EPISODE SUMMARY

Some things seem inevitable. Take the Mississippi River -- try as some have to dam it, to control it, to divert it's flow, eventually the mighty river will spill into the Gulf of Mexico. Watching David "Devilfish" Ulliott play poker in the World Poker Tour's World Poker Open in Tunica, Mississippi, one had the same sensation--eventually the chip leader at the beginning of the day was going to triumph.

The World Poker Open, hosted by Binion's Horseshoe and the Goldstrike casinos, is one of the premier tournaments in the world. Not only is it one of the largest (so large it took two casinos to accommodate the more than 160 players who put up $10,000 apiece to enter), but also it is a homecoming of sorts. It is commonly accepted that modern poker was born on the banks of the Mississippi. And as if that weren't enough, poker tournaments were founded by the legendary Benny Binion, father of the Horseshoe's owner, Jack Binion.

Vying for his share of the $1.6 million prize pool, European pro Ulliott, started the action with a huge chip lead and a huge advantage at the Final Table. However, from the back of the pack, a young man from Texas named Jeremy "The Kid" Tinsley, at only 25 years of age, was an early thorn in Ulliott's side. In the first three hands The Kid played against Devilfish twice, winning both hands and taking $140,000 from the chip leader. This haul propelled The Kid to second chip position, ahead of Phil Ivey, who was playing in his second World Poker Tour final table.

The Kid's threat to Devilfish's crown was short-lived, though. Amateur Johnny Donaldson tripped up the hard charging kid, by doubling up on a lucky flop. In another few hands, the now short stacked, Jeremy was forced to go all in with an 8, 9 off suit and was called by crowd favorite, Buddy Williams. Williams, with an A, Q off suit saw an A, K, 6 flop. When another ace came up, the Kid had had it, and took home $69,000 in winnings for his 5th place finish.

Williams, confined to a wheelchair since a childhood accident, has certainly never been handicapped at the poker table -- he has played professionally for more than 30 years. But today the Devil took his dues. Down to four players, Williams, with a K,Q went all in. Devilfish, with a K, 7 called. The Flop was A, 9, 7. With a 4 and 6 on the turn and river, Williams was knocked out on a bad beat and left the table in 4th place, taking home $91,620.

The Devilfish's luck held and before long he had ousted Johnny Donaldson as well, besting the amateur's A, 3 with a Q, 8 when the flop gave him a pair of ladies that held on through the river. Donaldson finished 3rd with $145,065 in prize money.

While it's true that in No Limit Hold 'Em chip leads can change in the bat of an eye, in this game, the Devilfish never relinquished his chip lead. It may be an American game in its origin, but the European who came to the birthplace of poker, walked away with the crown. The Devilfish outlasted Ivey (2nd place, $589,990) and took home the title, almost $589,990 and a $25,000 seat in the WPT Championship Event.

This tournament is included in the World Poker Tour Season One DVD Collection.