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The WSOP Circuit rolled into the big easy this week where Harrah's New Orleans played the role of gracious host.

With Phil Ivey going out in 14th place when the players took their seats at the final table the only big name left was Gavin Smith, and with a commanding 3 to 1 chip lead over his nearest rival it looked like it might be his day.

SEAT 1: Allie Prescott 163,500
SEAT 2: David Babin 86,900
SEAT 3: Matt Russell 34,200
SEAT 4: Peter Feldman 223,400
SEAT 5: George Abdallah 148,900
SEAT 6: Ben Gordon 170,600
SEAT 7: Brian Townsend 102,000
SEAT 8: Gavin Smith 645,800
SEAT 9: Kenny Brown 17,600
SEAT 10: Dana Diephouse 109,400

10th Place went to Brian Townsend, who wasnt in such bad shape (there were 2 desperate short stacks at the table) when he got all his chip in the middle on a K-Q-Q flop holding A-10. Matt Russell Called with A-K and his 2 pair held up.

9th Place belonged to satellite winner David Babin who pushed all in with A-7 suited, Dana diephouse called holding A-K and was never troubled with a flop of A-K-9. Babin won his way into this event through a satellite at Harrah’s New Orleans, costing just $200. “I knew I had to catch a few hands….I knew I had to gamble,” Babin said afterward. “I did, and I lost.”

8th Place was Ben Gordon after he got tangled with chip leader Gavin Smith. Gordon (7-7) called Smith's all in raise (A-K) and was ahead when the flop helped no one, but Smith spiked an ace on the turn Gordon's day was done. “I’m a lawyer, not a poker player,” the 42-year-old attorney from Pensacola said afterward.

7th Place went out in less than exciting circumstaces when Allie Prescott got all-in against Peter Feldman with A-9 vs A-Q, the board helped no one and Feldman's queen sent Presscott out the door.

6th Place went to Dana Diephouse after he pushed all in with 8-7 low on chips, Matt Russell called with and a flop of 9-8-4 Russell holding a 9 sent Diephouse home.

5th Place was Kenny Brown who moved up several places in the money after starting the day on the shortest stack. His luck ran out though we he got all in with 7-7 against Peter Feldman with K-J, Feldman flopped a jack and Brown was out in 5th with a well-deserved prize of $96,900.

4th Place was George Abdallah who got all his chips in the middle with A-2 only to be crushed by Gavin Smith's A-Q. Smith made 2 pair to add further insult to injury and Addallah who telephoned his mentor Sam Farha seeking advice during breaks was going home with $129,200.

3rd Place went to Matt Russell who was the other desprate short stack when play began at the final table. He ground it out all day and was doing well until his A-10 ran into Gavin Smith's A-K, the fourth time at the final table that A-K had sent a player to the rail. “This was the first WSOP tournament I have ever played,” he said in a post-tournament interview. I started with just 34,000. Now, I won ($161,500). I wish I’d won, but I’m very happy.”

When heads-up play began, Gavin Smith enjoyed a decent chip lead over Peter Feldman – 1,019,000 to 682,000.

In a dramatic final table both players at times held commanding leads and looked like they might win it all, both players had their chances over several hours. Smith had lost the chip lead when his 4-4 ran into K-K, so when he made an all in call against 6-6 with a K-K of his own he must've thought it was his turn to get back on top. However in what turned out to be the hand of the tournament it could never be that easy. Feldman got one hand on the championship when he made trips with a 6 on the flop,he tightened his grip a few moments later when he made quads with the last 6 on the river.

Feldman now dominated with a 7-1 chip lead, and despite another valiant Smith fight back that got him within reach of the chip lead exactly 12 hours into the final table the last hand was dealt. Smith was dealt K-Q and re-raised all in, A-J, the final board was A-10-2-K-A gave Feldman trip aces and the tournament.

Afterwards, Smith praised Feldman for his playing: “I thought he played fantastic,” Smith said. “He was patient and played heads-up very well.”

Smith was also visibly upset with the second-place finish. “I’m never satisfied with second,” he said. “I’m disappointed….I am proud that I never gave up. On that hand with the (pocket) kings (against 4-4) I was ahead and was 4.5 to 1 as the favorite. I was that close to winning the tournament. But it didn’t work out.”

Gavin Smith earned $293,930 as the runner up.

Feldman’s victory included $532,950 in prize money. He also won the prestigious gold and diamond ring presented to all WSOP Circuit winners. Feldman also won a seat into the 2006 Tournament of Champions, which will take place in Las Vegas next month. First prize will be $1 million.

Shane @ Poker.com