Phil Lakk went heads up with T.J. Cloutier in the first big showdown. Sitting on pocket 7’s, Laak called T.J.’s all-in, with A 10 off suit. T.J. flopped top pair, and they held up. That meant a 6th place finish for Phil Laak, worth $54,075.

The next elimination was when, Fred held J 9 for top pair and the straight draw with a J 10 7 flop, but T.J., holding J 7, had two pair. Fred tried to buy the pot with a $24,000 raise, T.J. then went all-in, and Fred called. The turn and river went 4 A, and Bonyadi’s went out in 5th place finish for $69,525.

Chip Jett, short-stacked for most of the game, moved all in pre flop with Ks 9s. Phillips, with K Q called, he had the better kicker when the board missed both their hands he sent Jett home in 4th place, with $100,425. T.J. raised with J J, and Phillips went all-in with 7 7. When Dot Com caught a 7 on the turn, T.J. was out of the tournament in 3rd place with a $146,775.

Paul Phillips, had just shy of $900,000. With 9 7 off, Mel called Paul’s Jh 2h $90,000 pre-flop raise. The flop came Ah 6 3h, leaving Paul one to the flush, but giving Mel no help. Phillips checked through to the turn, yet it would be his most costly bet of the final. When it came 5d, they both added the inside straight draw, with Mel on top.

Both checked through to the river, where, naturally, the 4 surfaced, giving Mel the top straight stone nuts. He went all-in. Unable to throw away his sucker straight, Phillips pondered. He smiled. He fidgeted. He talked to himself. He tried to read Mel. Phillips finally called.

Mel Judah pounded the table and stood with arms raised, a $25,000 seat at the WPT Championships, and the 2003 champion of the Legends of Poker. Phillips left with $293,550, and the champ won a sweet $579,375.

- Thomas Hardy