DON McDERMOTT / PVT Jerry Yang holds up some of the $8.25 million he earned after winning the 38th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. DON McDERMOTT / PVT Tuan Lam, was the runnerup, pocketing more than $4.8 million. Advertisement

LAS VEGAS -- Phil Gordon, one of poker's more esteemed analysts, said it best.

"I loved the way Jerry handled himself in the exit interview; he is going to be a great spokesman for the game and a great champion," Gordon told PokerJunkie.com, in an interview conducted less than 30 minutes after Jerry Yang won the 38th World Series of Poker last Wednesday.

The tournament concluded at 4:35 a.m. in the Rio All-Suite Hotel-Casino here, with Yang, a 39-year-old child psychologist, eliminating Tuan Lam and earning the first-place payoff of $8.25 million, out of a prize pool of $59,784,954. Lam received $4,840,981, while third-place finisher Raymond Rahme pocketed $3,048,025.

Fourth and earning $1,852,721 was Alexander Kravchenko, and fifth was John Kalmer, who received $1,255,069.

Completing the final table were Hevad Rain Kahn, $956,243; Lee Childs, $705,229; Lee Watkinson, $585,699, and Philip Hilm, $525,934.

The $10,000 buy-in WSOP championship event drew 6,358 entries, boosting the overall number of players for the 2007 event to 54,288, who generated a total prize pool for 55 tournaments to almost $160 million. Harrah's Entertainment, which owns the World Series created in 1970 by Benny Binion, raked 6 percent, or more than $8.8 million.

"Yang is a gentleman who feels for the need to do the right things," said Gordon. Yang, who was once a child refugee and used a $225 investment in satellites to earn a place in the WSOP, donated 10 percent of his earnings to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children, and Ronald McDonald House. He also made another donation to his alma matder, Loma Linda University.

Yang resides in Temecula, Calif., with his wife, Sue, "who can now quit her job as a blackjack dealer," said the champion, the father of six children who will now have a better life because of his success.

"I know what it's like to be poor," said Yang, a diminuitive 5-foot-3 who wore all black at the final table. The only color was generated by FullTilt emblems on his hat and jacket. "I was in a Laos refugee camp and Tuan was in similar circumstances in Vietnam. So we know how life can treat someone in need." Lam now resides in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Yang, backed at the tournament by a Lake Elsinore casino as well as the Web site, FullTilt, stayed "in the cheapest hotel I could find ... until made the money. Then I moved into the Rio," he said, smiling.

On the final hand, Yang was dealt pocket 8s, with Lam choosing to go all-in with ace-queen diamonds.

On the flop fell 5 spade, queen club, and nine club, giving Lam a pair of queens and the lead. But when a seven diamond and six hearts fell on the turn and river, respectively, Yang had his nine-high straight and the win. A crowd, still at capacity in the stands that surrounded the final table, erupted into huge cheers.

"If the cards fall differently on the final hand, it might have been a whole new tournament," said Lam. Yang agreed. "I didn't want Tuan making any comeback," said the winner.

Going into the final hand, Yang had 106.8 million chips, while Lam had almost 20.2 million. Which meant if Lam had won that fateful hand, Yang would have just a 2-1 chip advantage, "and anything could have happened," said Lam.

Watkinson, with 20 WSOP cashes and more than $2 million in earnings, was the last of the major professional players to survive through to the final table.

Former champion Scotty Nguyen was 11th, earning $476,926. Bill Edler was 23rd and received $333,490. Marie Ho was the last woman eliminated, finishing 38th and earning $237,865.

Other payoffs included: Kirk Morrison, $154,194; Gus Hansen, $154,194; Julian Gardner, $130,288; Warren Karp, $130,288; Huck Seed, $106,382; Humberto Brenes, $82,476; Dario Minieri, $67,535; Chad Brown, $67,535; Berry Johnston, $58,570, and Billy Baxter, $58,570.

Also, Robert Varkonyi, $51,398; Juan Carlos Mortensen, $51,398; Jason Lester, $45,422; Tobey (Spider Man) Maguire, $39,445; Hans Lund, $39,445; Robert Mizrachi, $34,664; Chris Grigorian, $29,883; Todd Brunson, $29,883; Shirley (mother of David) Williams, $29,883, and Gavin Smith, $20,320.

Shut out were former champions Joseph Hachem, Greg Raymer, Johnny Chan, Chris Moneymaker, Chris Ferguson, and Doyle Brunson, along with TV poker stars Daniel Negreanu, Mike Matusow, David Williams, Josh Arieh, Antonio Esfandiari, Patrik Antonius, Annie Duke, Jennifer Harman Traniello, and Cyndi Violette.

Complete 2007 WSOP standings -- for all 55 events -- are on the Web site, www.worldseriesofpoker,com.