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Poker shaken by Moneymaker

LAS VEGAS - It was only fitting that a man named Moneymaker would put down $40 and ultimately walk away with $2.5-million and the title of champion Saturday in the 34th annual World Series of Poker.

Known to his friends as "Money," Chris Moneymaker, 27, also became the first person to win the prestigious tournament by qualifying on the Internet.

"I got lucky along the way," Moneymaker said. "I bluffed a lot during this tournament, but somehow I got away with it."

Players and experts said Moneymaker's win will revolutionize poker, solidifying the merger of the Internet and big-name casinos and boosting the game's popularity.

Amid cheers of "Go Money," the Spring Hill, Tenn., resident faced off against Ihsan "Sam" Farha in a final round that began Friday afternoon and ended early Saturday, at Binion's Horseshoe Hotel & Casino.

After seven other players had been eliminated, $2.5-million in cash was placed on the green-felt table and the final hands were dealt. Moneymaker, with his metallic wraparound shades, clutched a small crystal in his hand for good luck. Farha of Houston, had an unlit cigarette in one hand and a tiger figurine by his side.

The game was No-Limit Texas Hold'em.

Moneymaker drew a five and a four to Farha's jack and 10.

After the dealer laid out a jack, a four and a five on the table, Moneymaker stood holding two pairs to Farha's pair of jacks.

Without knowing Moneymaker's cards, Farha wagered it all - more than $1-million in chips.

Moneymaker matched the bet and watched the dealer draw the final shared cards, an eight and a five.

The cards gave him a full house (three fives and two fours) and the victory. The accountant threw up his fist and hugged his father, Mike Moneymaker of Knoxville, Tenn.

"I saw the four-five come up and I think my heart did a double-take," said the younger Moneymaker, who said this was his first "live" poker tournament.

The tournament began Monday with a record-breaking 839 players. A surge in online gambling and a rise in the game's popularity drew dozens of unknowns and a 33 percent increase in attendance over 2002.

For more than five weeks, Binion's had been a hub of excitement as players who couldn't afford the $10,000 buy-in vied for spots in the final by winning side tournaments with entry fees as low as $50. Of the 839 players, only 63 paid the buy-in price.

Others, like Moneymaker, qualified on such sites as ParadisePoker.com, ultimatebet.com and PartyPoker.com.

Moneymaker was among 37 players sent to the tournament after paying $40 and qualifying at PokerStars.com.

Moneymaker said being an unknown worked to his advantage.

"I was a little underestimated because no one knew who I was," he said. "If I can win it, anybody can."

No-Limit Texas Hold'em is the game played at the World Series of Poker. "No limit" means a player can bet all of his chips at any time.

Each player is dealt two cards face down. Players can choose to fold (drop out), call (match another player's bet) or raise (increase the bet).

Five "community" cards (cards the players share) are turned over - the first three at once, and then the last two one at a time. Rounds of betting follow each time.

The player who makes the best five-card hand using any combination of his cards and the community cards wins the pot.

- SOURCE: www.texasholdem-poker.com