Online Poker

March 30, 2008

In what was his 15th cash on the World Poker Tour, Lee Markholt emerged as a champion from his first final table.

The first prize of $493,815 took him over the $1 million mark in total WPT earnings, making him the 86th WPT-made millionaire.

After taking the chip lead on the 8th hand of final table play, by eliminating Jeff DeWitt, Markholt played aggressively on his way to the title. There really is no other way considering how quickly the blinds increase at a WPT TV final table. They need the play to be quick and exciting to make for good TV!

David 'The Dragon' Pham was probably the most experienced player among the last six, having finished third in this same event last year. In two big hands Markholt managed to cripple, then elimnate The Dragon in fifth place to make his record at WPT final tables 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd (twice) and 2nd. He'll get a win one of these days!

Potter & Hyman were elimnated before a short heads up session against Bryan Devonshire saw Markholt take the final hand with two pair.

He was excited to finally get the monkey off his back and take down a WPT title. The former bull-rider walked away with $493,815 and a $25,000 seat into the WPT championship this April at Bellagio.

The final placings were as follows.

You can qualify for a World Poker Tour event by playing in Bodog Poker's players choice tournaments. WIn yourself entry into any $10,000 event of your choosing!