Timoshenko comes out on top at WPT World Championship
Posted by Gavin Smith on 29 Apr 2009 at 08:04
They came from around the world, 300 of them, to the famous Bellagio in Las Vegas, and tested their poker wits. But only one of them could emerge victorious.
Amateurs as well as professionals, including some of the biggest names in the game, rubbed shoulders around the tables at the World Poker Tour World Championship last week, where millions of dollars are typically up for grabs for the winners.
Yevgenly Timoshenko was top dog after a week of games, although Scotty Nguyen was in with a shout all the way into the final table. But in the end he came in sixth place and pocketed $285,985 (£195,112). Timoshenko, for his efforts, scooped a cool $2,149,960 (£1.4 million).
The last hand of the Nevada showdown saw Ran Azor raise to 800,000 with Q-C 10-D. Timoshenko's reaction was to go all in with A-S 3-C, which was quickly called. All eyes were on the flop, which came out Q-s J-S 7-D and giving Azor a Queen pair.
On to the river and K-C was not much benefit to anyone, but it did give Timoshenko a gut shot straight draw. The river was 10-S and Timoshenko completed his straight and clinched the whole competition. For his second spot, Azor collected $1,446,265 (£986,399).
Some notable faces in professional poker also had a good competition and Chris Ferguson made it to 28 and Steve Billirakis to 26, while Jennifer Harmon went to 11th place.
