I bet you didn't think that was the headline you'd see today, but yes, Erik Seidel fell just short of yet another victory in 2011 at the latest World Poker Tour stop.

World Poker TourMike Scarborough overcame a tough final table to win his first WPT title in Indiana.

Mike Scarborough emerged victorious over the field of 97 players at the Hollywood Poker Open in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and cashed in for $273,664 when he defeated Seidel in heads-up play. It was a two-week span of poker that many players could only imagine in their dreams, but Scarborough, playing in his "home casino", simply dominated the action throughout the 2011 Hollywood Poker Open series.

In addition to his win in the main event, he also cashed in for two more titles and a second-place finish in the preliminary events. It was a great April for the newest WPT champion.

"It's absolutely amazing," said Scarborough to the World Poker Tour after his victory. "To go heads-up against Erik Seidel and be able to take it down. I mean, obviously I had a pretty dominating chip lead, but it's a total dream come true. It really is. Just to be sitting at the table with people of that nature. Just getting down to the final table, I was happy to be there."

The Cincinnati native was thrilled to have taken home his first six-figure score and said that we'll be seeing a lot more of him on the felt. He still works part-time and that fact surprised Seidel who was more than impressed with the play of the amateur.

According to the World Poker Tour, Scarborough entered the final table in second place, but after seven hands, the six-handed final table was down to only four with the eliminations of Ali Eslami and Club WPT online qualifier Andy Whetstone.

2010 Cardplayer Player of the Year Tom Marchese was eliminated in fourth by one of his good friends and chip leader at that point William Reynolds. From that point, a three-handed epic battle would last 142 hands until finally, Reynolds would put his chips in behind with A-10 to Scarborough's A-J. Scarborough commented that by that point in the night, Reynolds' game had changed significantly and it would ultimately result in his downfall.

Entering heads-up play, Scarborough had nearly a 4:1 chip lead over Seidel, but with 25 big blinds, Seidel still had enough room to maneuver. Scarborough wouldn't let that happen and kept the pressure on the poker hall of famer, punishing him with raises. Only 12 hands into their battle, Seidel moved all-in with Ad-9d and was called by Scarborough's Jh-10h. The board ran 10-9-7-8-10 and Scarborough's straight was enough to give him the victory. Seidel earned $155,103 which brings him to nearly $4.5 million in winnings in 2011.

The World Poker Tour now heads to Florida for the Seminole Hard Rock Showdown. We can expect a much larger field down south than the one in Indiana and considering the recent change in legislation in the state, many pros believe there will be extra value in this event.

1. Mike Scarborough ($273,664)
2. Erik Seidel ($155,103)
3. William Reynolds ($110,788)
4. Tom Marchese ($77,551)
5. Andy Whetstone ($62,041)
6. Ali Eslami ($50,962)

Small blinds: The NAPT Mohegan Sun Bounty Shootout will conclude on Thursday. Making the final table is defending champion Jason Mercier, Eugene Katchalov, Jonathan Jaffe, Micah Raskin, Joe Sweeney, Scott Blackman, Jimmie Guinther, Michael Pesek and Taylor von Kriegenbergh. Vanessa Selbst tweeted at Mercier that she held up her part of the deal and now it was his turn. Mercier watched the entire main event final table on Wednesday in support of Selbst. … Kyle Cartwright earned his third WSOP Circuit title with his victory in the main event at the WSOPC stop in St. Louis. The 23-year old earned $142,290. The next WSOP Circuit stop in Las Vegas kicks off today. … With the recent passage of the DC online poker bill, more details are starting to come out including the idea that hot spots will be set up in bars, hotels, etc. where people can participate. … The poker bills in Hawaii and Florida are done. Everyone is looking back at federal legislation once again. … Caesars Entertainment CEO shares his thoughts on online gaming. Let's hope people are listening to what one of the most influential people in the industry has to say.