 200k, Amnon called. Both checked the flop of A K 6. Turn was the 5. Amnon bet 300k and Vadim called. River was the 9. Amnon checked, Vadim bet 500k, and Amnon called. Vadim showed Q 7 for the back-door flush. Amnon mucked.

HUH 43:  Amnon opened for 175k and Vadim called.  The flop came J 5 5. Vadim checked, Amnon bet 300k, Vadim raised to 800k, and Amnon moved all-in for 1.05 million. Vadim called. Amnon showed J4 off for Jacks-up. Vadim showed 7 6 for the flush draw. Turn brought the 8 and the flush for Vadim. Only a Jack or 5 on the river would save Amnon. River was the K and Vadim took the pot with a flush and WINS THE TOURNAMENT!

Vadim Trincher finished in 1st place, earning $731,079 (which includes a $25,500 seat in the WPT Championship).

Amnon Filippi finished in 2nd place, earning $409,405.

Vadim is 48 years old and was born in the USSR.  This was his fifth WPT cash, but his first final table appearance.  Today's finish is his highest ever and largest cash ever.

Amnon is a professional poker player, originally from New York.   This is his 10th WPT cash and fourth WPT final table.  This is his highest finish on the WPT, but not his largest cash.  He earned $586k for his 4th place finish in the 2007 WSOP $50k HORSE event.

	Amnon Filippi

HUH 24: The final board read T 7 7 7 T. Vadim bet 400k. Amnon called. They were both playing the board and split the pot.

HUH 26: Vadim limped, Amnon checked. Flop came 8 6 5. Amnon checked, Vadim bet 85k, and Amnon called. Turn was a Jack. Vadim bet 300k and again Amnon check-called. River was a 3. Amnon checked, Vadim bet 650k, and Amnon folded.

HUH 27: Amnon limped, Vadim checked. Flop was A Q 7 and both checked. Turn was a 6. Vadim bet 100k and Amnon called. River was another Ace. Vadim checked, Amnon bet 350k, and Vadim folded.

HUH 34: Vadim - 240k, Amnon called. Flop K 6 5. Check, check. Turn 4. Amnon - 250k, Vadim called. River K. Amnon checked, Vadim - 350k, Amnon shoved. Vadim tanked for a minute, then mucked. Amnon's back up to 2.5 million.

Time for another break.

HUH 10: Vadim completed the small and Amnon checked. The flop came 9 4 2 and both checked. Turn was the J and Amnon bet 125k. Vadim called. River was the 8. Amnon bet 350k and Vadim called. Amnon showed 98 off for two pair. Vadim mucked. After that hand, they were nearly even in chips. Vadim held the lead by only 100k in chips.

HUH 16: Vadim opened for 150k. Amnon called. Flop was K 8 4. Amnon bet 175k and Vadim called. Turn was the 7. Both checked. River was the 7. Both checked. Amnon held Queen-high. Vadim showed 98 suited for two pair to take the pot.

HUH 17: Amnon opened for 150k and Vadim popped it to 400k. Amnon called. The flop came K 6 2 rainbow and both checked. Turn was another 6. Vadim bet 400k and Amnon called. River was a 7 and Vadim fired 600k. Amnon called. Vadim showed KJ offsuit for Kings-up. Amnon mucked. Vadim chipped up to 5.8 million, leaving just 2 million for Amnon.

Level 26: Blinds 40k/80k with 10k antes. Play continued.

HUH 20: Vadim opened for 200k and Amnon called. Flop was J 6 5. Amnon checked, Vadim fired 170k, and Amnon called. Turn was the K. Amnon checked, Vadim bet 300k, Amnon tanked, then folded. Vadim hit 6 million. Amnon was left with 1.8.

Heads-Up Hand (HUH) 6: Vadim opened for 150k, Amnon raised to 400k, and Vadim called. Flop came T 8 2 rainbow. Amnon checked, Vadim bet 300k, and Amnon called. Turn was the A and both checked. River was the Q and Amnon checked. Vadim took his time, then bet 700k. Amnon folded. Vadim re-took the lead with that pot, chipping up to ~4.5 million.

	Lenny Cortellino - 3rd place

Hand 178: Lenny opened for 150k on the button and Amnon called from the big blind. The flop came A Q 6. Amnon checked, Lenny fired 150k, and Amnon called. Turn was the 8. Amnon checked, Lenny bet 200k, and Amnon raised to 550k. Lenny moved all-in and Amnon insta-called, showing 8 6 for two pair and the lead. Lenny held A 7 for a pair of Aces. He would need an Ace, Queen, or 7 to stay alive. River was the K and Amnon took the pot, chipping up to over 4.1 million, good for the chip lead.

Leonard Cortellino finished in 3rd place, earning $214,449.

Lenny is a 45 year old Navy vet who has been playing poker seriously for seven years.  If he looks familiar, that's because this is his second WPT final table.  In November 2005 he finished 6th in the Foxwoods WPF event.  He also won the $5,000 No Limit event during that tournament series, cashing for $377,175.

With two players remaining, the clock was stopped while they filmed the money presentation.

	Matt Casterella - 4th place

Hand 170: Lenny completed the small blind and Matt raised to 150k from the big. Lenny let it go.

Hand 172: Matt opened for 160k from the button, then Vadim raised to 375k from the small blind. Amnon then moved all-in from the big blind for ~1.2 million. Matt then moved all-in for less. Vadim tanked for a couple of minutes, then got out of the way. Matt showed AK off and was racing against Amnon's pocket 7s. The board came 9 8 2 3 2 and Amnon took the pot, chipping up to ~2.4 million.

Matthew Casterella finished in 4th place, earning $138,905.

Matt is a 28 year old professional poker player from New York. He's already over $1.5 million in earnings lifetime with five six-figure cashes under his belt. He won the $5k No Limit event at Borgata in 2007 for $375k, which is his biggest score to date.

Three players remain:

Hands 147 & 148: Matt shoved and got no action.

Hand 149: Vadim opened for 125k from the button, then Amnon made it 375k from the small blind. Lenny took a few seconds, then announced he was all-in (~1.7 million). The other two folded.

Hand 150: After seeing a free flop from the big blind and checking, Matt bet 100k on the turn with a board of Q 5 3 9. Lenny (sb) folded. Matt was up to 840k.

Hand 154: Lenny completed the small and Matt checked his option. The flop came 9 8 3. Both checked. Turn was the 9. Both checked. River was the 8. Lenny checked, Matt bet 150k, and Lenny folded. Matt showed 98 off for the full house.

Hand 158: Vadim opened for 125k utg and Amnon called from the button. The flop was A K 7 rainbow. Vadim bet 125k and Amnon moved all-in. Vadim let it go and Amnon chipped up to 1.3 million.

Hand 160: Matt opened for 125k from the button. Vadim raised to 300k from the small blind. Matt let it go. He's back down to ~580k.

Level 25: Blinds 30k/60k with 5k antes. Play continued.

Chip counts as of the break:

Hands 140 & 141: Matt moved all in and got no takers. The second time he showed pocket Kings.

Hand 142: Lenny completed the small and Matt moved all in from the big. Lenny let it go.

Hand 145: Matt moved in again and got no action. He's up to 685k.

Hand 126: Vadim opened for 125k from the button and Lenny called from the big blind. They both checked the J 8 2 flop. Turn was the T. Lenny checked, Vadim fired 225k, and Lenny let it go.

Hand 127: Another Battle o' the blinds. Matt made it 125k from the small and Vadim asked what he had left (~1.25 million). Vadim then raised to 275k. Matt insta-shoved and Vadim called. Matt held AK off and was racing against Vadim's pocket Tens. The board came K J 9 6 3 and Matt doubled through the chip leader, assuming the chip lead for the first time. He's now sitting behind ~2.5 million while Vadim was left with ~1.8 million.

Hand 132: Matt completed the small blind and Vadim raised to 150k from the big. Matt called and the flop came T 4 2. Matt checked, Vadim bet 250k, Matt raised to 750k, Vadim thought for a few seconds, then moved all-in (~1.8 million). Matt tanked for a couple of minutes, then called, showing T8 off for top pair. Vadim held pocket Queens and was ahead. The last two came 2 6 and Vadim doubled up, getting his chips back from Matt, with interest. Matt's tenure as chip leader was short-lived and has expired. Vadim is now up to 3.95 million. Matt was left with only ~380k.

Time for another TV-time-out.

Level 24: Blinds 25k/50k with 5k antes. Play resumed.

Hand 109: Battle o' the Blinds. Vadim completed, Amnon checked. Flop A J 9 all hearts. Vadim checked. Amnon 75k, Vadim called. Turn 7. Vadim 125k, Amnon called. River 8. Check, check. Vadim showed J8 for two pair, but Amnon showed A8 for higher two pair to take the pot. He chipped up to ~1.5 million.

Hand 120: Matt completed the small, Vadim raised to 150k from the big, then Matt re-raised to 400k from the small. Vadim folded.

Hand 121: Matt made it 125k to play from the buttton and Amnon called from the big blind. The flop came A K Q rainbow. Amnon checked to Matt, who fired 200k. Matt folded.

Hand 102: On the river with a board of A T 2 Q K Matt bet 350k, Vadim min-raised to 700k, Matt moved all-in and Vadim called. Matt held QJ and Vadim held AJ, so they both had the Broadway straight and chopped the pot. Apparently these guys aren't going to get their chips in the middle unless they're sitting on the nuts!

Hand 106: Another battle of the blinds. Amnon completed and Lenny checked. Flop was K 9 2 rainbow. Lenny bet 50k and Amnon check-called. Turn was a Ten. Lenny bet 100k and Amnon check-called. River was a 7 and Lenny bet 150k. Again Amnon check-called. Lenny showed KQ for a pair of Kings and Amnon mucked.

End of level 23 and players are taking a short break while they color up the orange 1k chips.

	Vadim Trincher

Hand 94: Amnon opened for 100k from the small blind and Lenny called from the big. The flop came K T 6 -- all diamonds -- and Amnon led out for 150k. Lenny called. Turn was the 7 and both players checked. River was the 4 and Amnon bet 200k. Lenny called, showing K 8 for a pair of Kings. Amnon mucked and Lenny chipped up to ~2.25 million.

Hand 97: Lenny opened for 100k utg and Amnon (bb) announced he was all-in (~1.1 million). Lenny tanked and after a few minutes, Amnon told him he would call for the clock after another minute. The clock was called and just as time was running out, Lenny mucked his hand. Amnon chipped up to ~1.25 million.

Hand 98: Vadim min-raised to 80k from the button and Lenny called from the big blind. The flop came Q 6 2 rainbow and both checked. Turn was a Ten and Lenny bet 100k. Vadim raised to 300k and Lenny folded.

Time for another tape-change break!

Hand 81: Vadim completed the small blind and Amnon checked. The flop came 9 6 4. Vadim bet 55k and Amnon called. Turn was the J. Vadim bet 115k and Amnon again flat-called. River was the Q. Vadim fired 130k and Amnon flats again. Vadim showed 64 for two pair, but Amnon held J6 for a better two pair to take the pot. He chipped up to almost 1.4 million.

Hand 87: There was a bit of excitement here with a final board of T 9 6 6 T. Vadim bet 500k, Amnon moved all-in, and Vadim called. Then both showed a Ten for the same hand (Tens-full of 6s) and they split the pot.

	Matt Casterella

Level 23: Blinds 20k/40k with 4k antes. Play continued.

Hand 73: Vadim opened for 110k from the small blind and Amnon called from the big. The flop came A A 2 and Vadim checked. Amnon bet 150k. Vadim thought about it for a bit, then raised to 350k. Amnon let it go.

Hand 76: Matt limped from the small blind and Vadim raised 80k more from the big. Matt called and the flop came 7 7 4. Both checked. Turn was a 5. Matt checked, Vadim fired 110k, Matt check-raised to 310k and Vadim let it go. Matt chipped up to ~2.1 million.

Hand 77: Matt opened for 100k on the button and Amnon called from the big blind. The flop came K 5 2 -- all hearts -- and both checked. Turn was the J and Amnon checked. Matt bet 225k and Amnon let it go.

Hand 57: Vadim completed the small blind and Amnon checked his option. The flop came J 5 2 and both checked. Turn was the 3 and Vadim led out for 55k. Amnon flat-called. River was the 3. Vadim checked, Amnon bet 125k, Vadim check-raised to 425k, and Amnon called, showing a 3 for trips. Vadim held J3 off for the full house to take the pot. He's now close to 2.9 million. Amnon was left with ~1.7 million.

Hand 59: Amnon opened for 80k on the button and Matt called from the big blind. The flop came K J 8 and Matt checked. Amnon fired 120k, Matt raised to 320k, and Amnon called. Turn was the 2. Matt announced that he was all-in. Amnon took about a minute, then let it go. Matt flashed the J as he pulled the pot. He's up to almost 2.4 million now and has moved ahead of Amnon in the standings. Amnon was left with ~1.3 million.

Another tape-change break occured.

Hand 63: Battle of the blinds. Lenny opened for 80k from the small and Matt called from the big. The flop came 5 3 2. Lenny bet 105k and Matt called. Turn was the 8 and Lenny checked. Matt bet 225k and Lenny called. River was the 8 and Lenny again checked. Matt launched a half-a-million chip salvo. Lenny called, showing two diamonds for the flush to take the pot. He's now over 2.1 million, while Matt was left with ~1.6 million.

	Alex Perelberg - 5th place

Hand 46: Alex opened for 80k from the small blind (leaving just 140k behind). Vadim surrendered his big blind.

Hand 47: Alex opened for 80 from the button and Amnon called from the big blind. The flop came 9 7 5 and both checked. Turn was an 8 and Amnon fired 70k. Alex folded, leaving himself with ~187k.

Hand 55: Amnon opened for 80k from the cutoff and from the big blind, Alex moved small-in for his last 95k. Amnon called. Alex was holding T 7. He was up against Amnon's K 8 and would need help to survive. The flop gave Alex a big boost: Q J 9 giving Alex a flush draw and open-ender needing a King or 8 for the straight, which killed both of Amnon's live cards. Now Amnon didn't want to make a pair, he just needed the board to blank. Turn was the 4 and changed nothing. River was the Q and also no help to Alex. Amnon took the pot with his King-high.

Alex Perelberg finished in 5th place, earning $106,007.

This was Alex's first major tournament and he earned entry via a $2,200 satellite.  He's 43 years old and has an MBA from Stanford.  Although he was born in the former Soviet Union, he now lives in Connecticut.

Four players remain:

Hand 39: Alex moved in utg for 138k and action folded around to Matt in the big blind, who made the call. Alex held A 3 and was trailing Matt's pocket 4s. The flop came Q 6 5 which gave Alex a flush draw and backdoor straight draw. Turn was the 9 and no help to Alex. He needed a diamond or an Ace on the river to survive. And the river was....the K completing the flush and the double-up for Alex. He's now got 309k.

Chip counts as of the break:

Level 22: Blinds 15k/30k with 4k antes. Play resumed.

Hand 34: Alex opened utg for 75k and Matt called from the big blind. On the T 9 2 flop, Matt checked, Alex bet 100k, and Matt check-raised to 500k, which was more than Alex had left. Alex tanked for a bit, then surrendered.

Hand 35: Amnon opened for 80k from the cutoff and Lenny jacked it up to 280k from the button. Amnon made the call and the flop came K 8 4. Amnon checked, Lenny fired 200k, and Amnon folded.

Hand 12: Matt made it 60k to play from the cutoff and Amnon called from the big blind. Both checked the A A Q rainbow flop. Turn was an 8 and Amnon fired 85k. Matt raised to 225k and Amnon called. River was a Ten and also put three diamonds on the board. They checked it down and Amnon showed A7 off for trip Aces. Matt mucked his hand and was left with ~1.7 million. Amnon chipped up to 2.1 million.

	Amnon Filippi

Hand 22: Matt opened for 60k from the cutoff and Alex re-raised to 160k from the button. After the blinds got out of the way, Matt kicked it on up to 500k straight. Alex folded his AK face up, dropping back to ~560k. Matt was back up to almost 1.6 million.

Hand 23: Matt opened for 60k utg and Vadim called from the button. Then Lenny makes it 260k to play from the big blind. The other two surrendered and Lenny took the pot.

Hand 25: Vadim opened for 60k utg and Amnon called from the cutoff. The flop was T 7 4. Vadim took his time, then bet 70k. Amnon called. Turn was the Q and both checked. River was the 4 and Vadim bet 150k. Amnon called fairly quickly, forcing Vadim to show his 98 offsuit (missed open-ender). Amnon showed pocket 2s, a hand that could only beat a bluff, and pulled the pot. He's up to ~2.2. Vadim is down to ~2.6.

Time for a tape-change break.

	Alex Perelberg

Unlike most final tables which start off with raise/fold poker, this one started off with a flop on the first hand:

Lenny opened for 60k and Vadim called from the big blind. The flop came 9 7 4. Lenny bet 80k and Vadim check-called. Turn was the 8 and both checked. River was the T and Vadim fired 120k. Lenny let it go. The first pot of the day went to the chip leader.

On hand 7, Alex opened for 60k on the button and Amnon called from the big blind. The flop came A A T and Amnon fired a bet. Alex immediately shoved his last 83k in and showed A3 for trips. Amnon rolled over 97 off (no pair, no draw, just 9-high). The last two cards were 5 K and Alex gets the courtesy-double-up from Amnon. He's now up to ~315k.

Hand 9: Vadim opened for 60k from the cutoff and got calls from both blinds. The flop came A 4 2 and it was checked around. Turn was the 9. Lenny (sb) checked, Matt (bb) bet 160k, and the other two folded. Matt chipped up to over 2 million.

Hand 10: Lenny opened for 60k from the button and Alex shoved for ~300k from the big blind. Lenny tanked for a bit, then folded. Alex chipped up to ~390k while Lenny dropped down to 825k.

Level 21 (continued): Blinds 12k/24k with 3k antes. About one hour remains in this level.

Player introductions have been completed and cards are in the air!  Despite earlier rumors that Alex would not be playing due to Passover, he is here and ready to go.

	Vadim Trincher - chip leader

Here are the players with their chip counts and seat assignments:

As we learned at the end of day 5, the final table is one short due to a double-elimination.

Here's what they're playing for:

*Includes a $25,500 seat in the WPT championship.

	Kaelaine in the 2006 WSOP Main Event

Kaelaine Minton Reporting

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