EVENT #20 WRAP

The final table of Event #20 has a ton of wild action and interesting story lines, as Adam Waldbaum takes the title by beating Robert Melo heads up. "It feels great, but it's been a long day," says Waldbaum who collects $32,886 for the top prize after nearly 18 hours of play.

The roller coaster Poker Open for Nicole Rowe has another upswing, as she cashes for a second time. The last woman standing from the Ladies Event runs her pocket 8s against the pocket aces of Jim Funk, doubling him into the chip lead. The hand cripples Rowe on her way to an 8th place finish.

"I really wanted to win," says the New Windsor, NY resident. "Hopefully my luck at the poker table transfers to life," she says while preparing for next week's well documented double mastectomy."

The other woman at the final table is Patricia Barsanti-Chou, who won the 2007 Poker Open Ladies Event. "It's great that two woman were at the final table," Barsanti-Chou says following her third place finish, "especially since we've both done well in Ladies events."

As for Funk, he was in a funk when three tables remained, but finds his lucky rabbit's foot to survive 15 all-ins and battles back as the short stack to reach the final table. "I caught some breaks and was really fortunate to get as far as I did," he says after finish 4th."

Once things are four handed between Barsanti-Chou, Funk, Waldbaum and Melo the action is fast and furious with Waldbaum claiming the prize and the championship trophy.