World Series of Poker -- Eric Baldwin Wins Event No. 34

The 2008 World Series of Poker may have been dubbed the “year of the pro,” but 2009 is making a strong case, as well. The trend continued Thursday night when tournament regular Eric “basebaldy” Baldwin captured event No. 34 ($1,500 no-limit hold’em).

The smaller buy-in events at the WSOP are usually tough minefields for the pros, and newcomers or outright amateurs often come out on top. Yet this final table boasted an abundance of talent, and notables such as recent triple-crown winner Roland de Wolfe, online players Andrew “Allofit29” Youngblood and the aforementioned Baldwin, and Danish superstar Jonas Klausen.

Klausen held the chip lead, or close to it, for much of the final table, but it was Baldwin who came on strong in the late stages, flopping a set heads up against Klausen’s top two pair to take a huge chip advantage and closing it out just a few hands later.

Just for fun, check out Card Player TV’s episode of High Stakes Living featuring Baldwin.

Here are the final results:

1. Eric Baldwin — $521,932
2. Jonas Klausen — $322,271
3. James Taylor — $213,046
4. Benjamin Scholl — $150,133
5. Roland de Wolfe — $112,957
6. Andrew Youngblood — $89,222
7. Steven Bradbury — $74,352
8. Martin Jacobson — $65,487
9. Eric Defontes — $60,335

Here’s how all the final table action went down according to Card Player’s live updates:

Eric Defontes Eliminated in Ninth Place ($60,335)

Jonas Klausen raised to 80,000 from middle position, and Eric Defontes reraised all in from the big blind for 359,000. Klausen made the call, and they flipped up their cards:

Klausen: A 10
Defontes: 4 4

Board: A 7 6 9 K

Defontes was eliminated in ninth place, and Klausen grew his stack to more than 3 million.

Martin Jacobson Eliminated in Eighth Place ($65,487)

Martin Jacobson moved all in for 125,000 in early position preflop. Eric Baldwin reraised to 295,000, and everyone else mucked. Their cards:

Jasobson: A 9
Baldwin: Q Q

Board: 10 6 3 7 J

Jaconson was eliminated in eighth place, and Baldwin grew his stack to more than 1 million.

Steven Bradbury Eliminated in Seventh Place ($74,352)

James Taylor raised to 125,000 from the cutoff, and Steven Bradbury moved all in from the big blind for his last 240,000.

Taylor called with 9 6 and was dominated by Bradbury’s A 6.

The board rolled out 9 7 2 K 7, and Bradbury was eliminated.

Andrew Youngblood Eliminated in Sixth Place ($89,222)

Jonas Klausen completed in the small blind, and Andrew Youngblood checked his option in the big blind.

The flop came out 9 8 6, and Klausen bet 75,000. Youngblood raised to 420,000, and Klausen moved in. Youngblood instantly called with 6 6 for middle set but was behind to Klausen’s 7 5 for a flopped straight.

The turn and river came A 5, failing to pair the board, and Youngblood was eliminated.

Roland De Wolfe Eliminated in Fifth Place ($112,957)

Roland De Wolfe moved all in for his last 600,000, and Jonas Klausen called with A 6. De Wolfe was dominated by 7 6 and was eliminated when the board came A K 5 7 8.

Benjamin Scholl Eliminated in Fourth Place ($150,133)

Benjamin Scholl moved all in from the button for 235,000, and James Taylor called from the big blind.

Taylor showed A 8 and was ahead of Scholl’s K J.

The board came K 3 2 6 A, and Taylor’s pair of aces sent Scholl to the rail.

James Taylor Eliminated in Third Place ($213,046)

James Taylor raised in the small blind to 180,000, and Eric Baldwin called in the big blind.

The flop came out 7 5 3, and Taylor bet 175,000. Baldwin moved all in, and Taylor called for his tournament life after a few moments.

Taylor showed K Q, and Baldwin showed 9 7 for top pair. The turn and river came 10 and 3, and Taylor was eliminated.

Eric Baldwin Wins Event No. 34 ($521,932) Jonas Klausen Eliminated in Second Place ($322,271)

Eric Baldwin raised to 165,000, and Jonas Klausen moved all in for his last million or so on top. Baldwin called with 10 10, and Klausen showed down AQ.

The board came K J 6 6 5, and Klausen was eliminated in second place. Baldwin earned his first WSOP bracelet and a career high $521,932.

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