The Commerce Casino of the Los Angeles is a great visit in itself. There’s no other poker room bigger than this, where there is activity all day long and the excitement knows no end.

The WPT being held only acts as an icing on the cake. The Los Angeles Poker Classic started on the 16th of February and concluded on the 21st, lasting for a full six days. 692 guests visited in total, who paid an entry fee of $10,000 each. $6,643,200 was the total prize money offered to the finalists, with the first winner bagging almost a third of the total amount.

The summarized details of the winner and their booty are given below:

Alan Goehring got himself the first seat, getting a payout of $2,391,550.

Daniel Quach secured the second seat, getting $1,162,560 for his efforts.

Michael Woo got the third seat bagging $571,315 while Steve Simmons, was in the fourth seat getting a total payout of $338,803.

JC Tran and Per Ummer occupied the fifth and the sixth seats, and got a payout of $265,728 and $199,296 respectively. JC Tran began the season with gusto, playing like a complete pro. For a grueling session of four hours, with each player trying to outdo the other, no one seemed to get eliminated. It was only then that Ummer made a completely uncalled-for move that resulted in his elimination, the first in over four hours.

Woo then took up the charge and played a good game. It was a matter of time when Woo almost doubled Goehring. With play going on for a few more hours, Tran was the next to face exit owing to Goehring holding greater chips.

Finally, Goehring succeeded in winning yet another World Poker Tour title and bagged a handsome prize money!

- Thomas Hardy