That concludes our coverage of the 2008 WPT World Championship.

Stay tuned for a recap of the final table action.

Hand #80 -  Gus Hansen has the button, he raises to 750,000, and Chiu calls. The flop comes A108, Chiu checks, Hansen bets 900,000, and Chiu calls. There is already 3.35 million in the pot.

The turn card is the 5, Chiu bets 1.2 million, and Hansen thinks for about 30 seconds before he moves all in for 8,675,000. After nearly two minutes of counting out his own chips, Chiu says, "I call."

The crowd leaps to their feet, waiting to see their cards. Gus Hansen shows 108 for two pair, while David Chiu shows A9 for a pair of aces with a flush draw. Chiu needs an ace, a nine, a five, or any spade to win the tournament right here.

The river card is -- the A!

The crowd cheers in surprise as David Chiu leaps in celebration, and quickly gets his hand on a Chinese flag that he waves near the table.

After the initial excitement of the hand wears off, the audience stands in stunned silence. Gus Hansen walks over to David Chiu as if he is in a daze.

Gus Hansen finishes in second place, earning $1,714,800. He'll have to wait for his fourth WPT title.

David Chiu defies the odds and the early momentum of Gus Hansen to win the Season III WPT World Championship, earning $3,389,140, two bracelets (one from Bellagio, one from WPT), a trophy. That prize also includes his entry into next season's WPT World Championship.
 

Hand #80  -  Gus Hansen has the button, he raises to 750,000, and Chiu calls. The flop comes A108, Chiu checks, Hansen bets 900,000, and Chiu calls. There is already 3.35 million in the pot.

The turn card is the 5, Chiu bets 1.2 million, and Hansen thinks for about 30 seconds before he moves all in for 8,675,000.

David Chiu stands up as he tanks for a minute and counting ..

Hand #79  -  David Chiu has the button, he raises to 675,000, and Hansen calls. The flop comes 1063, and both players check. The turn card is the 4, Hansen bets 850,000, Chiu raises to 2.35 million, and Hansen folds. David Chiu takes the pot.

Gus Hansen  -  11,550,000
David Chiu  -  15,725,000
 

It's worth repeating: David Chiu, who stood by quietly in the early stages of this final table while Gus Hansen steamrolled the other four players, has taken over the chip lead.

When heads-up play began, Hansen had a 5.25-to-1 chip lead, and 84% of the chips in play.

Hand #78  -  Gus Hansen has the button, he raises to 800,000, and Chiu calls. Both players check to the river on a board of 554A9, Chiu checks, Hansen bets 900,000, and Chiu thinks for about a minute before he calls with 9-7 for two pair, nines and fives. Hansen mucks, and David Chiu wins the pot.

Gus Hansen  -  13,100,000
David Chiu  -  14,175,000

It sounds like Erick Lindgren and Company (including Gavin Smith, Daniel Negreanu, and others) are betting on the flops and turns. With each turn of the cards, there is a groan coming from that part of the audience.

Hand #77  -  David Chiu has the button, he limps for 300,000, and Hansen checks. The flop comes J108, Hansen checks, Chiu bets 300,000, and Hansen folds. David Chiu takes the pot.

Gus Hansen  -  14,825,000
David Chiu  -  12,450,000
 

Hand #76  -  Gus Hansen has the button, he raises to 775,000, Chiu reraises to 1.85 million, and Hansen thinks for more than 30 seconds before he calls. There is already 3.75 million in the pot.

The flop comes J63, and Chiu thinks for more than a minute before he bets 1.6 million. Gus thinks for nearly two minutes before he calls, firing the chips into the pot with both hands.

The turn card pairs the board with the 6, and Chiu thinks for about a minute before he moves all in for 5.175 million. Hansen quickly folds, and David Chiu takes the pot, giving him the most chips he's had yet in this heads-up match.

Gus Hansen  -  15,150,000
David Chiu  -  12,125,000