First WPT title for Tran

Pro poker player J.C. Tran crossed off one of his career targets this week when he won his first World Poker Tour champion title in the World Poker Challenge at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno.

Tran had previously made it through to five WPT final tables among his many playing achievements, but this was his first WPT title. To pick up the winner's check of $683 473, Tran (30) had to prevail over a starting field of 475 pros and amateurs. The win also secures Tran a seat sponsorship worth $25 000 for the WPT championship at the Bellagio next (April) month.

The final heads up in the Reno event was against J.C. Alvarado (21) with Tran enjoying a clear three-to-one chip lead. Despite losing a big pot in one-on-one play, Tran eventually took out Alvarado with pocket tens to his opponent's A-6 after the board failed to deliver to either player.

"Man, it's a great feeling," he told PokerListings.com following the win. "It feels a lot better than finishing second in L.A. even though that paid a lot more money. But winning a WPT title was one of my goals coming into poker, and accomplishing that is a big step for me in becoming a force in the poker world."

The Reno event paid out handsomely to all 6 members of the final table. In addition to Tran's $25 000 seat sponsorship and cash payout of $683 473, second placed Alvarado took home $366 798 and all the other players earned six figure sums.