Hand 36

Jerry Yang raises to $1.5 million and Tuan Lam re-raises all-in immediately. Yang calls very quickly and turns up pocket eights to Lam's A Q. The crowd is on its feet and chanting "U-S-A" for Yang, while the Canadian contingent merely hollers. Lam brandishes a Canadian flag as the crowd settles (barely) to wait for the flop.

As shouts of encouragement ring out through the Amazon Room, the dealer turns up Q 9 5 sending the Canadian crowd into a triumphant roar. Yang has the 8 and can hit a backdoor flush or a set to win the title, but the 7 on the turn gives him even more outs.

It's a madhouse in the Amazon Room as partisans holler encouragement for their player and the tension is palpable as we wait for the river. Fifth Street is the 6 and this tournament is over! Jerry Yang hits runner-runner to make a nine-high straight and win the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event!

The crowd screams alternately "U-S-A! U-S-A!" and "Jerry! Jerry!" as Yang is mobbed by his family and friends. The Californian by way of Laos earns $8.25 million for his dominant final table performance, with 10% of the winnings having been pledged to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children and the Ronald McDonald House charities. He also wins his first WSOP bracelet and the right to represent the game of poker for the next year and beyond. Oh yeah - immortality doesn't hurt either.

For his runner-up finish, Tuan Lam earns $4,840,981 and a slice of immortality of his own. Congratulations to both finalists and to all who cashed in the Main Event!

Stay tuned for photographs of the bracelet ceremony, interviews and analysis.

Hand 25

Tuan Lam raises to $2.25 million and Jerry Yang lays it down.

Hand 26

Jerry Yang is first to act and he takes a long time making a decision. He decides to limp and Lam checks his option. The flop comes 8 6 3 and Lam checks. Yang bets out $1.5 million and Lam lays it down. Yang takes the pot.

Hand 27

Tuan Lam raises preflop and Jerry Yang lays it down.

Hand 28

Jerry Yang is first to act and he limps in. Tuan Lam moves all-in over the top and Yang quickly lays it down. Lam takes down the blinds and antes.

Hand 29

Tuan Lam lays down the button preflop.

Hand 30

Jerry Yang raises from the button and Tuan Lam re-raises all-in. Yang asks for a count and the answer is $17,100,000. After about another minute of thought, Yang lays it down and Lam takes another pot.

Hand 31

This is the two-hundredth hand of the final table. For comparison's sake, last year's final table took 260 hands. Due to Harrah's chicanery, we are captive to the radio/video feed as we've been denied an opportunity to watch the final table firsthand. During this hand the radio/video provider decided to run commercials for tacky poker knickknacks, so the action is unknown. Thanks again, WSOP!

Hand 32

Jerry Yang calls on the button and Tuan Lam raises another $2 million. Yang lays it down and Lam takes down another pot.

Hand 33

Tuan Lam limps-in and Jerry Yang raises another $2.5 million. Lam lays it down and Yang takes the pot.

Hand 34

Jerry Yang raises $3 million and Tuan Lam lays it down.

Hand 35

Tuan Lam limps-in and Jerry Yang checks his option. The flop comes K-9-2 with two spades and Yang checks to Lam, who checks behind. The turn is the A and both players check again. The river is the 6 and Yang bets $1.5 million. Lam calls the bet and shows a king for second pair. It's good for the pot and he rakes it.