Event 50: Mueller, 4th 2009 Multiple Bracelet Winner

When 2009 WSOP Event #50, $1,500 limit hold’em shootout, started on Friday, there were 576 players. 64 day one survivors returned on Saturday and played till the final table of eight was determined. When play was said and done it was Greg Mueller denying Marc Naalden his second 2009 WSOP bracelet while picking up a second 2009 WSOP bracelet of his own. That’s right, when heads up play began it was a forgone conclusion that no matter which player won the tournament they’d become the fourth member of a list already including Brock Parker, Phil Ivey, and Jeffrey Lisandro of players winning more than one bracelet at the 2009 World Series of Poker. Marc Naalden’s bracelet had come in 2009 WSOP Event 38, $2,000 limit Hold’em while Mueller’s first bracelet came 5 days earlier in 2009 WSOP Event 33, $10,000 limit Hold’em world Championship.

To learn more about Greg Mueller, read our 2009 WSOP Event 33 report.

Here’s how 2009 WSOP Event 50 played out:

2009 WSOP Event 50 Final Table Report

Jose “Nacho” Barbero was the first player eliminated from the final table after he got all his chips in the middle with Kh2h against Mueller’s AsTs. Action started with Mueller raising pre-flop, Barbero calling, and the flop arriving Ah 7c Tc. Mueller check called a bet on the flop and then check raised a bet when the turn came 6s. Having got all his money in on fourth Barbero was eliminated receiving $13,655 when the river came the Jc.

Next out was Joep Van Den Bijgaartmade when he got into a raising war with Naalden. Van Den Bijgaart raised from late position, Naalden three bet from the big blind and Van Den Bijaart called. After a flop of As 2d 7d Naalden led out and Van Den Bijgaart raised all-in. Naalden called and showed Ac Td while Van Den Bijgaart turned over Qs 8s. The turn and river came Kd, 7h to give Naalden two pair sending Van Den Bijgaart out in seventh worth $18,136.

Next to the rail was Flaminio Malaguti who received $24,824. He got all his chips in with AK and was called by David Williams A5. When a 5 fell on the turn Malaguti was in rough shape and with no help on the river for a re-suck-out his tournament was finished.

It was the eighth time Matt Sterling cashed in a WSOP event, however he found himself five spots away from his first bracelet. His pocket aces cracked by Mueller’s Jc Td was largely responsible for his elimination, however it wasn’t till the next hand he was officially out in fifth place picking up $35,058.

David Williams picked up $51,145 for fourth place on a hand Millie Shiu raised, Mueller re-raised, Williams moved all in and Shiu called. The flop came Kd 8h 4s and Mueller and Shiu continued to bet down the remainder of the board which turned over the Jd and the 7s. Mueller showed pocket Jacks, Shiu turned over pocket Aces and Williams’ tabled 4d 5d before making his exit.

Millie Shui was the last woman standing in this event, cashing higher than any woman in an open event of the 2009 WSOP. Her run towards a bracelet came to an end in third place. With a short stack Shui got her chips in with 4s 2c against both opponents and was bested my Mueller’s 8c 7h on a final board that read 5s 8h Th Kh 5d. Shui hugged the two remaining players and gracefully made her exit to collect $77,138.

The heads up battle between limit Hold’em specialist Greg Mueller and Marc Naadlen lasted three hours with players trading chip leads. Finally the edge went the Mueller and the final hand saw Naalden with Kh 2s fall to Mueller’s Kd 5h, on a board that read Td 4d 3s Kd Jh. Marc Naalden received $121,614 for his runner up finish while Mueller received his second bracelet and the $194,854 top place prize.