2009 40th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold’em (Event 54)
Date:
Monday, June 29, 2009 to Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Buy-In:
$1,500
Prize Pool:
$3,846,570
Entrants:
2,818
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:05:10
Congratulations Tony Veckey, Winner of Event 54
It took nearly 11 hours for Tony Veckey to claim the title, but he'll tell you it was worth the effort and the missed flight home to Chicago. Our newest WSOP bracelet winner bested a field of 2,818 to walk away with the hardware and more than $673,000 in first-place money.
Today was no piece of cake either, as 28 players returned to battle for the prize. Eliminations moved quickly though, and we were down to 10 players just after the dinner break. Veckey played an aggressive and smart game throughout, raising his opponents and applying pressure whenever possible. His most impressive play, however, may be the hand he didn't play when he laid down pocket kings preflop to an all in raise.
In the end, his tactics worked as he bested Jason Wheeler in a hard fought heads-up battle to claim the bracelet.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:53:18
Jason Wheeler Eliminated in 2nd Place ($418,122)
Jason Wheeler bet 450,000 on a flop of 
and Tony Veckey made the call.
Wheeler bet another 1,200,000 on the 
turn and Veckey moved all in, having connected with his gutshot straight draw. Wheeler called and we saw the hands:
Veckey: 
Wheeler: 
The 
on the river gave Wheeler trips, but they weren't enough to best Veckey's straight. Wheeler left in second place with $418,122.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:47:24
Veckey Pulls Ahead
Jason Wheeler made it 240,000 to play from the small blind and Tony Veckey joined in.
On a flop of 
, Veckey bet 300,000 and Wheeler came along. The turn brought the 
, another 300,000 bet from Veckey, and another call. The river brought the and yet another 300,000 bet. When Wheeler raised to 1,500,000, Veckey called and tabled 
for the straight. Wheeler mucked.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:37:39
Back and Forth
Jason Wheeler popped it up to 240,000 from the small blind and Tony Veckey reraised an additional 360,000.
After a flop of 
, Veckey's 700,000 bet was enough to make Wheeler fold.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:33:27
Wheeler Takes Another Pot
Tony Veckey raised to 250,000 from the small blind and Jason Wheeler reraised to 750,000 from the big.
After a flop of 
, Wheeler bet another 900,000 and Veckey mucked.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:19:29
Veckey Fights Back
Tony Veckey limped from the small blind and Jason Wheeler raised 250,000 from the big. Veckey went along and we saw a flop of .
Wheeler bet 325,000 and Veckey raised 500,000 more. Wheeler called and checked the 
on the turn. Veckey bet 850,000 and Wheeler released his hand.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:14:51
Wheeler Applies Pressure
Jason Wheeler raised to 200,000 from the small blind and Tony Veckey came along.
Veckey then bet 300,000 on a flop of 
, only to have Wheeler raise for an additional 850,000. Veckey laid his down and we moved on.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:02:42
Heads-Up Play Begins
We're back from our break as Tony Veckey and Jason Wheeler battle for the bracelet.
Wheeler is starting with an almost 2-1 chip lead with 8 million chips vs. Veckey's 4.7 million.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:00:50
Break
Players are on a short break before the start of heads-up play.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:00:29
Joseph Chaplin Eliminated in 3rd Place ($276,029)
Joseph Chaplin made it 200,000 to play from the button and both Tony Veckey and Jason Wheeler called from the blinds.
Veckey led for 450,000 on a flop of 
and Wheeler flatted before Chaplin moved all in for 1.6 million. Veckey folded and Wheeler called.
Wheeler: 
Chaplin: 
The on the turn paired Wheeler and Chaplin missed his straight draw with the 
on the river. He left in third place with $276,029.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:51:33
Sergey Konkin Eliminated in 4th Place ($195,213)
After being crippled by Tony Veckey, Sergey Konkin was all in from the big blind. Tony Veckey, Jason Wheeler and Joseph Chaplin all limped in and checked down a board of 
.
Veckey took the pot when he showed 
and Konkin left in fourth place with $195,213.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:43:36
Konkin Krippled
Sergey Konkin raised to 165,000 from the button and Tony Veckey reraised to 380,000 from the small blind. Konkin shoved, Veckey called, and cards were shown.
Konkin:
Veckey: 
Veckey flopped gin with and the 
did nothing to help his hand. He was left with just 35,000.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:26:59
Wheelin' and Stealin'
Jason Wheeler raised to 110,000 from early position and got called by Joseph Chaplin.
Wheeler bet another 165,000 on a flop of 
, and Chaplin called again. The turn brought the and a 425,000 bet from Wheeler. Chaplin surrendered and Wheeler took the chips.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:22:28
Veckey Doubles Up
Jason Wheeler popped it to 165,000 from under-the-gun and Sergey Konkin flat called from the small blind. Action moved to Tony Veckey who moved all in from the big blind. Wheeler folded and Konkin called.
Konkin:
Veckey: 
Veckey jumped to the lead on a flop of and faded Konkin's outs when the board finished . He's up to 2 million while Konkin still has 2.2 million.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:15:36
Andrew Malott Eliminated in 5th Place ($147,131)
Andrew Malott raised to 115,000 from under-the-gun and Joseph Chaplin reraised to 500,000. Malott moved all in and Chaplin called.
Malott: 
Chaplin:
When the board ran 
, Chaplin held the higher pair and Malott left with $147,131. Chaplin chipped up to more than 3 million.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:11:46
Christopher Bonita Eliminated in 6th Place ($147,131)
On a flop of 
, Christopher Bonita check-called a 210,000 bet by Jason Wheeler.
When the turn brought the 
, Bonita check-raised all in after Wheeler bet 425,000. Wheeler called and the hands were shown.
Bonita:
Wheeler: 
Wheeler showed the nut straight vs. Bonita's lower straight draw, which completed on the river with the 
. Bonita left in sixth place with $147,131 while Wheeler chipped up to 4.5 million.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:02:27
Malott on the Move
Andrew Malott made it 160,000 to play from early position and got called by Tony Veckey in the big blind.
Both players checked a flop of . Veckey led for 200,000 when the 
hit the turn. Malott popped the action for an additional 305,000 and Veckey folded.
Malott showed for the bluff and chided the table saying, "Come on, let's play some cards."
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:48:18
Malott Represents and Wins
Andrew Malott made it 120,000 to play from early position and got called by both Sergey Konkin and Tony Veckey in the blinds.
When Konkin and Veckey each checked a flop of 
, Malott bet 210,000 and took the pot.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:43:14
Cards Are Back in the Air
Play has resumed.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:21:30
Breaking Again
Players are taking a 20-minute break.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:15:50
Wheeler Pads His Stack
Sergey Konkin raised to 125,000 from early position and got called by Jason Wheeler.
Konkin then check-called for 80,000 after a flop of 
, and check-called another 185,000 when the hit the turn. Konkin checked the on the river, and folded when Wheeler bet another 450,000.
