Wahlbeck is the first Team Pro of the 2010 WCOOP to make a final table

You know this year’s World Championship of Online Poker on PokerStars is going to be massive when there is more than $7 million in prize money up for grabs on Day 1. Thanks to a trio of events, each with prize pools in excess of $1.5 million, the first day of the popular series got of to a smashing start with a whopping 14 six-figure paydays.

The biggest payday went to Dave “CrabMaki” Shallow, who claimed the bracelet in Event #2, the $10,000 No Limit Hold’em High Rollers event and won an impressive $605,655. CrabMaki edged out some stiff competition, including Team PokerStars Pro Ville Wahlbeck, who started Team PokerStars out on the right foot with a runner-up showing worth over $450,000. Others at the final table included Jamie “pokerjamers” Armstrong (8th), Mohsin “sms9231” Charania (7th), and Ariel “Vick Is God” Schellner (5th).

Last year’s High Roller field drew 299 runners, while this year’s saw a small uptick with 313 entrants. The reigning champ in the event, Kristoffer “Sumpas” Thorsson, did not play, perhaps because he is still busy celebrating his final table appearance at WPT London earlier this week.

The first event of the series, a $200 buy-in 6-Handed NLHE event, drew an astounding 9,000 players and will be a difference maker the next time the BLUFF Online Player of the Year rankings are updates. Contender inhidonks final tabled the large-field event, finishing in fifth place and earning over $40,000. Stephen “stevie444″ Chidwick also made the final table, finishing in third place, but it was Alex “AlexKP” Petersen who earned the bracelet after a heads-up deal withTutanhamon1.

The late tournament of the day proved to be the biggest of them all, drawing a field of 12,066 for the $215 No Limit Hold’em event. In the end, it came down to a Portugese player, a Brazilian player, and an enthusiastic rail that included Team Pro Andre Akkari, who had plenty to cheer for when his fellow countryman Joao “joao bauer” Neto bested Carlos “cmpjo” Olivera for the bracelet. The two each took home a tidy payday as well, agreeing to a heads-up deal that resulted in over $300,000 for Neto and $260,000 for Olivera.

Monday’s WCOOP action won’t be nearly as intense as the multi-million dollar Sunday, but if the three events on the docket meet their respective guarantees there will be over $1.1 million on the line.   Considering that the first three events destroyed their guarantees and it is Labor Day in the States, that certainly seems like a distinct possibility.  The action includes a $320 PLO tournament, a $320 No Limit Hold’em Shootout, and a Turbo No Limit Hold’em Event with Rebuys featuring a $215 buy-in.

Here are the final table results from Day 1 of the World Championship of Online Poker:

WCOOP Event #1: $215 6-Handed No Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool: $1,800,200
Entrants: 9,001

1st: Alex “AlexKP” Petersen ($257,000.00)*
2nd: Tutanhamon1 ($198,274.48)*
3rd: Stephen “stevie444” Chidwick ($130,514.50)
4th: ROOJAR_M ($76,508.50)
5th: inhidonks ($40,504.50)
6th: Drateks ($27,003.00)

*denotes a two-way deal

Notable finishes: Michael “amrasaralond” Binger (15th) and Randy “nanonoko” Lew (33rd)

WCOOP Event #2: $10,300 No Limit Hold’em High Rollers
Prize Pool: $3,130,000
Entrants: 313

1st: Dave “CrabMaki” Shallow ($605,655.00)
2nd: Ville Wahlbeck ($453,850.00)
3rd: Jean Francois “bmwmcoupe” Talbot ($344,300.00)
4th: Also11 ($258,225.00)
5th: Ariel “Vick Is God” Schellner ($178,410.00)
6th: LooneyGerbil ($137,720.00)
7th: Mohsin “sms9231” Charania ($106,420.00)
8th: Jamie “pokerjamers” Armstrong ($75,120.00)
9th: Anton “antesvante” Wigg ($54,775.00)

Notable finishes: Paul “paulgees81” Volpe (10th), Adam “squee451” Sherman (12th), Brent “usourcek” Hanks (13th), Matthias “goodvibe1” Neu (14th), James “mig.com” Mackey

WCOOP Event #3: $215 No Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool: $2,413,200
Entrants: 12,066

1st: Joao “joao bauer” Neto $316,702.36)*
2nd: Carlos “cmpjo” Olivera ($260,298.79)*
3rd: lteopepe88 ($168,924.00)
4th: I need bond$ ($120,660.00)
5th: Twinshark ($96,528.00)
6th: Alexsei1990 ($72,396.00)
7th: binhoeiji ($48,264.00)
8th: jampiriki ($24,132.00)
9th: Luke “Bdbeatslayer” Vrabel ($15,203.16)

*denotes a two-way deal

Notable finishes: Jason “PBJaxx” Senti (52nd)

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