$5,000 Circuit Championship Event | 2008 WSOP Circuit Event - Caesars Las Vegas

$5,000 Circuit Championship Event

Day 3 Completed

05-01-2008 18:17 UTC-8

That's a Wrap!

Allen Cunningham - Your 2008 Caesars Palace Circuit Champ!

..and just like that, we have a winner! Allen Cunningham made quick work of heads-up opponent Ben Fineman en route to capturing his first WSOP Circuit Championship title. The Team Full Tilt Pro entered the final table as its third smallest chip stack, but his resilience carried him through to the end, eventually helping him overcome a 3.5-1 chip disadvantage in the heads-up match. Cunningham's win pushed him past the $10 million mark in career tournament earnings and further solidifies his position as one of poker's premier tournament professionals.

Meanwhile, while Fineman surely would've preferred a victory here today, he's got to be pleased with his overall performance at Caesars this month. The young pro grossed over $325,000 in prize money since the Circuit came to town and won a championship ring of his own for taking down a $1,060 buy-in no-limit hold'em event just ten short days ago.

Thus, for now our time is up but we'll be back on May 19th reporting from the 'Big Easy' with live coverage of the 2008 WSOP Circuit's Boyou Poker Challenge, set to take place at Harrah's New Orleans.

Until then, from Caesars Palace in Sin City, good night and good luck!

Tags: Allen Cunningham

05-01-2008 17:55 UTC-8

Cunningham Eliminates Fineman; Captures Circuit Championship!

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Team Full Tilt Pro Allen Cunningham has just eliminated heads-up opponent Ben Fineman from the championship event to claim the 2008 Caesars Palace WSOP Circuit Championship; here's how the hand went down:

Ben Fineman raised 80,000 from the button and saw Allen Cunningham call, sending the two to see a flop of {Q-Clubs}

. Checks by both brought the {10-Clubs}

on the turn. Cunningham led out with 100,000 and was promptly raised by Fineman who made it 400,000. Cunningham then sat still for a moment, before announcing "I'm all in." Fineman exhaled a deep breath, looked down at his chip stack and made the call.

At the showdown, Cunningham tabled {4-Clubs}

giving him a flush and the advantage over Fineman's {A-Spades}

and made straight. Cunningham had Fineman drawing dead as an irrelevant river {4-Spades}

fell, giving the pot, the cash and the title to Cunningham.

Runner-up finisher Ben Fineman will take home $257,637 for his commendable performance.

Tags: Allen Cunningham Ben Fineman

05-01-2008 17:52 UTC-8

Scoreboard Update

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We're about one half hour into heads-up play and Allen Cunningham has stolen the chip lead from Ben Fineman. Cunningham currently sits with about 1,730,000 and Fineman trails close behind with 1,610,000.

Tags: Allen Cunningham

05-01-2008 17:37 UTC-8

Cunningham Deals First Blow

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Ben Fineman opened the pot with an 80,000 pre-flop raise and was called by Allen Cunningham. A flop of {Q-Spades}

hit the board and Fineman led out with a continuation bet only to see Cunningham move in over the top for his remaining 750,000. Fineman made the call and tabled a pocket pair of sevens only to find himself well behind Cunningham's {Q-Diamonds}

. The turn brought the {K-Diamonds}

and the river {3-Hearts}

fell in favor of Cunningham, who doubled up to 1,660,000 in chips.

The double-up left the two contestants just about even in chips.

Tags: Allen Cunningham Ben Fineman

05-01-2008 17:37 UTC-8

Trading Blinds

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We've seen approximately 7-10 hands so far and most of them have been won uncontested with standard pre-flop raises.

05-01-2008 17:34 UTC-8

The Payouts

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Here's what our eventual winner and runner-up will receive:

1st: $499,162
2nd: $257,637

Level: 18

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 4,000

05-01-2008 17:18 UTC-8

Game On

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Julius Caesar has delivered the cash and gold Circuit ring to the final table and the heads-up battle is officially underway.

Chip stacks at the start of heads-up play are as follows:

Ben Fineman - 2,630,000
Allen Cunningham - 710,000

05-01-2008 17:04 UTC-8

Fineman v. Cunningham for the Title!

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The elimination of Kelly Samson in third place has set the stage for a heads-up match between local pro Ben Fineman and consummate tournament pro Allen Cunningham.

Fineman will begin the match with a 3.5-1 chip advantage over Cunningham. Heads-up play will begin after our two finalists return to the table following a brief intermission.