Published: November 09, 2009 06:50 am      

Michigan 21-year-old in poker final

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A 21-year-old professional poker player from Michigan hit a lucky king to cap a nearly impossible comeback at the World Series of Poker Sunday morning, setting up a showdown with a self-employed logger for $8.55 million.

Joe Cada, of Shelby Township, dodged elimination several times during the longest no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event final table in history. Cada -- who at 123 hands into the session held just 1 percent of the chips in play -- could become the youngest series champion ever in the finale tonight.

"Luck always helps," Cada said. "I'll take all the luck I can get."

Cada eliminated French poker professional Antoine Saout when a river king gave Cada a better pair than Saout's eights.

The hand ended an improbable comeback Saout staged himself, climbing from eighth in chips to start the session to finish third. He won $3.48 million.

Cada faces Darvin Moon, 46, of Oakland, Md., who finished the session with about the same number of chips he started with.