EPISODE SUMMARY

Napoleon's strategic prowess almost let him conquer Europe. In the shadows of the Arc de Triumph, a monument to Napoleon's greatness, another battle for European supremacy was recently waged. In a locale straight out of a James Bond novel, the Aviation Club de France, a glamorous private card club on the Champs-Élysées, hosted many of the best poker players in the world as they vied for the title of Europe's best.

As poker continues to grow in popularity around the world, the Aviation Club de Paris can only grow in stature as one of the greatest venues in Europe. The club has long been host to a number of tournaments, but none, it could be argued, have been as exciting as the tournament in this week's World Poker Tour.

Eighty-six players each put up 10,000 Euros ($10,790) to participate in The Euro Finals of Poker, and played down to a six man Final Table to vie for the lion's share of the 831,000 Euro ($897,064) prize pool. A reflection of poker's European popularity, and the proficiency of the continent's players, Allen Cunningham, the 25-year-old pro, was the only American in the final six. The others were all European-born or based.

Originally from Lithuania and now living in Australia, Tony G used his colorful trash talk to stir up the table and provide some of the most entertaining elements of the tournament. If "smack" can throw off an opponent on the gridiron or basketball court, think about the effect it has on players in the normally genteel setting of a card room. On top of which, Tony is a hyper-aggressive player. In the early stages of the game Tony routinely came over the top of bets with much weaker hands, forcing players to fold. Then he would "offer" to show one card, taunting his vanquished foe.

After just a couple hands, Tony had moved into second chip position. He soon took the lead when he pulled pocket Q's to Alain Hagege's A, 10. The flop was K, K, Q and Hagege, on a mild bluff, went all in. Tony called and won, gaining a 2:1 chip lead on the field, and Hagege went home in sixth position, with 13,000 Euros ($14,039).

But Tony's run slowed and finally came to a screeching halt. First Claude Cohen took the bulk of his chips when he doubled up after hitting a flush on 4th street. Then Tony, in first betting position went all in with an A, 3. Jacques Durand called him with an A, K which held up through the community cards. Tony, for all the fireworks, went home in 5th place with only 16,000 Euros ($17,279).

The next to go was Durand. The French love to go all in with "frommage" ("cheese" which at their poker tables means "nothing"), and Durand did just that with suited connectors, and was called by Christer Johansson with a pair of 8's. Through the turn card Jacques was alive with multiple outs, but the river killed him and he left the table in 4th place with 32,000 Euros ($34,557).

With only three players left, each of whom at different times had been low stacked at the table, it was the American in Paris who next danced the soft-shoe off stage. Cunningham, with an A,10 suited called Cohen's K, 3 off-suit all in bet. The flop, turn and river did nothing for Cunningham, but gave Cohen a set of treys and Cunningham, stunned, left in 3rd place with 80,000 Euros ($86,392).

After the presentation of a silver plate loaded with nearly a million dollars worth of bundled, colorful Euros, the last two standing went heads up. Ultimately Johansson, with a pair of 7's took all but 20,000 of his opponent's chips when Cohen failed to flush up or pair his A or K of diamonds. The last hand was academic, leaving Cohen to take home 2nd place and 160,000 Euros ($172,784) while the Swede, Johansson, was crowned champion of Europe. With the crown came the $25,000 seat in the WPT finals and 500,000 Euros ($539,950) to help get him there.

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