Event #5: WSOP Europe Main Event - £10,000 No-Limit Hold’em

346 players started this year's WSOPE Main Event, but when the smoke cleared and the dust settled, it was little known James Bord of England who rose above one of the calendar's best pound-for-pound fields to be crowned the Champion.

Some of the world's greatest poker players entered the event such as Tom 'durrrr' Dwan, Patrik Antonius, JC Tran, Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth, complete with a double-decker bus and 11 Lady Gagas. As the tournament progressed, all eyes fixed themselves on Viktor Blom and Phil Ivey, the two high rollers sending forums into a wild frenzy as they seemed destined for the final table. But as they fell just inches short, Victory Poker CEO Dan Felyshman flourished to take a chip lead into a tough final that included French pro Nicolas Levi and triple crown winner Roland De Wolfe.

Starting the final fifth in chips, Bord was perhaps overlooked as a potential winner, but he had one weapon that no other player could boast: the support of the rail. Heavily cheered throughout, Bord climbed the ladder rung by rung, surviving any all-in showdown he was involved in and battling his way to a heads-up encounter with Fabrizio Baldassari.

Despite his Italian foe boasting a comfortable chip lead, there was something in the air at the Empire, and it just felt as though there was only going to be one winner. On this night, that man was Bord, who after doubling through with Big Slick, finally sealed the deal with tens holding against pocket fives.

The rail exploded like Mount Vesuvius and after the bedlam ceased, a victorious Bord collected his bracelet and officially became the 2010 WSOPE Champion. In conclusion, Bord beamed with pride: "I've got all the boys to say thank you to, you are unbelievable. And I'd like to say a big thank you to Sam Trickett. It's just such a relief to get one!"

Obsrestad, Juanda, Shulman - it's a hellava list to be part of, but Bord's name is now etched into the record books.

Hand #226: James Bord received a walk.

Hand #227: Bord raised to 180,000, only for Fabrizio Baldassari to three-bet. Before the chips had been counted, Bord's cards were in the muck.

Hand #228: Baldassari raised it up and Bord immediately released his hand.

Hand #229: The button was on Bord who bumped it up to 215,000. Baldassari seem to be considering a raise, but just flat called. The flop rolled out    . Both players checked to an   turn, and then a   river, which triggered a bet of 225,000 from the Italian. Bord called with   , which was more than enough to scoop.

Hand #230: Baldassari raised to 200,000 and Bord flat called.

Flop:    

Bord check allowing Baldassari to take it down with a continuation bet.

Hand #219: James Bord was still stacking his chips when the next hand was dealt, but he found space to limp his small blind. A wounded Fabrizio Baldassari meant business though; he increased the price of poker from the big blind to pick up the pot.

Hand #220: Baldassari continued his aggressive streak with a raise to 200,000 from the button. With chips to play with, Bord made the call and we saw a     flop. Bord took control of the pot with a bet of 225,000, but Baldassari was in no mood to lay down. He flat called.

On the   turn, Bord decided to check, which provoked a bet of 500,000 from Baldassari. Bord instantly waved his hand forward to signify an all-in and returned to his stoic posture.

The Italian sat back in his chair with his arms folded before rubbing his chin pensively. He seemed tortured by the decision and it was obvious he was in somewhat of a quandary. After sizing up his options and offering his foe a piercing stare, he took one last look at his cards (nope, they hadn't changed) and flicked them into the muck.

Cue the local choir:

"Theeeeeeeere's only ooooooooone James Bordy... We're walking along, and singing a song, walking in a Bordy Wonderland!"

Hand #210: Baldassari on the button gave Bord a rare walk.

Hand #211: Bord responded by raising his button to 250k. Baldassari let his big blind go too.

Hand #212: No two walks in a row; Baldassari raised to 240k and picked up a Bord blind in return.

Hand #213: Bord's button - he raised to 225k. Baldassari reraised to 755k. A headshake later and Bord's raise was forfeited as he threw his hand away.

Hand #214: Baldassari made up the 80k on the button; check.       the flop, which both of them checked. On the   turn Bord bet out 115k and got a call. The river was the  . Check-check:     lost to   [4] as it turned out, the King high in Baldassari's hand winning this modest pot.

Hand #215: Bord raised to 160k on the button, which took another small pot.

Hand #204: Fabrizio Baldassari raised to 200,000 and James Bord made the call from the big blind. The flop came down     and Bord led with a bet of 250,000. Baldassari made the call.

The turn brought the   and Bord checked. Baldassari reached for chips and bet out 350,000. Bord made the call.

The river completed the board with the   and Bord checked. Baldassari bet out 425,000 and Bord called. Bord tabled the    and Baldassari mucked.

Hand #199: Bord raised to 175k on the button, called by Baldassari. On the       no bet, but on the   Baldassari bet out 250k. This was immediately raised by Bord to 500k, and with the ball back in his court, Baldassari didn't return it.

Hand #200: Baldassari's button raise wins the next one instantly. If there were a live hands per hour prize, these guys would be in the running.

Hand #201: 125k to go on the button from Bord again. Another call by Baldassari. The flop,      , brought a bet of 125k from Bord, check-called. The turn was the   - no further action. The river   saw Baldassari now betting out - 150k - and Bord making a raise. The 500k total bet waited for a call, and eventually got one, Bord showing down the unwinnable-with     and could only shake his head and admit his bluff had been called as Baldassari's     took the pot down.

This is what they're playing for now - 50% of these guys will win a WSOP bracelet and £830,410 (even more if you change it to $). The lighting has been changed to better illuminate the heads-up players and the Cash Mountain has been given pride of place at the front of the area within grabbing distance, worryingly, of the super-excited railers.

So who will have to content themselves with a simple half million pounds? We will know some time tonight. Stay tuned while they set up for heads-up dealing which should start in a few minutes.

Hand #189: Button James Bord made it125k, called by Baldassari. The flop came       and a continuation bet from Bord immediately picked up the smallish pot, to rapturous chanting from the rail.

Hand #190: Small blind Baldassari raised Bord but faced an instant reraise to around 350k, passing instantly. That's two in a row.

Hand #191: Baldassari raised the button to 130k, and Lee called in the small blind. On the       flop both players checked, and on the   turn Lee bet out 150k. Immediately Baldassari counted out a raise to 410k, and again Lee faced a flop raise out of position against the now out-chipping Italian. Lee reraised however, to 825k total, and Baldassari sat back, arms crossed, for a minute or so before deciding to check out Lee's stack a bit more closely. He inched forward another raise, setting Lee all in, and was rewarded with his own instant fold (and another kiss from the pretty lady).

Hand #178: Ronald Lee raise to 125,000 from the button and won the pot.

Hand #179: Lee got a walk in the big blind.

Hand #180: James Bord raised to 125,000 from the button. Fabrizio Baldassari called from the big blind and the flop came down    . Baldassari bet out 180,000 and won the pot.

Hand #181: Baldassari raised and then Bord reraised to take down the pot preflop.

Hand #182: Lee got another walk.

Hand #183: Unknown action.

Hand #176: Baldassari raised again, this time to 130,000, but Bord opted to call. Ronald Lee, however, squeezed from the big blind, making it a total of 400,000 to go.

Quicker than a cheetah on Concord, Baldassari announced all-in, Bord folded, and Lee called.

In the blink of an eye, we had a showdown, the Italian in water hotter than the sun with    versus Lee's superior   .

The Poker Gods were clearly in a devilish mood as they lay a     flop on the felt, followed by a harmless   turn and   river.

Baldassari was grabbed by an attractive woman on the rail who threw a barrage of kisses the Italian's way. Lee must have been gutted he didn't win, for the sexual assault alone.

"No woman has ever kissed me like that," wept a member of the Harrah's staff who I am unable to name.