WSOP -- Leo Wolpert Wins Event No. 29

The final day of event No. 29 ($10,000 heads-up no-limit hold’em world championship) at the 2009 World Series of Poker was scheduled for Monday, June 15, but some very long matches among the Elite Eight ensured that the final two competitors were not set until after midnight. Johnny Chan was lost amidst the tough matches of the third day of the event, ending a quest for an 11th bracelet in fifth place ($92,580). A decision was made to push the heads-up final to Tuesday, June 16. It proved to be a good decision, considering that the best-of-three final match between John Duthie and Leo Wolpert lasted for 8.5 hours.

Duthie and Wolpert had each won seven matches to make the final of this March-Madness style event that has become a player favorite each summer at the WSOP. Each player won another match in the final, leaving things tied at one-match-apiece heading into the do-or-die third match of the day. Duthie had scored a come-from-behind victory in the first match, one that lasted 96 hands. Wolpert evened things up quickly in the second match, winning in just nine hands. True to form for the event, the final match of the day was a long one, and it took 191 hands before Duthie fell in second place ($386,636), and Wolpert was crowned the champion. Wolpert was awarded his first gold bracelet and $625,682 in prize money for the impressive victory.

Here are the top finishers:

1. Leo Wolpert – $625,682
2. John Duthie – $386,636
3. Jamin Stokes – $214,289
3. Nathan Doudney – $214,289
5. Johnny Chan – $92,580
5. Dustin Woolf – $92,580
5. Steve O’Dwyer – $92,580
5. Bryan Pellegrino – $92,580

Here is the major action from the heads-up final as featured in CardPlayer.com’s live updates:

Match 1

John Duthie Doubles Up Again

Leo Wolpert raised to 150,000 from the button, and John Duthie made the call. The flop was dealt K 8 3, and Duthie checked. Wolpert bet 180,000, and Duthie made the call. The turn fell 9, and Duthie checked again. Wolpert bet 420,000, and Duthie raised an additional 2 million. Wolpert reraised all in, and Duthie made the call. Their cards:

Duthie: 10 7
Wolpert: K K

River: 4

Duthie doubled up with a flush on the river, and he took a huge chip lead in the first match. Duthie held 6,730,000 and Wolpert was down to 950,000.

Duthie Wins First Match

Leo Wolpert reraised all in after John Duthie opened the pot from the button. Duthie made the call, and they flipped up their cards:

Duthie: A Q
Wolpert: K Q

Board: 8 5 3 2 A

Duthie won the hand and he took a 1-0 lead in the final heads-up matchup.

Match 2

Leo Wolpert Wins Second Match

Leop Wolpert raised to 90,000 from the button, and John Duthie made the call. The flop was dealt A 9 6, and Duthie checked. Wolpert bet 130,000, and Duthie check-raised to 300,000. Wolpert made the call, and the turn fell 2. Duthie checked, and Wolpert bet 420,000. Duthie reraised all in, and Wolpert made the call. Their cards:

Wolpert: 6 6
Duthie: A K

River: 2

Wolpert had Duthie covered by 20,000, and he won the second match with the hand. Action is now tied at two wins a piece for the final two competitors.

Match 3

Leo Wolpert Takes the Lead

John Duthie raised to 150,000 on the button, and Leo Wolpert made the call. The flop was dealt A 5 2, and Wolpert checked. Duthie bet 300,000, and Wolpert check-raised to 925,000. Duthie thought for a few minutes and then decided to muck. Wolpert picked up the pot, and he led after the hand with 5.4 million. Duthie held 2,280,000 after the hand.

John Duthie Doubles Up

John Duthie raised to 125,000 on the button, and Leo Wolpert made the call. The flop was dealt K 7 5, and Wolpert checked. Duthie bet 300,000, and Wolpert reraised all in. Duthie made the all-in call, and they flipped up their cards:

Duthie: 8 6
Wolpert: K J

Turn and River: 8 4

Duthie doubled up to 3,180,000 after the hand, and Wolpert was down to 4,250,000.

Leo Wolpert Wins Event No. 29 ($625,682)

Leo Wolpert limped on the button, and John Duthie checked preflop. The flop was dealt 10 5 3, and Duthie checked. Wolpert bet 120,000, and Duthie raised all in. Wolpert made the call. Their cards:

Duthie: 10 2
Wolpert: 5 3

Turn and River: J Q

Wolpert won the hand and the tournament. Duthie was eliminated in second place, and he took home $386,636 in prize money. Wolpert was awarded $625,682 and his first gold bracelet for the win.

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