Mike Vela won the 2008 WPT World Poker Finals at Foxwoods Casino yesterday, claiming his first major tournament title and the $1,704,986 prize.

Vela, an investment company executive, began the final table third in chips behind Tom “Durrrr” Dwan and Nick Schulman, but a few early pots catapulted him into the chip lead, a position he would never relinquish.

After veteran pro Mark Weitzman was departed by defending champion, Nenad Medic, in sixth place, Vela went on to dominate the final table and eliminate amateur Mike White, Dwan and Medic in quick succession. Vela’s final obstacle was 2005 World Poker Finals champion Nick Schulman, but Vela was in a favorable spot with a greater than 3:1 chip lead. It only took a few hands for the two players to risk it all on a pre-flop race, and Vela’s Ace-Queen flopped two pair to beat Schulman’s pocket fives. According to the WorldPokerTour.com, the final table lasted just 78 hands, a far cry from the 271 it took to decide the previous WPT event.

Final Results
1st. Mike Vela $1,704,986 + $25,000 WPT Championship seat
2nd. Nick Schulman $864,652
3rd. Nenad Medic $486,367
4th. Tom Dwan $324,244
5th. Mike White $243,184
6th. Mark Weitzman $189,142

For a final table recap and interview with the winner, see: www.WorldPokerTour.com/tournament/

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