Former Hockey Pro Greg Mueller Wins WSOP Event 33

Greg “FBT” Mueller’s name can now be scratched from the best player without a WSOP bracelet debate. Last night he completed a run through a very tough 2009 WSOP Event #30, $10,000 buy-in Fixed Limit Hold’em field to win his first career bracelet and $460,841 top place prize money.

Now 37-year-old Greg Mueller retired from hockey in 1999, after 9 seasons with Germany and has been a fixture on the high stakes poker circuit since. Coming into this event he had 17 WSOP cashes, 6 final tables, two runner up finishes, but no WSOP bracelet. With his victory last night his career major tournament winnings now exceed $1.5 million.

“It’s like huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” Mueller said. “I was starting to think I was a second-place pony there for a while. I had nightmares, even heads-up. When [Pat Pezzin] won a pot against me, I thought, ‘My God, this could be the biggest choke ever.’ But, it feels unbelievable, and I am so happy right now.”

Mueller had some tough competition at the final table with Pezzin, Chad Brown, 2009 bracelet winner Daniel Alaei, limit hold’em sensation Matt “Hoss_TBF” Hawrilenko, Matt Glanz and Soheil Shamseddin.

“The funny thing was — this was probably the toughest final table that I had,” Mueller said. “Everyone at the table is a helluva’ player and a great tournament player. It’s the crème de la crème kinda thing. I really did not put any pressure on myself. I was low on chips yesterday. I climbed back to average today. And the next thing I knew, I said, ‘Oh boy, here we go!’”

The biggest hand of the night came between Mueller and Brown while three-handed. Pezzin raised, and both players called to see a flop of 6d-Js-7d. All three players checked to get to a Qs on the turn. Brown led out, and Pezzin folded to a reraise by Mueller. Brown called. The river was the 4d, and after Brown checked, the raising war began. Mueller bet, Brown raised, Muller re-reraised, Brown re-re-reraised and finally, Mueller finished off the action, as they had reached the maximum number of bets. Mueller showed a straight flush with 3d-5d and grabbed the largest pot of the night.
The tournament attracted a field of 185 very talented players. Mueller won $460,841 for first place.

Other notable finishers included Jennifer Harman (12th), Todd Brunson (14th) and Howard Lederer (17th).
2009 WSOP Event 33 Final Table Results

1. Greg Mueller ($460,841)
2. Pat Pezzin ($285,195)
3. Chad Brown ($188,855)
4. Daniel Alaei ($134,772)
5. Matthew Hawrilenko ($100,688)
6. Matt Glantz ($80,341)
7. Michiel Brummelhuis ($67,647)
8. Soheil Shamseddin ($59,995)
9. Kenny Hsiung ($55,995)