Brunson, finished in 4th place, with an almost $160,000 payout, and Forrest in 5th place, with nearly $120,000 in winnings. A Q is a very strong hand in No Limit Hold 'Em, but it has been nothing but trouble for Ivey on the World Poker Tour. He was ousted at the Foxwoods final table by Howard Lederer when Ivey's A Q was beaten by Lederer's wired K's.

With the WPT Championship down to a three handed table, Ivey, with an A Q, went over the top of Gerasimov's $100,000 bet and Goehring's call by going all in, only to see the Russian call him and turn over an A K. Ivey knew it was over when the flop paired Gerasimov's K. Ivey finished in 3rd place with $253,313 in prize money, and perhaps a new hesitancy to play an A Q.

It was now heads up, the action continued to be astounding. On one hand, Goehring was dealt pocket K's and decide to slow play it. Gerasimov, with an A 4 of Diamonds, had the perfect hand to be milked for a considerable portion of his stack.

But Goehring's trap backfired when the board showed four 7's and a J and Gerasimov won the considerable pot with a better kicker. At this point Goehring held only a slight chip lead over the Russian.

Gerasimov, with an 8 6 off suit, limped into the pot and Goehring, with an 8 5 checked. The flop came 8 5 4 giving Goehring the top two pair, and Gerasimov a shot at an inside straight. Goehring bet $50,000, but the Russian, ever the aggressor, raised to $300,000. Goehring re-raised all in, the Russian calling. The turn was a 7, giving Gerasimov his straight, the Russian pumping his fist in the air triumphantly. But his celebration was short-lived as the river turned over an 8, completing Goehring's full house. Gerasimov took $506,625 for his second place finish.

Goehring, who had never won a major tournament, pocketed well over $1,000,000 in prize money and becoming the World Poker Tour's first WPT Championship Champion.

- Thomas Hardy