2005 DIAMOND WORLD POKER CLASSIC

This year's installment of the Five-Diamond World Poker Classic has been running at the Bellagio for the last week and a half, crowning eight new champions in preliminary events and handing out over $5.1 million in prize money. All of this year's events are no-limit hold'em freezeouts, and most of the final tables so far have featured multiple professionals. Several players have had multiple cashes, including Men "The Master" Nguyen, Orlando Maldonado, Gavin Smith, Gary Do, James Van Alstyne, Joe Sebok, and Doug Carli. Here's a rundown of the results so far.

In Event #1, a $1,500+70 tournament, 274 players entered to create a $664,450 prize pool. Just missing out on the money were 2005 WSOP Main Event runner-up David Williams, who left in 12th, and Barry Greenstein, who finished 13th. The final table finishers were:
 

In Event #2, a $2,000+80 tournament, 261 players entered to fight over a total prize pool of $506,340. Several pros made the money but missed the final table, including "Minneapolis" Jim Meehan, former WPT Championship title holder Martin DeKnijff, and James Van Alstyne. The final table finishes were:
 

The $2,500+100 Event #3 attracted 243 players and generated a prize pool of $589,275. Only 18 players made the money in this tough field. CardPlayer columnist Joe Sebok bubbled out of the final table, which played out as follows:
 

Event #4, a $3,000+100 tournament, fielded 233 entries and generated a prize pool of $678,030. Doug Carli, who made the final table of the WSOP Circuit at Caesars Indiana in November, finished in 15th place, just behind Can Kim Hua in 14th. The final table results follow:
 

Event #5, a $5,000+15 tournament, had 200 entrants for a total prize pool of $970,000. Alan Goehring, Gavin Smith, Jean Gaspard, and Joe Sebok all made the money but missed out on the final table action. The final table lineup and results were as follows:
 

The buy-in dropped back down to $1,500+60 for Event #6, and 405 players entered to create a $589,275 prize pool. 50 players made the money in this event, more than any other event at the Five-Diamond this year. The final table results were:
 

Event #7, with a $2,000+80 buy-in, had 297 players enter for a shot at the $576,180 prize pool.
 

Event #8 featured a $2,500+100 buy-in, 274 entrants, and a $664,450 prize pool. Among the professionals making the money but missing the final table were Dewey Tomko, Marco Traniello, and bubble boy Gavin Smith.
 

The Five-Diamond World Poker Classic Seniors Event will kick off on Friday, December 9th, and play out on the 10th and 11th. Super satellites to the World Poker Tour main event will run on both Saturday December 10th and Sunday December 11th at 1 PM, with an entry fee of $1,500+70. The $15,000+300 main event will begin on Monday December 12th and finish play on Friday December 16th.