Wednesday, July 1, 2009 11:05 PM Local Time
It took nearly 11 hours for Tony Veckey to claim the title, but he'll tell you it was worth the effort and the missed flight home to Chicago. Our newest WSOP bracelet winner bested a field of 2,818 to walk away with the hardware and more than $673,000 in first-place money.
Today was no piece of cake either, as 28 players returned to battle for the prize. Eliminations moved quickly though, and we were down to 10 players just after the dinner break. Veckey played an aggressive and smart game throughout, raising his opponents and applying pressure whenever possible. His most impressive play, however, may be the hand he didn't play when he laid down pocket kings preflop to an all in raise.
In the end, his tactics worked as he bested Jason Wheeler in a hard fought heads-up battle to claim the bracelet.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:53 PM Local Time
Jason Wheeler bet 450,000 on a flop of
and Tony Veckey made the call.
Wheeler bet another 1,200,000 on the
turn and Veckey moved all in, having connected with his gutshot straight draw. Wheeler called and we saw the hands:
Veckey:
Wheeler:
The
on the river gave Wheeler trips, but they weren't enough to best Veckey's straight. Wheeler left in second place with $418,122.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:47 PM Local Time
Jason Wheeler made it 240,000 to play from the small blind and Tony Veckey joined in.
On a flop of
, Veckey bet 300,000 and Wheeler came along. The turn brought the
, another 300,000 bet from Veckey, and another call. The river brought the
and yet another 300,000 bet. When Wheeler raised to 1,500,000, Veckey called and tabled
for the straight. Wheeler mucked.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:37 PM Local Time
Jason Wheeler popped it up to 240,000 from the small blind and Tony Veckey reraised an additional 360,000.
After a flop of
, Veckey's 700,000 bet was enough to make Wheeler fold.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:33 PM Local Time
Tony Veckey raised to 250,000 from the small blind and Jason Wheeler reraised to 750,000 from the big.
After a flop of
, Wheeler bet another 900,000 and Veckey mucked.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:19 PM Local Time
Tony Veckey limped from the small blind and Jason Wheeler raised 250,000 from the big. Veckey went along and we saw a flop of
.
Wheeler bet 325,000 and Veckey raised 500,000 more. Wheeler called and checked the
on the turn. Veckey bet 850,000 and Wheeler released his hand.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:14 PM Local Time
Jason Wheeler raised to 200,000 from the small blind and Tony Veckey came along.
Veckey then bet 300,000 on a flop of
, only to have Wheeler raise for an additional 850,000. Veckey laid his down and we moved on.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:02 PM Local Time
We're back from our break as Tony Veckey and Jason Wheeler battle for the bracelet.
Wheeler is starting with an almost 2-1 chip lead with 8 million chips vs. Veckey's 4.7 million.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:00 PM Local Time
Players are on a short break before the start of heads-up play.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:00 PM Local Time
Joseph Chaplin made it 200,000 to play from the button and both Tony Veckey and Jason Wheeler called from the blinds.
Veckey led for 450,000 on a flop of
and Wheeler flatted before Chaplin moved all in for 1.6 million. Veckey folded and Wheeler called.
Wheeler:
Chaplin:
The
on the turn paired Wheeler and Chaplin missed his straight draw with the
on the river. He left in third place with $276,029.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:51 PM Local Time
After being crippled by Tony Veckey, Sergey Konkin was all in from the big blind. Tony Veckey, Jason Wheeler and Joseph Chaplin all limped in and checked down a board of
.
Veckey took the pot when he showed
and Konkin left in fourth place with $195,213.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:43 PM Local Time
Sergey Konkin raised to 165,000 from the button and Tony Veckey reraised to 380,000 from the small blind. Konkin shoved, Veckey called, and cards were shown.
Konkin:
Veckey:
Veckey flopped gin with
and the
did nothing to help his hand. He was left with just 35,000.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:26 PM Local Time
Jason Wheeler raised to 110,000 from early position and got called by Joseph Chaplin.
Wheeler bet another 165,000 on a flop of
, and Chaplin called again. The turn brought the
and a 425,000 bet from Wheeler. Chaplin surrendered and Wheeler took the chips.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:22 PM Local Time
Jason Wheeler popped it to 165,000 from under-the-gun and Sergey Konkin flat called from the small blind. Action moved to Tony Veckey who moved all in from the big blind. Wheeler folded and Konkin called.
Konkin:
Veckey:
Veckey jumped to the lead on a flop of
and faded Konkin's outs when the board finished
. He's up to 2 million while Konkin still has 2.2 million.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:15 PM Local Time
Andrew Malott raised to 115,000 from under-the-gun and Joseph Chaplin reraised to 500,000. Malott moved all in and Chaplin called.
Malott:
Chaplin:
When the board ran
, Chaplin held the higher pair and Malott left with $147,131. Chaplin chipped up to more than 3 million.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:11 PM Local Time
On a flop of
, Christopher Bonita check-called a 210,000 bet by Jason Wheeler.
When the turn brought the
, Bonita check-raised all in after Wheeler bet 425,000. Wheeler called and the hands were shown.
Bonita:
Wheeler:
Wheeler showed the nut straight vs. Bonita's lower straight draw, which completed on the river with the
. Bonita left in sixth place with $147,131 while Wheeler chipped up to 4.5 million.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:02 PM Local Time
Andrew Malott made it 160,000 to play from early position and got called by Tony Veckey in the big blind.
Both players checked a flop of
. Veckey led for 200,000 when the
hit the turn. Malott popped the action for an additional 305,000 and Veckey folded.
Malott showed
for the bluff and chided the table saying, "Come on, let's play some cards."
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 8:48 PM Local Time
Andrew Malott made it 120,000 to play from early position and got called by both Sergey Konkin and Tony Veckey in the blinds.
When Konkin and Veckey each checked a flop of
, Malott bet 210,000 and took the pot.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 8:43 PM Local Time
Play has resumed.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 8:21 PM Local Time
Players are taking a 20-minute break.