WSOP: Pete Vilandos Wins 2nd Career Bracelet in $1,500 NLHE Event

Paul Oresteen | June 14, 2009

Pete Vilandos grips his 2nd bracelet after a long final table.

The World Series of Poker offers several $1,500 buy-in events throughout the series. They usually always attract the most entrants and making the final table is comparable to walking through a mine field. Pete “The Greek” Vilandos survived a 6 hour plus final table to win his second bracelet in his second final table this series.

The high volatility of these events usually assembles a final table of unrecognizable faces. The $1,500 No Limit Hold’em (Event 24) provided a few recognizable faces. The 2008 November Nine bubble boy, Dean Hamrick, the flamboyant Alan Jaffray, and the Stimulus Special runner-up Vilandos.

Brian Fitzpatrick was the first to fall when when he moved in before the flop with A 8 and was called by Vilandos with A T. Fitzpatrick needed help from the board, but it ran 2 7 T J 3 and he was sent to the rail.

Michael Greco doubled up through Andy Seth holding A 8 on a board of 9 6 8 8 9 when Seth held Q Q. Greco’s roommate, Jesper Hougaard led the crowd in chants to the point that it disrupted play on the next hand and Hougaard was escorted out of the final table area after receiving a couple of warnings.

Seth opened for 115,000 preflop and Vilandos raised to 300,000 and then Ronnie Kevin moved all-in for 550,000. Seth got out of the way but Vilandos called holding K K and was ahead of Kevin’s A Q. The board ran 3 7 T 5 3 and Kevin, an student of Men “The Master” Nguyen, went home in 8th place.

Glenn McCaffrey raised to 115,000 and was called by Jaffray, and David Lerman. The flop came T 3 4 and Lerman moved all-in and McCaffrey reraised to isolate Lerman, which convinced Jaffray to fold. McCaffrey was ahead with K T and Lerman held middle pair with 9 4. The turn and river came K A and Lerman was eliminated in 7th place.

Returning after a break, Jaffray moved all-in and was called quickly by Vilandos directly on his left. Jaffray tabled K Q and Vilandos showed A Q. The board ran 3 2 Q 7 3 and Vilandos’ kicker played and Jaffray and his Kentucky Derby hat was eliminated in 6th place.

Hambrick, sitting UTG, moved all-in preflop and was called by Vilandos. Hambrick was in a coin flip situation and tabled A Q and while Vilandos was ahead with 9 9. The board ran 7 T T 9 7 and Hambrick gave an exit interview for 5th place.

In the most unusual hand of the final table, Seth and McCaffrey saw a flop of 4 T 5 and Seth bet 195,000. McCaffrey pushed a large amount of his orange 5,000 chips in for a raise and Seth thought McCaffrey had moved all-in and exposed his hand - A Q. McCaffrey had only raised 875,000 leaving about 200,000 behind. Seth then quickly bet 200,000 in the dark when he realized his mistake. The flop came 5 7 3 and McCaffrey tanked. He said, “I’m saving money now,” as he mucked his hand. Seth received a one hand penalty for showing his cards early.

McCaffrey moved in with his short stack and was called by Seth with A 7. McCaffrey was ahead holding A J but the board ran 6 5 Q 8 2 giving Seth a four-flush and sent McCaffrey home in 4th place.

Seth opened on the button and Greco shoved from the big blind. Seth quickly called tabling 7 7 and Greco showed A T. The board came 3 6 6 K Q and Greco left in 3rd leaving Vilandos and Seth to battle for the bracelet.

The most decissive hand of heads-up play came early on. Seth reraised Vilandos’ button raise to 815,000. Vilandos moved all-in and Seth called. Vilandos was ahead with A K and Seth held A Q. The board ran dry for Seth with 7 2 J 9 3 and Vilandos won a pot worth over 9,000,000.

With things looking desperate for Seth, he reraised Vilandos’ button raise to 710,000 and Vilandos moved all-in. Seth called and was ahead with A J to Vilandos’ A 5. The flop came 4 3 T the turn buried Seth’s chances of a bracelet when Vilandos made the wheel with the 2 on the turn. The K on the river was of no matter and Vilandos won his second bracelet.

Share this story with others: