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Jerry Yang became poker’s newest champion this morning by besting a field of 6,358 players from around the globe to win the $10,000 No-Limit Texas Hold’em Championship at the 38th Annual World Series of Poker presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light.

Yang, a 39-year-old psychologist and social worker from Temecula, California, caught an inside straight on the final card of the final hand and won the $8.25 million top prize at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino around 4 a.m.

Second-place finisher Tuan Lam of Canada won $4.84 million and Raymond Rahme of South Africa took home $3.05 million. The final table saw four Americans and five players from outside the United States compete for more than $22 million in prize money.

“The feeling is just unbelievable,” said Yang. “Words can’t explain it. I’m looking forward to using the money to help as many people as I can. I have promised to split 10 percent of my winnings among three different charities – the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children, and the Ronald McDonald House – and that is the first thing I am going to do.”

A record 55 events made up the 2007 World Series of Poker, attracting 54,288 total registrants – the most in its 38-year history. The total prize pool at this year’s World Series of Poker topped $159 million.

The $10,000 No-Limit Texas Hold’em Championship, commonly referred to as the Main Event, generated a prize pool of nearly $60 million; 621 players finished in the money and received at least $20,320.

Due to its starting size, the Main Event playing field was spread over four days, beginning July 6. The Main Event final table began July 17 at noon Pacific, with the remaining nine players finishing in the following order:

2nd Place:

Tuan Lam, 41, of Mississauga, Ontario (Canada)

Winnings: $4,840,981

Lam is a professional poker player who was born in Vietnam and eventually immigrated to Canada at the age of 19. Prior to turning pro, Lam worked as a general laborer for a metal company. Then, he learned how to play poker from friends and has made it all the way to the final table of the 2007 main event.

This is his third year to attend the WSOP. His prior cashes were 46th place in an event last year and 78th place in a WSOP tournament held in 2005. He is married with two children, and is planning to return to Vietnam where he intends to help those who are needy in order to give back to those who represent his roots while growing up.

3rd Place:

Raymond Rahme, 62, of Johannesburg, South Africa.

(pictured at right with Rio hostess)

Winnings: $3,048,025

Rahme is the first person ever to appear at the final table of the Main Event from the continent of Africa. At age 62, he is also the senior member at the final table. He is married to his wife Teresa, and together they have six children. Prior to his retirement, Rahme owned and operated a bed and breakfast inn. Although he played stud for three decades, Rahme has only been playing the game of hold'em for about two years. Yet, Rahme is already enjoying significant poker tournament success.




4th Place:

Alex Kravchenko, 36, of Moscow, Russia.

Winnings: $1,852,721

Kravchenko is a businessman originally from Archangel, USSR. He became the first Russian citizen in history to win a WSOP gold bracelet when he was victorious in the $1,500 buy-in Omaha High-Low championship at this year’s WSOP.

5th Place:

Jon Kalmar, 34, of Chorley, Lancashire (UK).

Winnings: $1,255,069

Kalmar is a professional poker player who competes mostly in clubs located in the north and the Midlands region of England. Recently married with one child, Kalmar once was the lead singer in a punk rock band with the name "Nameless".

6th Place:

Hevad “Rain” Khan, 22, of Poughkeepsie, NY.

Winnings: $956,243

Khan is a professional poker player who attended college at the State University of New York-Albany. Regarded by many as the most aggressive player to make the final table, Khan was eighth in the chip count at the start of final table play.

7th Place:

Lee Childs, 35, of Reston, VA.

Winnings: $705,229

Childs holds a BBA in computer information systems from James Madison University. He recently left a high-tech position with a firm affiliated with the National Geographic Society to pursue his passion for poker.

8th Place:

Lee Watkinson, 40, of Cheney, WA.

Winnings: $585,699

Watkinson is a poker pro, businessman and animal rights activist. Among the businesses he owns are a record company and a clothing line.

9th Place:

Philip Hilm, 31, of Cambridge (UK).

Winnings: $525,934

Hilm, a native of Denmark now living in England, was the chip leader heading into the final table. He earned an economics degree in Copenhagen.

More information on the 38th Annual World Series of Poker is available at www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

The WSOP is operated by an affiliate of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET), the world's largest operator of casino-entertainment resorts. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, USA, nearly 70 years ago, Harrah's has grown through the development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages 50 casino resorts on four continents. The company’s properties operate primarily under the Caesars, Harrah’s and Horseshoe brand names; Harrah’s also owns and operates the London Clubs International family of casinos and the World Series of Poker tournament. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. The company is committed to reinvesting in the communities in which it operates.

More information about Harrah’s is available at its Web site — www.harrahs.com.

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