North American Poker Championship - Live Updates

Gavin Smith limps in and Glen Witmer raises to $500,000. After a moment or two of thought, Smith moves all-in over the top. Witmer makes the call and slaps down A♠ K♠ while Smith is racing with 5♦ 5♥.

"Gotta win one race," Smith tells his group of fans. "Gotta win one race."

The two men shake hands and stand to await the flop, which comes Q♦ J♦ 2♠ to give Witmer more outs to clinch the title. The turn card is the J♣ and now Witmer can win with any ten, queen, king or ace.

The river card is the A♣ and Witmer spikes the best hand, clinching the 2008 World Poker Tour's North American Poker Championship and winning himself a full $1,254,152 CAD, as well as two bracelets, a trophy and a seat at the $25,000 WPT Championship in April.

For his second-place finish, Smith takes home $612,427. Congratulations to both finalists and to Canada, which re-affirmed its most ballingest status with this most ballingest event!

Gavin Smith limps in and Glen Witmer checks his option. The flop comes 7♣ 6♠ 5♦ and Witmer bets out $100,000. Smith makes the call and the turn is the 4♣. Witmer again bets out, this time for $200,000, and Smith again flat-calls.

The river is the 2♠ and Witmer bets out $250,000. Smith raises to $1 million and after some thought, Witmer lays it down.

On the next hand, Witmer limps in and Smith checks his option. The flop comes A♣ A♦ 7♦ and Smith checks to Witmer, who bets out $150,000. Smith makes the call and the turn is the 2♣. 

Both players check and the river is the J♠. Smith bets out $325,000 and Witmer announces a call. Smith shows a jack and Witmer mucks his hand. Smith takes the pot.

Gavin Smith limps in and Glen Witmer checks his option. The flop comes K♦ 4♠ 3♠ and Witmer bets out $150,000. Smith makes the call and the turn is the 6♠, prompting a check from Witmer and a check behind from Smith.

The river is the 6♣ and Witmer again checks. Smith bets out $380,000 and Witmer makes the call, only to muck after Smith shows K-6 for the full house.

Pot For Witmer!

Smith limps again and Witmer makes it $150,000 to go. Smith matches the wager and the flop comes A♥ K♦ 2♥. Witmer bets out $250,000 and Smith makes the call. The turn is the T♣ and Witmer checks. 

Smith bets out $375,000, only to see his rival shoot another $375,000 into the middle in a textbook gay-raise. Smith lays it down and Witmer takes the pot, showing K-10 for two pair as he does.

The blinds have gone up once more. Meanwhile, Witmer has a $9.5 million to $4.2 million chip lead over Smith.

Kathy Liebert makes it $150,000 to go from the small blind and Gavin Smith makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes A♦ J♥ 3♦ and Liebert bets out $200,000. Smith raises to $670,000 and Liebert moves all-in over the top, putting Smith to a decision for $1.9 million in total.

Smith makes the call, tabling A♥ 9♣ and Liebert needs to improve with the Q♦ J♦ for second-pair and the diamond draw. The turn is the 2♥ and the river the 3♣ however, and Smith's aces hold, giving him the pot and crippling a clearly distraught Liebert.

A few hands later, Glen Witmer raises to $200,000 in the small blind and Liebert calls off her last $165,000 in the big blind, tabling 8♣ 7♠ against Witmer's Q♠ J♥. 

The flop comes K♦ Q♥ 3♠ and is disastrous for Liebert, who now needs running cards to stay alive. The turn is the 5♠ and it's over for the PokerKat, who is eliminated in third place and earns $319,337 for her time.

We're now on a quick break as we prepare for heads-up action between Gavin Smith and Glen Witmer, with the latter holding a lead of $9.83 million to Smith's $3.815 million.

Ryan Fisler has been eliminated. But before we get to that, here's a Kathy Liebert double-up:

Fisler raises to $150,000 from under the gun and Kathy Liebert ships all-in for her last $965,000 from the button. Gavin Smith calls in the small blind and Fisler lays down pocket fours as he gets out of the way.

Smith has 9♠ 9♣ and Liebert is racing with A♠ K♠. The flop comes K♦ 6♣ 2♠ and Liebert flops the best hand. The turn is the K♣ and she makes trips, needing only to dodge Smith's two outs on the river to double. The river is the 4♥ and Liebert is good, doubling through Smith to stay alive.

Fisler Finished!

Glen Witmer raises to $200,000 on the button and Ryan Fisler makes it $755,000 to go from the small blind. Before Kathy Liebert can fold in the big blind Witmer has made the call and after Liebert lays it down the flop comes J♠ 9♦ 2♥.

After a moment or two of consideration, Fisler moves all-in and Witmer insta-calls, tabling A♥ J♥ against Fisler's A♠ K♦. The turn is the J♣ and Fisler is drawing dead, and after the river card is the 3♣, Witmer takes the pot and Fisler is eliminated.

Fisler is out in fourth place and receives $262,469 for his efforts.

Action continues three-handed.

Ryan Fisler raises to $135,000 and Kathy Liebert moves all-in over the top for $615,000 from the button. Action folds back around to Fisler, who makes the call and tables A♥ 8♣ to counter Liebert's 9♥ 9♣.

The flop comes T♦ 8♠ 5♠ and Fisler flops an eight. Liebert maintains the best hand but Fisler pleads with the dealer, "don't playa hate, drop an eight!"

The turn, however, is the 9♠ and Liebert turns a set. The river is the 5♦ and the PokerKat doubles up to about $1.3 million, staying alive and keeping the action four-handed.

Ryan Fisler raises to $105,000 in early position and Gavin Smith calls in the small blind. The flop comes A♦ 7♠ 5♥ and Smith check-calls to the tune of $155,000. The turn is the 6♥ and both players check.

The river is the 4♠ and Smith fires out $275,000. Fisler makes it $700,000 to go and Smith lays it down. Fisler takes the pot.

Quads For Witmer!

Smith raises to $110,000 on the button and Glen Witmer makes it $250,000 to go from the small blind. The flop comes K♦ J♠ 7♠ and Witmer fires out $250,000. Smith mulls this over before matching the wager and the turn is the J♣.

Witmer fires out another $250,000 and Smith lays it down. Witmer shows J♥ J♦ for quads as he rakes the pot.

The field is on a quick ten-minute break.

The flop comes A♠ 5♠ 2♠ and Witmer takes the lead. The turn card is the 5♥ and the river the 9♣ and Karam can't recover. Instead he's eliminated in 5th place, a finish worth $196,851 to the Ottawa, Ontario native.

Witmer Takes A Big One!

Gavin Smith raises to $110,000 from the cut-off and Glen Witmer makes it $250,000 to go from the small blind. Action folds back to Smith, who makes the call and the flop comes K♣ 7♥ 3♠. Witmer bets out $250,000 and Smith again flat-calls.

The turn is the 3♥ and Witmer fires a third $250,000 bullet. Smith again matches the wager and the river is the 2♦. Witmer bets $500,000 and Smith, after some thought, makes the call.

Witmer turns up J♦ J♥ for jacks and treys and it's good to take down a massive pot. 

Ryan Fisler and Gavin Smith see a flop come A♣ 8♦ 4♥ and Fisler bets out $165,000. Smith makes the call and the turn is the K♠, prompting both players to check. The river is the T♦ and Fisler (quickly) checks. Smith fires out $295,000 and this puts Fisler in the tank.

"I think I'm good, Gavin," Fisler says. "I really think I'm good. You probably have an eight or something."

After a minute or two of thought he makes the call. Smith turns up A- for two pair and it's good to take the pot.

Check-Raise from Smith

Marc Karam raises to $85,000 from under the gun and James Trenholm makes the call before Smith matches the wager in the big blind. The flop comes A♥ T♥ 8♠ and Smith and Karam both check.

Trenholm bets out $150,000 and Smith makes it $385,000 to go. Karam folds out and so does Trenholm, shipping another pot to Birdguts.

Gavin Smith raises to $85,000 and Marc Karam makes the call before James Trenholm moves all-in over the top. Smith folds out but Karam asks for a count.

"Just a dent in your mountain, Marc," Trenholm replies, estimating he's on about $700,000. In reality it's closer to $900,000 and Karam, after some thought, lays down the hand.

Trenholm Shoves Again!

Karam raises to $85,000 from early position and Trenholm makes it $200,000 to go on the button. Action folds back around to Myst, who makes the call, and the flop comes K♠ Q♣ 7♦.

Karam checks to Trenholm, who moves all-in again. The Ottawa Kid gives the matter some thought before announcing, "I only flopped one pair. Not enough to call you."

Karam lays it down and Trenholm takes the pot.

"You're getting feisty, aren't ya?" Smith observes.

"It's not much fun when the bunny gets the gun," is Trenholm's cryptic reply.

Ryan Fisler raises to $85,000 on the button and Kathy Liebert re-ups to $300,000 from the small blind. Action folds back to Fisler, who thinks for a minute before announcing, "I'm all-in."

"I'm gonna call you," Liebert replies. She does, turning up A♥ K♠ while Fisler has ... A♠ K♥. The board fails to bring any miracles and the two players chop the pot.

Pot for Witmer!

Gavin Smith raises to $85,000 on the cut-off and Glen Witmer makes it $190,000 in the small blind. Action folds back to Smith, who makes the call, and the flop comes A♦ 9♠ 2♠. 

Witmer bets out $260,000 and Smith mulls it over before telling Witmer, "All right bro, I'm going to let you bluff me." 

He lays down two face cards and Witmer takes the pot.

It's final table time at the 2008 North American Poker Championship on the World Poker Tour. Seven days ago, the first of an eventual field of 454 runners took to the tables at the Fallsview Resort and Casino to begin the long march towards WPT millionaire status.

Today only six of those 454 remain, and they're all gathered on the WPT soundstage to play down to a champion before the night is through. Canadian pros Gavin Smith, Ryan Fisler and Marc Karam join American Kathy Liebert and Canadian amateurs Glen Witmer and James Trenholm under the mood lighting.

Can Karam take down his first major tournament victory on his home soil? Can Liebert make history? Or will Witmer, the 67-year-old chip leader, emerge victorious at his first final table?

Only PokerListings.com knows. And we'll only tell you if you stick around for a few hours.

Here are the seating positions and chip counts for the final six: