$5,150 Circuit Championship Event | 2009 WSOP Circuit Event - New Orleans

05-20-2009 13:56 UTC-5

Seat 4: Anita Vasquez (118,000)

donpeters

Anita Vasquez is the lone woman to reach the final table. She is a 33-year-old bartender from Houston, Texas. Her biggest score to date is a second-place finish in a $500 event right here in New Orleans where she won $43,742.

Vasquez's mother has been on the rail the entire tournament watching her daughter grind her way through the field. Vasquez loves her mom dearly and loves to "Sing, dance, and just have fun!"

She will be starting the final table with 118,000 chips and second from the bottom.

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05-20-2009 13:52 UTC-5

Seat 3: Justin "LockdownTex" Allen (303,000)

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donpeters

Not too long ago, Harrah's New Orleans held a December version of the Bayou Poker Challenge back in 2008. The winner of that event was none other than Justin "LockdownTex" Allen. For that win, Allen took home nearly $160,000.

The young 21-year-old resides in Dallas, Texas and considers poker to be his occupation. Also on Allen's resume is a fifth-place finish at the $5,000 World Poker Open event in Tunica where he cashed in over $35,000. He comes into today with 303,000 chips.

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05-20-2009 13:47 UTC-5

Seat 2: Kurt Scheer (115,000)

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donpeters

Kurt Scheer has been playing poker for only six weeks, and it seems to be working out quite well for him. Scheer is coming into today's final table with 115,000 chips and at the bottom of the pack, but if yesterday's antics were any sign, we'll all be in for a good show.

Scheer is from Birmingham, Alabama where he works as a builder and realtor. He is happily married with three kids and 42 years old.

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05-20-2009 13:43 UTC-5

Seat 1: Kenny Milam (389,000)

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[user66118]

Kenny Milam is a 54-year-old trucking contractor. He's one of the local cats, born in Arkansas but now a proud resident of New Orleans. A Vietnam vet, Milam was on the receiving end of a kiss from Miss Universe in 1971. He should feel pretty comfortable in this venue; he tallied a 13th-place finish here in December '07.

Milam begins play in the middle of the pack with 389,000 chips.

05-20-2009 13:26 UTC-5

Day 3 Dawns; Final Table Awaits

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[user66118]

Good afternoon once again from Harrah's New Orleans! There's a poker table with a gator head on it, and that can only mean one thing: It's time for the final table of the Bayou Poker Challenge.

Some 48 hours ago, 167 runners took their seats here in the theatre-turned-tournament room, hoping to find themselves right here on stage today. One hundred fifty-eight of them were unsuccessful, and the number has been whittled down to just nine.

Jean Gaspard will begin play with the chip lead, but each of his table mates are in contention. The handicapping favorite would have to be Justin "LockdownTex" Allen, who took down the December version of this tournament last year. He'll have to overcome a relatively short stack to repeat here, but only a fool would count him out.

The final preparations are being made to the final table setup, and we expect the cards to be in the air right on time at 2:00pm local time. See you back here in just a few minutes!