blonde poker

 
Last Thursday, Dan Harrington proved there was life in the old dog yet by winning 1.6 million dollars and becoming the 2007 Legend of Poker.

The modern game might be overrun with uber-confident teenagers and trash talking balla boys, but the veterans of the game can still sing a merry tune, Dan Harrington being the latest to taste WPT glory at the Bicycle Club in Los Angeles.

But this was to be no walk in the park for the 1995 World Champ, the final table being made up of an array of talent: highly successful pro David ‘The Dragon’ Pham and WSOP star Tom Schneider both ploughing their way through to the final six.

With his first WPT title in his sights, nothing was going to get in the way of Harrington and his green Boston Red Sox cap, and after we’d lost Shi Jia Liu, Michael McClain, Tom Schnieder and Thu Nguyen in 6th to 3rd respectively, Pham was the only hurdle left to jump.

A fearsome prospect at the worst of times, Pham had already won 42k for a 3rd place finish in a side event, so was in confident mood. However, Harrington was as focussed as ever and gradually hacked away at Mount Pham to overturn a severe chip deficit.

3 long gruelling hours later and with Harrington holding the slight chip lead, the following hand occurred. With Pham making up the blind, Harrington checked and both players saw a Ts-5s-4h Flop. Harrington’s 400k bet was called by Pham only for Harrington to fire a 1 million bullet on the Ad Turn. Pham announced all-in and Harrington called. On their backs and Harrington had his man drawing dead with Th-5c vs. 7c-5h. A 3s River and it was all over, Dan Harrington raising his arms in triumph as the 2007 Legends of Poker Champion.

Born in Massachusetts but now a Californian, Dan Harrington remains one of the most esteemed individuals in the game, dignified and well mannered to say the least. To dismiss Action Dan as a rock would be a mistake. Yes, he's conservative, but he has moves in his arsenal, ones to which he disguises to perfection. But if ever his ability were in doubt, then one only look at his WSOP record, his consecutive final table appearances in 2004 and 2005 considered to be one of poker's greatest achievements.

Now he has another honour to add to that list…