© August 28, 2008
By Daniel Cox
Editor, Poker Insider Magazine

Los Angeles - The Bicycle Club Casino hosted the World Poker Tour Legends of Poker  final table on August 28th. Here are the opening chip counts for the final table:

Kyle Wilson, from Vancouver, British Columbia, finished in 6th place when he put his last million in chips on pocket Kings. After a few minutes, Northern California native Zachary Clark, had an Ace -  Jack risked half his stack with a call. When an Ace fell on the flop and the turn and river failed to show a King, Kyle walked away with $176,035.

Next to fall was young Trong Nguyen of Garden Grove, California, who picked up $211, 245 for his efforts. Trong went all-in with the heart suited King - Queen against Brooklyn, New York's Amit Makhija, who picked up the pot with pocket sixes.

Paul Smith of Poway, California, the senior citizen of the final table at 38, picked up $246,450 when he was knocked out in fourth place. Paul was looking good after the flop when his Ace - 7 was aided by two 7's and a 9 to go on top of Long Beach, California's John Phan's pocket 8s. A 10 on the turn gave John a chance to make a straight, which he did when the miracle 6 fell on the river.

Five and a half hours into the final table, John Phan pushed all-in with a little more than two million chips after a 300,000 chip raise by Amit. Though Amit had chided John about his slow play several times during the final table, he seemed concerned with John's instant push. With twice as many chips and a chance to go heads up with a huge lead, he called. Amit flipped the pocket Tens and realized he was dominated when he saw John's pocket Aces. Neither hand improved and John doubled up, taking a small chip lead in the process.

On the next hand, Zach Clark put his tournament life on the line with an ill-advised steal attempt by shoving his 1.8 million chip stack in pre-flop. His King - 2 was dominated by Amit's Ace - 7 and Zack left the table in third with $281,645 when he could not win after an Ace fell on the turn.

Amit Makhija	John Phan

Amit's chip lead vanished with another come from behind victory for John. After a 300,000 chip raise by Amit, John re-raised to 1.2 million. Amit went all-in and after a long time in the tank, John called for his tournament life. Amit held a pair of Twos, and John's unsuited Ace - King had a small statistical disadvantage. With the flop of Jack - 4 - 3, and the turn of a second Jack, Amit's hand weakened, since a 4 or 3 would counterfeit the pocket Dueces. The miracle King fell on the river and John doubled up to slightly less that nine million chips, leaving Amit with only 2.2 million to continue the fight.

Amit pushed all-in with his Ace - 6  and John called with Queen - 9. The flop of King - Queen - Jack gave John the lead. The Two on the turn left Amit Championship hopes with only the 7% solution, which he hit with the Ace on the river. The double-up dented John's chip lead and let Amit get back to one double-up from regaining the chip lead.

It all came down to John's pocket 3's holding up against Amit's Queen - 8 for the final hand. When it was all over, John walked away with 1.2 million dollars.