SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun

Continued from page 1

"We knew we had to come up with something different, some innovative ideas to make the main event larger."

McClelland decided to conduct six super satellites, instead of the usual two.

He also placed tournament action directly on the casino floor, rather than hiding it away in a side room.

"That made the energy just incredible," McClelland said.

"Some other casinos tolerate poker players. We embrace them."

Tuesday's six-player final table, which will be televised on GSN (Cox cable Channel 344) on a date to be announced next year, was the shortest in World Poker's six seasons at just 53 hands.

Katchalov, who entered the final day with a big chip lead, knocked out third-place finisher David "Devilfish" Ulliott ($674,500) when his ace-jack held up against Ulliott's ace-10.

Ted Kearly of Michigan finished second to collect $1.25 million.

Katchalov, who also earned a $25,000 seat in April's World Poker Tour Championship at the Bellagio with his victory, said he would need at least a week for the win to sink in.

"He's going to be a great champion," Dalton said. "He's surrounded by a good foundation of other poker players, friends and family."

"They talk about hands, they talk about poker and they support each other. That's important when you have this kind of life-changing win."

Dalton was impressed by the new champion's professional and low-key demeanor, a contrast to televised poker's camera hogs and their tiresome "wacky" antics.

"Just like any sport that's televised, you hope that the champion is going to be the kind of player who can be a mentor to other players, someone who people who follow poker can look up to," Dalton said.

"Particularly those of us who are in the poker industry, you always hope that person is going to represent the industry well."

Page 1, 2