Allen Cunningham once again demonstrated his skills and metal when he won the inaugural National Poker League Vegas Open Championship at the Venetian resort in Las Vegas. Cunningham came to the final table the chip leader but watched his lead disappear to eventual second place finisher David Singer after running into a card drought. When the final table action was stopped early Thursday morning Singer had slightly more than a million in chips, Antonio Salorio was close to a half million and Cunningham had a dismal 252,000.
Heads up began with Singer having a commanding chip lead over Cunningham that he pushed to more than a million in chips before the deck shifted into neutral. Allen Cunningham never lost his cool, stayed with his game and the chips began migrating back into his stacks. By the dinner break Allen was holding onto a slim lead. The first hand after the break ended the event when Cunningham caught an Ace for the nut straight. Allen Cunningham collected $325,105 for the win, David Singer got $203,191 as first runner-up, and Antonio Salorio received $130,042 for third.