Long Beach resident Yosh Nakano plays at the 2006 CBS Intercontinental  Poker Championshp, held July 22 in Los Angeles and televised around the world. Nakano, representing Japan, won the tournament and its $350,000 first prize.

Yosh Nakano of Long Beach defeated Antanas Guoga in the final match of the first Intercontinental Poker Championship, held in Los Angeles and televised July 22 on CBS to be seen by more than three million viewers.

Nakano, who represented Japan in the event, won $350,000 while Guoga, known as Tony G and representing Australia, claimed the second place prize of $150,000 in the dramatic showdown.

Nakano won the first round of the best-of-three final. He was poised to win the second round and the championship with a pair of kings, vs. Guoga's 10 and seven. Guoga, however, lucked out and hit an inside straight as the up cards were a two, eight and six, getting a nine card on the turn.

In the third and deciding round, Guoga was at one point ready to win the championship with a decisive chip lead, holding a jack-10 vs. Nakano's jack-five, with a five, six, jack and 10 showing. Nakano would need one of the two five cards left in the deck to win the hand.

This time it was Nakano who luck smiled upon, as the dealer dealt a five, giving him a full house and the win.

"What happened?" asked a pleased Nakano, breaking into a grin from his normally reserved demeanor. "Jeez, Well that's about the luckiest I've ever gotten, Tony, in my life... Unbelievable."

It was essentially over, except for a few more hands to play, with the crown going to Nakano, who said he felt relieved to get the win because at that level of play, luck can be as important as skill.

"I've been a highly successful high-limit cash game player for 30 years [but] this was my first major tournament victory," Nakano said afterward. "It makes it extra special that I'm representing Japan I an international field of poker players. I hope it helps raise the Japanese interest in poker since they're very a competitive and creative society."

The original field of 21 world-class invitees included such top players as Doyle Brunson, a.k.a. the Godfather of Poker, representing the U.S.; two-time World Series of Poker champion Johnny Chan, representing China; Daniel Negreanu, a.k.a. Kid Poker, representing Canada; Sam Farha, representing Lebanon; and Hasan Habib, representing Pakistan.

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