. This is the second World Series title for Harrington, a former attorney who entered the championship tournament by winning a $220 buy-in satellite event. He claimed his first title and $249,000 for his victory in the $2,500 buy-in no-limit Hold'em competition held May 12. After almost a week of marathon play, Harrington commented, "You're not going to see me tomorrow in a poker tournament -- I can guarantee you that." A poker player for 12 years, Harrington now has total WSP earnings of $1,297,250, moving him into the No. 7 spot on the roster of all-time World Series money winners.
. When heads-up play began, Harrington had a 1.5-to-1 advantage over runner-up Howard Goldfarb, who had started the day's competition as the indisputable chip leader. After winning two pots in a row when Goldfarb folded on the flop, Harrington increased his lead to almost 4-to-1, and the end was nigh. The final hand came down when Goldfarb, who held A-7 offsuit, bet $100,000 before the flop and Harrington called with 9D 8D. The flop came 8-6-2, Goldfarb moved his remaining $617,000 all in, and Harrington called. When the turn and river brought running queens, Goldfarb's luck ran out, as Harrington claimed the pot and the championship title with two pair.
. Goldfarb, a 33-year-old land developer from Toronto, Canada, received $519,000 for his second-place finish. "It's a nice achievement, considering it was only the second time I played in this event, but it's still a tremendous letdown," he said. A poker player for just two years, Goldfarb has cashed in one previous WSP competition, placing 22nd in last year's championship event.
. Finishing in third place and pocketing $302,750 was Brent Carter, a 46-year-old retired businessman from Oak Park, Illinois. He was eliminated from the competition when he called a pre-flop raise with KS QS against Goldfarb, who held AH 4H. The flop came 8-6-5, Carter moved all in, and Goldfarb called. But neither player helped, and Goldfarb won the pot with ace high.
. Hamid Dastmalchi, the 1992 World Champion of Poker, was dispatched in fourth place when he moved all in before the flop with K-5 and was called by Dan Harrington, who held A-10 and flopped a straight to win the pot. Dastmalchi's fourth-place award of $173,000 brings his total WSP earnings to $1,597,160, and he now ranks No. 4 on the roster of all-time World Series money winners. Barbara Enright of Van Nuys, California, placed fifth for $114,180, the highest finish ever for a woman in the championship event. The only two-time Women's World Poker Champion, Enright now ranks No. 1 on the women's roster of all-time World Series money winners, with total WSP earnings of $170,960.