WSOP -- Tony Veckey Wins Event No. 54

Tony Veckey won his first World Series of Poker bracelet by taking down Event No. 54 ($1,500 no-limit hold’em). It was Veckey’s first ever major tournament win and first WSOP cash. He took home $673,276 for his efforts.

Veckey bested a huge field in the final $1,500 event of the 2009 World Series of Poker. It was the first time the 30-year-old software engineer had ever entered a WSOP event.

The three-day event drew a sold out field of 2,818 players. After one day, only 384 of those players made their way to the second day. Notables Jonathan Little, Alexander Kostritsyn, Liv Boeree and J.C. Tran were amongst the casualties after the first day. Day 2 saw the field reach the money spots and notables like Carlos Mortensen, Amit Makhija, Hevad Khan and Theo Tran were among the 297 players who cashed in this event.

The final day saw 28 players return, including Vivek Rajkumar and Brandon Wong. By the time the final table was set, Veckey was in fifth chip position with 1.1 million in chips. He remained in the middle of the pack until there were four players left. He then knocked out two players, but still trailed Jason Wheeler by almost a 2-1 chip margin when heads-up play began.

Veckey never waivered and even folded pocket kings preflop during heads-up play, confindent his hand was no good. Veckey then managed to take the chip lead and on the final hand, Wheeler was all in with top pair, but Veckey had a made straight and it held up, allowing him to take home the bracelet, along with $673,276.

Here are the official final table results:

1. Tony Veckey — $673,276
2. Jason Wheeler — $418,122
3. Joseph Chaplin — $ 276,029
4. Sergey Konkin — $195,213
5. Andrew Malott — $147,131
6. Christopher Bonita — $117,358
7. Christopher DeMaci — $98,933
8. David Jaoui — $87,855
9. Miha Remic — $81,970

Here are the elimination hands as they were reported on CardPlayer.com’s live updates:

Miha Remic Eliminated in Ninth Place ($81,970)

Miha Remic moved all in on the button and was looked up by Andrew Malott in the big blind. Remic showed J9 and was racing against Malott’s pocket fives.

The board came out A2263 and Remic was eliminated.

David Jaoui Eliminated in Eighth Place ($87,855)

David Jaoui moved all in for his last 650,000 in middle position and was called by Sergey Konkin.

Konkin showed pocket queens and had Jaoui’s A9 in bad shape. The board failed to provide any help and Jaoui was eliminated.

Christopher DeMaci Eliminated in Seventh Place ($98,933)

Christopher DeMaci moved all in for his last 525,000 in the small blind and Sergey Konkin called behind him.

DeMaci showed Q5 and was dominated by Konkin’s QJ. Both players paired their kickers on a J544K board and DeMaci was eliminated.

Christopher Bonita Eliminated in Sixth Place ($147,131)

On a flop of 983, Jason Wheeler bet 210,000 and Christopher Bonita called.

The turn was the J and Wheeler bet 425,000. Bonita moved all in and Wheeler called with 107 for the made straight. Bonita was in major trouble and drawing to a chop with 76.

The river was a 5, giving Bonita a straight, but it wasn’t good enough to avoid the payout line.

Andrew Malott Eliminated in Fifth Place ($195,213)

Andrew Malott raised to 115,000 and Joseph Chaplin reraised to 500,000. Malott moved in and Chaplin called with AJ.

He was in major trouble as Malott showed pocket kings, but the the board hit him hard with AQ429 to give him the nut flush and eliminate Malott.

Sergey Konkin Eliminated in Fourth Place ($195,213)

Sergey Konkin was all in on the big blind and Tony Veckey, Jason Wheeler and Jospeh Chaplin all checked down a board of A432J.

Veckey showed A10 and it was good enough to send Konkin out of the tournament.

Joseph Chaplin Eliminated in Third Place ($276,029)

Joseph Chaplin raised to 200,000 and Tony Veckey and Jason Wheeler called from the blinds. The flop came 986 and Veckey bet 450,000.

Wheeler called and Chaplin moved all in for 1,600,000. Veckey folded and Wheeler called with Q2. Chaplin showed 87 and was temporarily ahead until the turn and river came QK, sending him to the rail.

Tony Veckey Wins Event No. 54 ($673,276) Jason Wheeler Eliminated in Second Place ($418,122)

On a flop of Q108, Jason Wheeler bet 450,000 and Tony Veckey called. The turn was the 8 and Wheeler bet 1,200,000. Veckey moved all in and Wheeler called for his tournament life.

Wheeler showed J9 for the nut straight and looked good to double up, but Veckey’s AhQs made a full house when the river was the Q, busting Wheeler in second place

Veckey picked up his first gold bracelet and $673,276.

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