The winner of the $5,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Hold’em championship was Allen Cunningham, from Las Vegas, NV. Cunningham is a 30-year-old poker professional and is certainly one of the top five tournament players in the world. Many would argue he is the very best at the moment. Cunningham was a straight-A student at UCLA when he discovered his talent for poker. About ten years ago while pursuing a degree in civil engineering, he started playing seriously and began making money. He’s been a pro ever since.

In 1999, Cunningham enjoyed a breakthrough year in tournament poker. It was the same year that emerging rivals Phil Ivey, John Juanda, and Daniel Negreanu invaded the poker scene and began winning millions. Put into a historical retrospect, Cunningham was part of a revolutionary movement in the game of poker that took place during the 1990s, away from older, more traditional players towards younger, inventive new champions.

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With this fifth WSOP victory, Cunningham moved into even more elite poker territory. He joined seven players who have also won five gold bracelets a list which currently includes Gary “Bones” Berland, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Layne Flack, Ted Forrest, Berry Johnston, Phil Ivey, and Stu Ungar. The Day Three finale featured five former WSOP gold bracelet winners – the most of any event since last year’s $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship. They included Humberto Brenes, Jason Lester, Gavin Griffin, Keith Lehr, and Cunningham himself.

Cunningham is one of only six other players who won a WSOP event in three consecutive years. He also won events in 2005 and 2006. The others are Bobby Baldwin, Gary “Bones” Berland, Lakewood Louie, Johnny Moss, Erik Seidel, and Doyle Brunson. It is Brunson who holds the all-time record for consecutive years with a win (4). He accomplished this from 1976-79.

At last year’s main event, once the final table started Cunningham was the public favorite to win, despite being behind in chips. He ended up going out in fourth place.

This was Cunningham’s 30th time to cash at the WSOP. With this victory which amounts to $487,287 – he moved up into third-place on the all-time WSOP money winners list. Cunningham has now won $6,486,474 in WSOP play. Only the last two world champions – Jamie Gold and Joe Hachem have won more money.

Jeffrey Lisandro has yet to win a gold bracelet at the WSOP, despite being one of the game’s best players. He was the runner up in this event. Jason Lester finished in fourth place. He was the defending champion in this event from last year, but fell just short this time.

The seventh-place finisher in this event was Gavin Griffin. Best known for being the youngest gold bracelet winner of all-time when he won at age 22, Griffin dyed his hair pink to raise money and awareness for the Avon Breast Cancer Center. He encourages those interested to visit his website at: www.gavingriffin.net

2000 world champ Chris “Jesus” Ferguson finished in 13th place.

Steve Billirakis’ bid to become the youngest player in history to win two WSOP gold bracelets fell short. He did cash however, finishing 29th. This event is the “Pot-Limit Hold’em World Championship.” It is the highest buy-in pot-limit event in the world. It attracts the toughest field of any competition.