Jerry Yang was never irrelevant, but he was unknown.

A 39-year-old psychologist and social worker from SoCal, Yang won the 2007 World Poker Championship, the Main Event, at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Married, and the father of six children, he collected $8,250,000 for his surprising performance.

The event had a buy-in of $10,000, but Yang paid only $225, winning his seat via a satellite tourney held at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California.

Born in Laos, Yang has pledged 10 percent of his winnings to three separate charities – the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children and the Ronald McDonald House.

Tuan Lam, from Mississauga, Ontario, was second, taking home $4,840,981, while South African Raymond Rahme took third, earning $3,048,025.

Russian Alex Kravchenko, who won a bracelet and cashed five times at this year’s WSOP, finished fourth, winning $1,852,721.

Englishman Jon Kalmar placed fifth, getting paid $1,255,069.

Philip Hilm, who came to the final table leading in chips, was ninth. Like Kalmar, a native of the UK, he won $525,934.

Hevad Khan was sixth, Lee Childs seventh and Lee Watkinson was eighth, netting $585,699.

Scotty Nguyen went out 11^th, good for $476,926.

Humberto Brenes, the classy Costa Rican, was 83^rd, earning $82,476.

Event 55

2007 World Poker Championship (Main Event)

Buy-in: $10,000. Entries: 6,358.

1. Jerry Yang, Temecula, CA … $8,250,000
2. Tuan Lam, Mississauga, Ontario … $4,840,981
3. Raymond Rahme, Johannesburg, South Africa … $3,048,025
4. Alex Kravchenko, Moscow … $1,852,721
5. Jon Kalmar, Lancashire, UK … $1,255,069
6. Hevad Khan, Poughkeepsie, NY … $956,243
7. Lee Childs, Reston, VA … $705,229
8. Lee Watkinson, Cheney, WA … $585,699
9. Philip Hilm, Cambridge, UK … $525,934