Shannon Elizabeth wins the first ever Nicky Hilton Caesars Palace New Years Eve poker tournament. Outlasting all the top name pros and watching the celebrities and walk-ons fall aside, Shannon left little doubt she was the champion this day. Photos of the tournament plus some bonus ones of the Vegas midnight fireworks have been added to the photo gallery.

Shannon is no stranger to major poker tournament play, having entered events in the Rio's 2005 WSOP including the main event, where she lasted past the brutal first day. The actress and producer is a serious tournament poker player, probably as a result of her Texas origin. Shannon is a native Texan, born in Houston, an area that has produced many accomplished actors and even more accomplished gamblers...especially high-dollar poker players, so no surprise she can play. Howard Hughes was another gambler/movie mogul born in Houston.

Half of the new tournament poker room at Caesars Palace was cordoned off for the players, dealers, fans, media, well-wishers, friends, one of the Hilton sisters, actress Jennifer Tilly, friends of Nicky Hilton, bodyguards and the generally curious. The 92 players in the tournament included an 'A' list of poker professionals attracted mostly to the exposure and fun, the event being a part of Nicky Hilton'[s New Years Eve party at Caesars' Pure Nightclub. The event offered an approximate $120,000 prize pool.

The tournament was officially named the Nicky Hilton & Kevin Connolly host a New Year's Eve Poker Tournament. At least, that was the name on the glossy flyer. The tournament got under way about a quarter past eleven Saturday morning, kind of early for some of the nocturnal poker pros. They often play through the night, so some of them had come to this tournament after playing all-night in a cash game, no sleep. The tournament was under the direction of Caesars Palace Tournament Director, Paul Lord, present on the floor to referee the tables and keep the tournament moving. The ego-enriched crowd full of New Year's holiday cheer remained docile, reserved and often strangly quiet, probably a result of the early hour. Even the crowd of camera toting onlookers was unusually hushed. The tournament ran smoothly from start to final hand, a tribute to the professional staff of the poker room at Caesars Palace.

Tournament namesake, Nicky Hilton, has apparently been exposed to some poker lessons. She played for more than two hours outlasting many of the pros that started the contest. Maybe its a result of her lineage from great-grandfather and the Hilton Hotel empire founder, Conrad Hilton. He was born in San Antonio, New Mexico (just south of Socorro, New Mexico) and it has long been rumored around New Mexico that her great grandfather was a skilled poker player.

The pro player community included 2005 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions winner Mike Matusow experiencing a New Years Eve card mugging, then walking away after not winning a race. Layne Flack, Jim Miller, David Williams, Evelyn Ng, Chip Jett, John Phan, Scott Fischman, Antonio Esfandiari and Cyndy Violette playing in the tournament. One by one the players were eliminated, then Shannon Elizabeth won the last all-in of the tournament and was crowned the champion of the Nicky Hilton New Years Eve Poker Tournament.

I cover many of the major tournaments including WPT Championships and all the events of the WSOP. One of the differences I noticed with this crowd was the steady stream of catered service food coming to the tables, some of which was nibbled, then forgotten. This is something I don't see much of at the major tournaments. Food is delivered to players but it is always consumed by someone. The tournament was a great test for the new Caesars Palace Poker Room and they get high marks. I thought it a fitting event for the opening the poker room after a sixteen year absence of live poker at Caesars Palace.