Tournament Details

Famous celebrities, professional poker players, and four lucky contest winners all gathered at the largest poker room in the world, the beautiful Commerce Casino in Los Angeles for a stroll down the red carpet. The reason, you ask? How about a free-roll that would lead to a $100,000 payday for one of them, as well as a coveted $25,000 seat to the season-ending WPT Championship.

In Seat 1, Joe Cassidy, tyro poker pro from Huntington Beach at his first final table, with $315,000 in chips. In Seat 2, Antonio "Magician" Esfandiari, recent WPT millionaire, winner of the L.A. Poker Classic, with $200,000. In Seat 3, Phil "Unabomber" Laak, the transplanted, idiosyncratic Irishman at his 2nd WPT final table, the short-stack with $110,000. In Seat 4, popular WPT journeyman at his first WPT final table, congenial Costa Rican Humberto Brenes, with $325,000. In Seat 5, former player of the year, the treacherously talented John Juanda, chip leader with $770,000. In Seat 6, former clinical scientist, London pro Harry Demetriou, with $275,000.

"I hate to tell you, but I think you're going out first." - Antonio Esfandiari to Phil Laak.

"Me too!" - Phil Laak.

This exchange after the short-stacked Laak stole the first pot of the day was emblematic of the good-times attitude at the final table. Shortly after that, Esfandiari found himself with wired 3's, and pushed all-in $117,000. Laak, with pocket T's of his own, called. Flop came J-6-4 rainbow, and with the Unabomber using reverse psychology superstition, chanting "2-5-3," the turn indeed came 2d, but when the river came 9c, Laak had ironically knocked out the prognosticator in 6th place. A good-natured Esfandiari took a seat in the crowd to cheer his buddy, adding $8,000 to his year's total.

Demetriou next popped up with Ks-Ts, raising $35,000. Cassidy, with As-Jd, made it $85,000 to go, prompting Demetriou to go all-in. Cassidy, pot-committed, called the $117,000 wager, and was pleased to find himself a modest favorite. Flop came Qc-Jh-3c, giving Demetriou a few more outs, but when the board went 8c, 8h, he was the next player sent to the rail, with a $10,000 5th place finish.

Cassidy was feeling pretty good until he ran head-on into Laak. Cassidy, on the button with 5h-5d, went all-in $262,000, perhaps not wanting a caller. He found a quick one in Laak, with As-Td. The flop came Kd-Qh-7d, giving Laak the inside straight draw, then 6d at the turn suddenly opened up the backdoor flush draw. 8d on the river gave Laak the straight, crippling a disbelieving Cassidy. Next hand, Cassidy was blinded all-in $17,000 with Qs-4s. Brenes, with A-9 offsuit, and Juanda, with 6d-4d, both called. They checked the board down, and when it went Kh-6s-5h-Td-7s, Juanda picked up the pot, knocking Cassidy out in 4th place, with $14,000.

Down to three players, Juanda held a nearly 3-1 chip lead. But after Brenes doubled up on him, spiking a stunning A on the river, then doubled up on Laak, Juanda was suddenly in third place. His stack continued to leak, and when Laak bet $100,000 into him, he smelled a steal. Looking down to find Ac-4d, he went all-in over the top for $307,000. Laak, willing to gamble all day, called yet again with Kh-Qh, and once more got help when the flop came Qs-3s-2d, giving him top pair. When the turn and river came 7d, 4s, a stunned Juanda left in 3rd place, with an $18,000 payday.

Now down to heads up play, the action intensified, both players becoming more aggressive. Laak, with Qh-7c, went all-in $1,560,000, and gulped when Brenes, with 3d-3c, called. When the board went Jc-Tc-4s-Td-9c, Brenes' baby 3's had held up, reducing the Irishman's stacks. Making matters worse for him, the price of poker went up, with antes of $10,000 and blinds of $40,000 and $50,000 putting a hundred grand in play on every hand.

Brenes next caught Laak trying to steal with a suspiciously large $260,000 raise on 9c-5s, and went right back over the top of him all-in with As-2d, prompting a fold. Suddenly the dominating chip leader, and sensing weakness, Brenes rolled the dice on Kc-8c, calling Laak's $600,000 all-in, pre-flop raise. Laak turned up his own As-2d, and was on life-support when the flop came Q-J-8 yardsale, giving Brenes a pair. The turn came 6s, no help to either, putting Brenes one card from the title. But Laak spiked an Ace on the river! He dove to the floor in true disbelief, prompting cheers from the crowd.

Very next hand, Brenes kept pressing, going all-in $765,000 on Js-2d. Wrong time to do it. Laak, with big slick Ac-Kc for the first time all day, quickly called. Flop came Q-9-4 rainbow. Turn came 4h. When the river paired Laak's K, he was king of the Invitational, sending Brenes home in 2nd place, $38,000 richer. Laak proved his friend Antonio Esfandiari no prophet, taking home the title, a $100,000 paycheck, and a $25,000 seat at the WPT Championship.

This tournament is included in the World Poker Tour Season Two DVD Collection. Special features include commentary by Phil "The Unabomber" Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Daniel Negreanu and Erik Lindgren.