86 players each put up 10,000 Euros ($10,790) to participate in The Euro Finals of Poker, and played down to a six man Final Table to vie for the lion’s share of the 831,000 Euro ($897,064) prize pool. Allen Cunningham, the 25-year-old pro, was the only American in the final six. The others were all European-born or based.

Originally from Lithuania and now living in Australia, Tony G used his colorful trash talk to provide some of the most entertainment the tournament had seen. On top of which, Tony is a hyper-aggressive player. In the early stages of the game Tony routinely came over the top of bets with much weaker hands, forcing players to fold. After just a couple hands, Tony had moved into second chip position. He soon took the lead when he pulled pocket Q’s to Alain Hagege's A 10. The flop was K K Q and Hagege, on a mild bluff, went all in. Tony called and won, gaining a 2:1 chip lead on the field, and Hagege went home in sixth position, with 13,000 Euros ($14,039).

But Tony's run slowed and finally came to a halt. First Claude Cohen took the bulk of his chips when he doubled up with a flush. Then Tony, from under the gun went all in with an A 3. Jacques Durand called him with an A K which held up through the community cards. Tony, then went home in 5th place and only 16,000 Euros ($17,279).

The next to go was Durand he went all in with suited connectors, and was called by Christer Johansson with a pair of 8's. Through the turn card did Jacques multiple outs, the river killed him and he left the table in 4th place with 32,000 Euros ($34,557).

With only three players left, Cunningham, with an A 10 suited called Cohen’s K 3 off-suit all in bet. The flop, turn and river did nothing for Cunningham, but gave Cohen a set of 3 and Cunningham, left in 3rd place with 80,000 Euros ($86,392).

The last two standing went heads up. Ultimately Johansson, with a pair of 7's took all but 20,000 of his opponent’s chips when Cohen failed to flush up or pair his A or K of diamonds. Cohen couldn’t come back but took 2nd place and 160,000 Euros ($172,784). Johansson, was crowned champion of Europe, his prize was a $25,000 seat in the WPT finals and 500,000 Euros ($539,950).

- Thomas Hardy