314 players entered to make the prize pool an amazing 3.1 million dollars, these are the final six who grappled for the jumbo-jet size winner’s payout of nearly $1.2 million:

Seat 1 - Tino Lechich with $811,000
Seat 2 - Gus Hansen with $1,484,000
Seat 3 - Tomko with $757,000
Seat 4 - Mel Judah with $655,000
Seat 5 - Abraham Mosseri with $1,350,000
Seat 6 - Paul Phillips with $1,220,000

First to go was Mel Judah called with Jh Th after Abe Mosseri raised $100,000 on his Kc 6c. When the flop came Kd Jc 7d, Judah went all-in, Mosseri called him, and when the board went 7c, Qs, Judah was out in 6th place with $101,000.

Next to go was, Lechich with Ks Qs, raised $120,000, and when Hansen, with As Ts, made it $320,000 to go, Lechich called. The flop came A K J, but Hansen kept the heat on, wagering another $300,000 on his top pair and straight draw. Lechich, pushed all-in, only to see the turn and river come blank-blank, busting him out in 5th place, but with $130,000.

Gus took an offsuit A 6 and bet $90,000, and Mosseri called him, with 8 7. The flop came Ah 8s 3s, and Mosseri pushed all in, Gus instantly called him, and when the turn and river came 5, 2. Mosseri went to the rail in 4th place with $175,000.

On the very next hand, Gus Hansen caught wired T’s and raised $280,000. Phillips, with A-Q offsuit, went all-in, a massive 2.5 million dollar raise! Hansen called. The flop came J 9 9, the turn came 4. The river was a Q, which sent Hansen home in 3rd place, with $276,000.

Paul Phillips then took down the championship after flopping a set, he had finally claimed his first WPT title, and the$25,000 seat at the WPT Championship. Plus $1,100,000. Dewey Tomko graciously accepted his $552,000 for his second place finish.

- Thomas Hardy