Pete “The Greek” Vilandos has been traveling the tournament circuit for close to 20 years, but he’s never seen a hot streak like this before.
Vilandos bested a field of 2,506 players to win the World Series of Poker (WSOP) $1,500 No Limit Hold’em Event (#24) and a prize of $607,276 on Saturday evening. The victory came just 10 days after he took second place in the $1,000 No Limit Hold’em Stimulus Special Event, which was the largest live tournament ever field ever outside of the WSOP Main Event.
Vilandos has outlasted more players in his two big cashes than any other player at this year’s WSOP. He survived more than 6,010 players in Event #4 and conquered a field of 2,506 in this tournament. On why he’s been having so much success against large fields, Vilandos said,
“It’s a lot of patience and a lot of strategy.”
The $1,500 No Limit Hold’em final table was stacked with young players that play primarily online. Vilandos, the only player with a bracelet going into the final day, wasn’t frightened by their exuberance. “The internet players – they are very good,” he said afterward. “But we are the old fellows and we have a gut feeling that we go with.”
One of those prolific online stars was Andy “BKiCe” Seth, who took second to Vilandos. Seth had the chip lead going into Day Two and kept it until Vilandos got the best of him in heads-up play. First, Vilandos doubled up after he put in a five-bet preflop for all of his 4.5 million chips with A-K and Seth called with A-Q. Pete’s hand held up and he took a commanding lead, leaving Seth with around two million chips.
Just 15 minutes later, Vilandos used a little luck to put the 22 year-old pro away. Vilandos completed his option and Seth then raised to 700,000. Pete announced all-in and Andy quickly called:
Vilandos: [Ah][5c]
Seth: [As][Jc]
Seth retained his lead on the 10-4-3 flop, but the two of clubs on the turn gave Vilandos a wheel and sent him into a crazed celebration. Seth couldn’t hit one the remaining cards to chop the pot on the river and he was eliminated in second place for $372,855.
It was an English television star that grinded his way to third place in the tournament. London’s Michael Greco earned $248,855 after he lost an all-in confrontation with A-10 to the pocket sevens of Seth.
Fourth-place finisher Glenn McCaffrey was also taken down by Seth, but in ugly fashion. Seth raised pre-flop and McCaffrey re-raised all-in. Seth, given great odds to call, couldn’t fold his A-7 and was in bad shape against A-J until he made a flush on the river, sending McCaffrey home with $176,165.
Dean Hamrick, best known for his 10th place finish at the 2008 WSOP Main Event, took fifth place in this one. He lost a blind versus blind battle to Vilandos with A-Q to pocket nines when Vilandos made a full house on the turn. Hamrick walked away with $132,380, his biggest score since taking home $591,869 from last year’s Main Event.
Here’s a look at the final results from Event #24:
1. Pete Vilandos – $607,256
2. Andy Seth – $372,855
3. Michael Greco – $248,855
4. Glenn McCaffrey – $176,165
5. Dean Hamrick – $132,380
6. Alan Jaffray – $105,699
7. David Lerman – $88,937
8. Ronnie Kevin – $79,017
9. Brian Fitzpatrick – $73,886
Champions will be crowned in both the $1,500 Limit Hold’em (Event #26) and $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha High-Low Split Eight or Better (Event #27) on Sunday. Fifteen players return for the final day of the Limit event, with Al “Sugar Bear” Barbieri holding the chip lead. Bracelet winner Rep Porter is still in the field along with Microsoft Word author Richard Brodie. Play will get underway at 1:00pm Las Vegas time and the winner will receive $197,488.
The Omaha event played down to nine players last night and the final table will be crowded with superstars. Two-time Omaha Bracelet winner Scott “BigRiskky” Clements will take his seat with 801,000 chips, well ahead of the rest of the remaining field. Roland De Wolfe, Brett Richey, Andy Black, John Racener, and Team PokerStars Pro member Alex Kravchenko will each attempt to finish on top and earn a payday of $246,616.
Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for continuing coverage of the 2009 WSOP.
