The World Poker Challenge in Reno wrapped up late Friday night with Lee Markholt coming out on top of the $7,500 buy-in championship event. The World Poker Tour victory was the first tournament win for Markholt since April 2005 when he won the Professional Poker Tour event at the Five Star Poker Classic.

 

The win was worth $493,815 and 238 Bluff Magazine Player-of-the-Year points to Markholt. The runner-up, Bryan Devonshire, earned $271,625 for finishing in second place. Zachary Hyman, who held the chip lead at various stages of the tournament, finished in third place for $149,862.

 

All three players came into the final table trailling Jason Potter in chips, but he was unable to hold on to the chip lead and wound up finishing in fourth place. He earned $103,030.

 

David Pham finished in fifth place earning himself $93,664 and moving him up the POY ladder. The 90.44 POY points he earned will vault him into fourth place in the 2008 race.

 

Jeff Dewitt finished in sixth for $84,297.

 

The next stop for the WPT is the Foxwoods Poker Classic, April 4 - 9 in Mashantucket, Connecticut.