2009 40th Annual World Series of Poker
World Championship Heads Up NL Hold'em (Event 29)
Date:
Saturday, June 13, 2009 to Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Buy-In:
$10,000
Prize Pool:
$2,406,400
Entrants:
256
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:30:21
Congratulations to Leo Wolpert - Event #29 Champion ($625,682)
It took seven rounds of victory before Leo Wolpert could even arrive here at the final. A former professional player in his early 20's, Wolpert chose to go back to school to study law at University of Virginia. In Nevada for his summer internship, Wolpert figured to wipe away the dust and try his hand at the $10,000 WSOP Heads-Up Championship.
Wolpert cruised into Day Three (the elite eight), where he took down a tough opponent in Dustin "Neverwin" Woolf. From there, Wolpert beat Jamin Stokes, the man who prevented Johnny Chan from making a run at his 11th Bracelet.
Today in the finals, Wolpert found himself up against EPT Founder, John Duthie. They battled in a long first match that ended after 96 hands. Wolpert had a chip lead throughout the latter stages of that match, but thanks to a rivered flush, Duthie was able to double up. Short stacked, Wolpert lost the first match a few hands later.
In the second match, Wolpert made up for the 1-0 deficit quickly. Duthie committed all of his chips drawing dead on the ninth hand when he held top pair, top kicker against Wolpert's set of sixes.
Their final match would be a marathon. Wolpert gained the lead early and never relinquished it. On the 191st hand (almost twice the amount of hands as the first match) John Duthie moved all in with top pair and was snap called by Wolpert's two pair. His hand held up and his rail exploded with excitement, knowing their man had bested 255 other players in this shootout format.
Congratulations to Leo Wolpert, winner of the 2009 WSOP Heads-Up Championship
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:08:03
Match 3 - Hand #191: John Duthie Eliminated in 2nd Place ($386,636)
Leo Wolpert has the button.
He limps, and Duthie checks.
The flop comes 
. Duthie checks, and Wolpert fires a bet of 120,000. Without delay, Duthie announces, "All in." Instantly, Wolpert calls to put Duthie at risk.
Showdown
Duthie:
Wolpert: 
Duthie has flopped top pair, but he is in trouble against the bottom two of Wolpert. The crowd of spectators presses in on the table in anticipation of what could be the final turn and river of the match.
Turn: 
River: 
That's all she wrote. With his two pair holding up, Leo Wolpert has eliminated John Duthie in 2nd place. Duthie was truly a joy to watch this week, and his efforts have netted him nearly $400,000 in cash... but no bracelet.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:01:34
Match 3 - Hand #190: Leo Wolpert
John Duthie has the button.
John Duthie raises to 250,000 and Leo Wolpert moves all in. He has Duthie covered.
Duthie folds and Wolpert takes the pot.
Duthie - 1,850,000
Wolpert - 5,830,000
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:59:57
Match 3 - Hand #189: Leo Wolpert
Leo Wolpert has the button.
He limps in from the button, and Duthie checks his option.
The flop runs 
, and Duthie checks. Wolpert takes the opportunity to bet 120,000. His opponent re-checks his cards once more before letting him take it down.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:58:55
Match 3 - Hand #188: John Duthie
John Duthie has the button.
John Duthie raises to 250,000 and Leo Wolpert folds.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:58:06
Match 3 - Hand #187: Leo Wolpert
Leo Wolpert has the button.
He comes limping in again, and Duthie taps the table.
The flop shows up 
, and they both check. Fourth street comes the , and Duthie checks. Wolpert's bet of 330,000 is good enough to win him the pot.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:56:53
Match 3 - Hand #186: John Duthie
John Duthie has the button.
John Duthie raises to 250,000 and Leo Wolpert lays it down.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:56:11
Match 3 - Hand #185: John Duthie
Leo Wolpert has the button.
He lets Duthie take his small blind without contest this time.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:55:29
Match 3 - Hand #184: Leo Wolpert
John Duthie has the button.
John Duthie gives Leo Wolpert a walk.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:55:04
Match 3 - Hand #183: John Duthie
Leo Wolpert has the button.
He limps in from the button, and it's becoming clear now that his strategy is changing. Duthie is the raiser now, making it 450,000 to go. A frustrated Wolpert lays it down.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:53:57
Match 3 - Hand #182: Leo Wolpert
John Duthie has the button.
John Duthie limps into the pot and Leo Wolpert checks his option.
The flop comes 
and both players check. The turn is the 
and Wolpert leads for 130,000. Duthie calls.
The river brings 
and Wolpert bets out 335,000. Duthie mucks his hand and Wolpert wins the hand.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:51:46
Match 3 - Hand #181: Leo Wolpert
Leo Wolpert has the button.
He limps in again for only the second time this match, and Duthie checks his option.
The flop comes 
, and both men check. The 
on the turn draws another check from Duthie. Wolpert bets 130,000 and takes the pot.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:50:21
Match 3 - Hand #180: Leo Wolpert
John Duthie has the button.
John Duthie give Leo Wolpert a walk.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:49:58
Match 3 - Hand #179: John Duthie
Leo Wolpert has the button.
He's back to his raising ways, sliding out 250,000. Duthie takes his time to think, twiddling a pink chip in between his fingers. After a minute, he moves all in yet again, drawing another Wolpert fold.
This match is really beginning to heat up.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:48:46
Match 3 - Hand 178: John Duthie
John Duthie has the button.
John Duthie raises to 250,000 and takes down the hand.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:48:42
Match 3 - Hand #177: Leo Wolpert
Leo Wolpert has the button.
He limps into the pot from the button for the first time in the entire match.
The flop comes 
. After a check, Wolpert bets, and Duthie calls.
Fourth street is the 
. Wolpert bets again, 330,000 this time, and Duthie lets it go.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:46:34
Match 3 - Hand #176: Leo Wolpert
John Duthie has the button.
John Duthie give Leo Wolpert a walk.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:46:25
Match 3 - Hand #175: John Duthie
Leo Wolpert has the button.
Tired of being bullied out of his own pots, Wolpert gives Duthie a walk.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:45:45
Match 3 - Hand #174: Leo Wolpert
John Duthie has the button.
John Duthie raises to 250,000 and takes the pot.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:45:03
Match 3 - Hand #173: John Duthie
Leo Wolpert has the button.
He raises to 225,000, and Duthie one again moves all in, causing Wolpert to fold.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:43:53
Match 3 - Hand #172: Leo Wolpert
John Duthie has the button.
John Duthie give Leo Wolpert a walk.
