TEXAS HOLDEM ONLINE POKER

LAS VEGAS - David Williams, an Arlington native and former Dunbar Magnet High School student, claimed $3.5 million Friday for his second-place finish in the World Series of Poker main event.

Williams, who turns 24 next month, is a student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and earned his seat in the $10,000 No-Limit Texas HoldEm tournament at Binion's Horseshoe Casino by winning a $160 satellite tournament on the Internet.

And it doesn't take a math and economics major to see the return on that investment.

"I got very lucky today," said Williams, a World Series rookie. "... I got lucky all week long."

Williams, who transferred to the Texas Academy of Math and Science at the University of North Texas in Denton for his junior and senior years, was one of a record 2,576 entrants for the final of 33 events of the World Series. Play started a month ago and drew more than 13,000 players overall.

Organizers say the prize pool of $41 million made the World Series the richest event in sports. A pool of $24.2 million was at stake in the final event, which started Saturday and was won Friday by Greg Raymer in a head-to-head duel with Williams.

The payday for the 39-year-old Raymer: $5 million.

Raymer, who entered the day as the chip leader, had more than twice Williams' chip count when he went "all-in" after a third 2 was displayed among the five community cards. Williams called the bet but lost to Raymer's full house of three 2s and two 8s. Williams had a smaller full house, 2s full of 4s.

"I didn't see any reason why I didn't have the best hand," said Raymer, an attorney from Connecticut. "I really thought if David had made a hand that was better than mine, he would have pushed back at some point."

Said Williams: "If I lose, at least it's over, and second ain't bad."

Williams entered Friday as the youngest player at the nine-seat final table. He started with $1.57 million in chips and more than doubled that amount early in the session when he landed a full house of three 5s and two aces against Atlanta resident Josh Arieh. He increased his chip count to more than $5 million when he eliminated Matt Dean, an aspiring math teacher from The Woodlands. Williams beat Dean, 25, with a full house of three aces and two 8s.

"You push," Williams said of his playing strategy, which he began honing seven years ago. "As soon as they get comfortable, push again."

Dan Harrington, the 1995 world poker champion who finished third in the event last year, became Williams' next victim on the final hand before the players broke for dinner. Playing head to head, Williams called Harrington's raise of more than a million dollars and defeated "Action Dan" with yet another full house -- three 3s and two 2s.

"I wish it could have ended better," said Shirley Williams, the runner-up's mother. "But, hey, $3.5 [million], I never thought he'd get this far, but he did."

ESPN will televise this year's World Series, airing 22 one-hour episodes beginning July 6. Last year, when ESPN had only seven shows, the final was seen in an estimated 1.9 million households.

Last year's winner, Chris Moneymaker, became a celebrity and is credited for bringing the masses to the World Series. Moneymaker, who was eliminated on the first day this year, won his seat to the 2003 event by winning a $40 online tournament.

Playing Texas HoldEm

• Each player is dealt two cards down.

• A round of betting occurs as players decide for the first time if they are in or out of the hand.

• One-by-one, five community cards are dealt face up with bets made after each card.

• Players can risk all their chips on every draw of a card.

• The best five-card combination wins the hand and takes the pot.