Allen Cunningham has just won the 2008 World Series of Poker Circuit event at Caesars Palace Las Vegas! Cunningham defeated Ben Fineman in heads-up play to claim the WSOPC ring and $499,162 in prize money.

In the climactic hand, Ben Fineman raised to $80,000 and Allen Cunningham made the call in the big blind. The flop came K Q Q and both players checked. The turn was the T and Cunningham bet out $100,000. Fineman raised to $400,000 and Cunningham moved all-in over the top, putting Fineman to a decision for his tournament life.

Fineman thought over his options for just a moment before finally (and unhappily) announcing a call and turning up A J for the Broadway Straight. Finemans's premonitions proved correct, as Cunningham turned up 5 4 for the flush, and after the river card was the 4 Allen Cunningham had clinched the title.

In addition to the prize money, Cunningham earns a seat into the $10,000 WSOP Main Event to be played out this July/November at the Rio in Las Vegas and another exclusive PokerListings.com interview . Meanwhile, Ben Fineman earns $257,637 and barely misses out on his second WSOPC ring in two weeks. Congratulations to both finalists and to the staff at Caesars for a wonderful tournament!

Ben Fineman raises to $80,000 on the button and Allen Cunningham makes the call. The flop comes Q 5 3 and Cunningham checks to Fineman, who bets out $100,000. Cunningham moves all-in over the top for $751,000 in total. Fineman gives the matter some thought before making the call and turning up a pair of sevens to Cunningham's Q 9. The board finishes out K 3 and Cunningham has doubled up through Ben Fineman to bring the chip stacks back to about even.

Heads-up play between Allen Cunningham and Ben Fineman has begun from Caesars Palace. Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion!

We're on a quick break as the actors dressed as Roman figures prepare to kick off heads-up play. Action will resume in about twenty minutes, we believe.

Chip counts as we prepare for heads-up play are as follows:

Ben Fineman	$2.63 million
Allen Cunningham	$710,000

 

Kelly Samson and Ben Fineman see a flop come 9 7 4 and Samson checks to Fineman, who bets out $200,000. Samson makes the call and the turn is the 9. Samson leads out for $200,000 and Fineman moves all-in, having Samson barely covered, and Samson makes the call for his last $1,102,000, turning up 9 8 to Fineman's J T. Samson needs to pair the board to survive, but the river card is the 2 and Samson is eliminated in third place. He drags himself muttering and screaming to his $128,816 consolation prize.

Motoyuki Mabuchi raises to $50,000 on the button and Ben Fineman re-raises to $130,000 in the big blind. Mabuchi makes the call and the flop comes K J 5. F moves all-in and Mabuchi makes the call for his tournament life, showing K 2 to Fineman's K Q. Mabuchi has kicker trouble, and after the board finishes out 8 4 Mabuchi has no-chips trouble. He's done in fourth place and takes $112,714 back to Osaka.

A short-stacked Justin Bonomo moves all-in for his last $100,000 and Allen Cunningham moves all-in over the top to isolate. Action folds around and Cunningham shows A Q to to ZeeJustin's K 3. The board comes 9 5 2 4 2 and ace-high takes it, sending Bonomo to the rail in fifth place. He earns $96,612 for his efforts.

Kelly Samson opens for $90,000 from the cut-off and after some thought, Justin Bonomo moves all-in from the big blind. Samson insta-calls for his last $667,000 and turns up a pocket pair of queens while Bonomo is behind with pocket tens. The flop comes 5 4 4 and Samson maintains the lead. The turn is Q, filling up Samson and ending the drama, and the river card is the Q to give dude quads for good measure. Samson doubles up to $1.3 million while ZeeJustin is down to $130,000.

Justin Bonomo raises to $53,000 for under the gun and Ben Fineman makes it $150,000 to go from the big blind. Bonomo moves all-in and Fineman snap-folds. Bonomo takes the pot.

Ben Fineman opens for $60,000 from the small blind and Blair Hinkle moves all-in over the top for $518,000 more from the big blind. Fineman tanks for a few minutes but eventually makes the call, showing A Q to Hinkle's Q 9. The flop comes T 8 6 and Fineman maintains his lead. The turn is the Q and Hinkle picks up more outs. He can hit a nine, a seven or a diamond for the win and a jack to chop, but the river is the 8 and Hinkle is gonzo. He's out in sixth place and earns $80,510.