When the World Poker Tour competes internationally, you can expect an international final table. The Spanish Championship in Barcelona was no exception featuring six players from six different countries including Russia, Sweden, Korea, France, Austria and Denmark. Despite a tough table featuring three-time WPT champion Gus Hansen, Markus Lehmann overcame a short stack and a long delay to take home the title.

Coming into the final table the chip counts were as follows:

Seat 1. Vladimir 'The Vampire' Poleschchuk - 176,000
Seat 2. Christer Johansson - 855,000
Seat 3. Steve 'MuGGyLiCiOuS' Sung - 670,000
Seat 4. Gus 'The Great Dane' Hansen - 962,000
Seat 5. Ludovic 'Cuts' Lacay - 400,000
Seat 6. Markus Lehmann - 329,000

After a brief introduction and a gift of champagne from the Casino de Peralada, the players were seated and ready to begin.

It didn’t take long for the action to heat up. On the very first hand of play, Lacay raised to 42,000 and Johansson reraised to 192,000 from the big blind. Lacay moved all in for 398,000 and Johansson made the call. Johansson showed AQ but was in bad shape against Lacay’s pocket aces. The board came 1088Q6 and Lacay and Johansson traded places in the standings to start things off.

On the fourteenth hand of play, we lost Poleschchuk. Poleschchuk moved all in from the button for his last 120,000. Sung thought for a while before making the call with A2. Poleschchuk showed K9 and needed help to survive, but the board came 53210A eliminating the Russian in sixth place. For his efforts, Poleschchuk earned 83,900 euros ($118,945).

After a large pot went to Sung, the players took a supposed 10-minute break. Two hours and 37 minutes later (WPT record) play resumed. There were technical difficulties regarding the cameras and play could not begin until the issue was resolved. The players were a bit annoyed, but overall demonstrated remarkable patience throughout the ordeal.

On the first hand after returning, Lehmann made sure to get all of his chips into the pot. Lehmann raised under the gun to 60,000. Hansen reraised from the small blind to 175,000, and Lehmann moved all in for 291,000. Hansen called and shows A10 while Lehmann was behind with 87. The board came K8292 to double Lehmann back into contention.

Just three hands later it would be Johansson’s turn to double up. In a battle of the blinds, both Johansson and Sung took a K64 flop heads up. Both players checked to the turn, which was the J. Johansson bet out 30,000 and Sung took some time before raising to 100,000. Johansson announced all in and Sung made the call. Sung showed 64 for two pair, but Johansson had KJ for a higher two pair. The river was the 10 and Swedish poker pro doubled up.

At this point it was anyone’s game, with the remaining five players all within eight big blinds of each other. Over the next eight hands, the players traded chips back and forth while four of them saw the chip lead. It would be Lacay who would finish at the top, at least for awhile, with a series of raises and reraises that put a big gap between himself and the players scraping to catch up.

Lacay picked up a big pot when he eliminated Hansen. Hansen raised from the small blind to 74,000 and Lacay called in the big blind. The flop came Q64 and Hansen moved all in. Lacay immediately called and before seeing his cards Hansen said, 'Well I’m drawing dead.' Lacay showed pocket aces and Hansen was way behind with A10. The turn and river came K9 giving Lacay the pot and a massive chip lead. Hansen fell short of his fourth WPT title and finished in fifth place earning 117,400 euros ($142,621).

For the second time at the final table, Sung fell victim to a cooler. Sung limped on the button and Lacay completed in the small blind. Lehmann raised from the big blind to 90,000 and Sung moved all in. Lacay got out of the way and the two players revealed their cards. Sung had two black kings, but Lehmann was ahead with his two red aces. The flop came J98 giving no help to Sung, but the turn was the K giving him the lead. Lehmann could still catch up on the river, and he did when the 10 gave him the nut flush. Sung finished in fourth place taking home 117,400 euros ($166,438).

Johansson would be the next to go. In a battle of the blinds, Lehmann completed from the small blind and Johansson checked. The flop came 1087 and Johansson bet 50,000. Lehmann called and the turn was the K. This time Johansson bet 90,000 prompting Lehmann to raise to 300,000. Johansson moved all in and Lehmann immediately called with K5. Johansson showed Q10 and was behind. The river was the 6 and the former WPT winner was eliminated in third place earning 151,000 euros ($214,073).

Heads up play lasted only 22 hands. The final hand came when Lehmann raised on the button to 125,000. Lacay reraised to 350,000 and Lehmann made the call. The flop came 853 and Lacay moved in. Lehmann immediately called with K8 and Lacay was behind with A5. The turn and river came 34 giving Lehmann the title, the trophy and 554,987 euros ($786,805). Lehmann also receives an entry into the $25,000 WPT Championship event at the Bellagio. For his runner up finish, Lacay took back home to France 295,200 euros ($418,505).

Here are the final results.

1. Markus Lehmann - 554,987 euros ($786,805)
2. Ludovic Lacay- 295,200 euros ($418,505)
3. Christer Johansson - 151,000 euros ($214,073)
4. Steve Sung - 117,400 euros ($166,438)
5. Gus Hansen - 100,600 euros ($142,621)
6. Vladimir Poleschchuk - 83,900 euros ($118,945)

The blinds have increased to 25,000-50,000. There is no ante.

Hand #71 - Ludovic Lacay has the button, he raises to 125,000, Lehmann reraises to 350,000, and Lacay folds. Markus Lehmann takes the pot.

Hand #72 - Markus Lehmann has the button, he completes for 50,000, and Lacay checks. The flop comes 1086, Lacay checks, Lehmann bets 80,000, and Lacay folds.

Hand #73 - Ludovic Lacay has the button, he raises to 125,000, and Lehmann calls. The flop comes KQQ, Lehmann bets 150,000, and Lacay calls. The turn card is the 6, Lehmann bets 300,000, and Lacay folds. Markus Lehmann takes the pot worth 550,000.

Here are the official chip counts from the break:

Ludovic Lacay - 1,400,000
Markus Lehmann - 1,990,000

The blinds are still at 20,000-40,000. There is no ante.

Hand #69 - Ludovic Lacay has the button, he raises to 100,000, and Lehmann folds.

Hand #70 - Markus Lehmann has the button, he raises to 100,000, and Lacay calls. The flop comes Q93, Lacay checks, Lehmann bets 140,000, and Lacay calls. The turn card is the 5, Lacay checks, Lehmann bets 300,000, and Lacay calls. There is already 1,080,000 in the pot.

The river card is the 10, Lacay checks, and Lehmann thinks for about a minute before he checks behind. Lacay shows 9-7 for a pair of nines, but Lehmann shows K-9 for a pair of nines with a higher kicker. Markus Lehmann wins the pot worth 1,080,000.

The blinds are still at 20,000-40,000. There is no ante.

Hand #64 - Markus Lehmann has the button, he raises to 120,000, and Lacay folds.

Hand #65 - Ludovic Lacay has the button, and he folds.

Hand #66 - Markus Lehmann has the button, he raises to 120,000, and Lacay calls. The flop comes Q106, Lacay checks, Lehmann bets 90,000, and Lacay calls. The turn card is the A, Lacay bets 300,000, and Lehmann folds. Ludovic Lacay takes the pot worth 420,000.