Event #32 of the 2008 WSOP is now in the books, and Jose Luis Velador is our latest first time bracelet winner. He came into tonight’s final table with a commanding chip lead he had build during the first two days of play where he had outlasted noteworthy pros such as Scott Clements, Roland de Wolfe, Joe Sebok, Jean-Robert Bellande, Phil Ivey, Kenna James, Sorrel Mizzi, Phil Hellmuth, Michael Mizrachi, and many more.
This event had attracted 2,304 entrants which created a total prize pool of $3,144,960.with a $573,734 top place prize, but today was day three and we started with just nine players on a final table. Despite Jose Luis Velador having pulled off a wire to wire finish, it was no stroll in the park. Velador’s heads up opponent, and eventually runner-up finisher, Anthony Signore gave him one heck of a battle and at one point even drew close to even in chips. In the end though, it was Jose Luis Velador who stood victorious with the top place prize and his first WSOP bracelet.
Key hands of the final table:
Justin Hoffman eliminated in ninth place earning $54,464
It only took 18 hands for the final table to claim its first victim,. Justin Hoffman. Hoffman moved all in preflop for 79,000 and Dean Bui called. The players showed:
Hoffman: Jh-8h
Bui: Kh-3s
The board ran As-10d-7h-4d-5c and Bui’s king high was enough to eliminate Hoffman from the final table.
Utsab Saha Eliminated in eighth place earning $77,051
On the 21st hand of the final table Luis Velador raises to 60,000 from the button and Utsab Saha re-raises to 120,000 from the big blind and Velador re-raises and both players end up putting their entire stacks in with Saha being covered. The players reveal:
Velado: Qc-Qd
Saha: Ah-10d
The board ran: Kd-Jd-Js-2s-6h and the Velador supporters were pumped that his pocket queens held up and eliminated Saha in eighth place.
Dany Georges eliminated in seventh place earning $100,638
From middle position Dany Georges moves all in for 488,000 and Dean Bui called from the big blind and the players revealed:
Bui: 6d-6h
Georges: Ah-Jh
The board ran: Kh-10c-3c-7s-3s and the pocket 6’s were the better hand on the river and Georges falls in sixth place on the 47th hand of the final table.
Dean Bui eliminated in sixth place earning $132,088
On the 48th hand of the final table Dean Bui completes his small blind and Luis Velador from the big blind raises his option to 55,000. Bui calls and flop came Kh-10d-7c, Bui checks and Velador bets 90,000. This puts Bui in the tank for a few minutes and finally makes the call. The turn came a four of hearts and both players check. A nine of hearts appeared on the river and Bui bets 255,000 and Velador announces all in, Bui calls. Velador flips over pocket kings for top set and Bui shows pocket tens for middle set! A horrible cooler for Dean Bui, but he is well compensated with $132,088 for his sixth place finish.
Shane Stacey eliminated in fifth place earning $166,682
Shane Stacey raised from the small blind to 80,000 and Osmin Dardon calls from the big blind. On a flop of Qs-9d-8s Stacey bets 125,000 and Dardon moves all in, Stacey calls. Their hands were revealed:
Stacey: Ah-Qh
Dardon: 10h-10d
The board ended with: Qs-9d-8s-6d-7h with Dardon making a sick 10 high straight and eliminating Stacey from the tournament on the 56th hand of the final table.
Jae Chung eliminated in fourth place earning $204,422
On hand #63 Osmin Dardon raised to 75,000 under the gun, Luis Veladar called, and Chung moves all in for a total of 280,000. Both Dardon and Veladar called and they checked down and did not bet the rest of the streets. The board ran, Kc-Jc-2d-Js-4h and both Veladar and Dardon flipped over K-10 and Chung’s hand hit the muck. Dardon and Veladar chop the pot and eliminated the disappointed Jae Chung.
Osmin Dardon eliminated in third place earning $243,734
Dardon’s final hand came on the 103rd dealt hand of the tournament. Velador raised to 100,000 from the button and Dardon re-raises to 300,000. Signore folded and Velador declares all in and Dardon called. The players show:
Velador: Qh-Qc
Dardon: As-Kd
The classic race in no limit hold’em took place and the board ran: Jh-7h-2h-10d-9h and Velador ended up making a queen high flush and eliminated Osmin Dardon in third place.
Luis Veladar Wins $1,500 No Limit Hold’em earning $573,374 after a grueling heads up match against Anthony Signore. The final hand was on hand #148; Signore moved all in from the button and Velador calls, they show:
Signore: Ac-6c
Velador: Ad-7h
The board ran Ah-10d-7d-3d-6h and Veladar’s aces and seven’s bests Signore’s aces and six’s . Signore ends up finishing as the runner up, worth an impressive $366,387.
Jose Luis Velador is a 44 year-old poker veteran from Lake Elsinore, California. Two years ago he won the best all around player award at the LA Poker Classic and has cashed two consecutive years in the Main Event. Tonight’s victory was the biggest of his career. He plans to play the remaining Omaha Events and the Main Event before heading back to his home in California.
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