Pete Vilandos wins 2009 WSOP Event 24

Pete Vilandos came into the 2009 World Series of Poker with 15 cashes, 6 final tables and one bracelet (1995) under his belt. While this resume might seem impressive his total career WSOP cashes were less than $400K, with near half that total coming prior to 1995. One can only admire Vilandos persistence as after 16 years on the tournament circuit at age 69, he’s finally had his break through WSOP this series, the kind most poker players only get the chance to dream about.

Vilandos’ 2009 WSOP success started when he out lasted 6,010 players in the $1,000 buy-in NLHE stimulus event, finishing as the runner up receiving $473,282, he then followed this performance up last night by besting 2,505 other players as he took down his second career WSOP bracelet by winning 2009 WSOP Event 24. His $607,256 payday in this event increased his career WSOP winnings to over $1.4 million dollars.

With still close to half the WSOP series remaining we look forward to seeing what Vilandos’ can do in the remaining events, and congratulate him sincerely on his success.

Here is how his victory in 2009 WSOP Event 24 played out:

2009 WSOP Event 24 report

As 2009 WSOP Event 24 started for the third and final day, there were 19 survivors. It didn’t take long for the day to find its first casualty. This occurred when Chris Sparks got all his chips into the middle with pocket sevens and was in terrible shape (and then eliminated) when his opponent David Lerman flopped a full house while holding Ace-King. Other early day three eliminations included Andrew Seden (18th, $25,347), Roberto Correa (17th, $25,347), Ali Davoudi (16th, $25,347).

Roberto Truijers made his final stand with an open ended straight draw (holding KJ on a QT6 flop) and was quickly called by Andy Seth who held pocket queens. After the turn and river brought Truijers no help he was out in fifteenth receiving $36,225 while Seth emerged the tournament’s new chip leader.

When Mihai Manole pocket tens failed to outrace Michael Greco’s Ace-King he was out in fourteenth place receiving $36,225. He was followed to the rail by Stuart Marshak (13th, $36,225), Gualter Santos (12th, $51,755) and Benny Champlin (11th, $51,755) and play was no consolidated to a single table. The official WSOP final table of nine was set after Ronnie Kevin sent Ernst Hermans out as the final table bubble boy. Hermans collected $51,755 for his tenth place finish.

When official final table play began the seat positions and chip counts were:

Seat 1: David Lerman — 625,000
Seat 2: Ronnie Kevin — 670,000
Seat 3: Dean Hamrick — 1,450,000
Seat 4: Glenn McCaffrey — 1,900,000
Seat 5: Michael Greco — 400,000
Seat 6: Brian Fitzpatrick — 390,000
Seat 7: Andy “BKiCe” Seth — 2,770,000
Seat 8: Alan Jaffray — 1,200,000
Seat 9: Panayote “Pete” Vilandos — 1,490,000

The first to go on the final table was Brian Fitzpatrick (9th – $73,886) who got his money in with Ace-Eight but was dominated by Pete Vilandos’ Ace-Ten. The next elimination came in a pot that saw Andy Seth raise preflop, Pete Vilandos reraise, and Ronnie Kevin re-re-raise all in Seth fold and Vilandos call. Villandros showed kings and Kevin AQ, catching none of his outs Kevin was out on the rail in eighth receiving $79,017.

Three players were in on a hand that saw a flop of 10c3d4c in a raised pot. The flop action started with Lerman moving all in, McCaffrey going into the tank a while before reraising and Jaffray getting out of the way. McCaffrey showed Kh10h for top pair, Lerman tabled 9h4h for second pair and after a blank on the turn and river he was out in seventh receiving $88,937.

Alan Jaffray’s run in 2009 WSOP Event 24 would only go as far as 6th place ($105,699) when his KQ ran into Pete Vilandos’s AdQh. Next to go was Dean Hamrick (5th place – $132,380) when his AQ failed to outrace Vilandos’ pocket nines. Following these two to the rail was Glenn McCaffrey (4th place, $176,165) when his AJ suited was sucked out on by Andy Seth’s A7 suited when a flopped flush draw completed on the turn.

English actor Michael Greco scored the biggest victory of his poker career receiving $248,855 for third place in this event. Once again, it was a race with all the money in preflop. Unfortunately for Greco his AT was not able to outrace Andy Seth’s pocket sevens and he was out in third place.

Going into heads up play Vilandos and Seth were about even in chips. This would all change after a massive pot that saw Seth all in with AQ versus Vilandos AK. The board ran 7d 2h Jd 9d 3c giving Vilandos a massive chip lead. A few hands later Andy Seth became the runner up receiving $372,855 when his AJ was beat by Pete Vilandos A5 after Vilandos made a wheel on the turn. Vilandos picked up $607,256 top prize money and his second career bracelet by taking down this 2009 WSOP Event 24.