Finnish poker pro Ville Wahlbeck is the first bracelet winner from his homeland.

Saturday at the Rio was supposed to be about the Brunson family. The godfather and son combo of Doyle and Todd Brunson started the day in the top half of the field of Event #12 ($10,000 Mixed Gane World Championship) and many were hoping for a family affair at the final table. In the end it was a little-known Finn, Ville Wahlbeck, that stole the thunder and took home the bracelet.

Wahlbeck’s victory marks the first by a Finnish-born player and the historical significance of the achievement overwhelmed him minutes after he eliminated David Chiu in heads-up play. The 24 year old broke down in tears as he took phone call after phone from friends at home who had followed the live updates on WorldSeriesofPoker.com.

“C’mon this is like every poker players dream. This is the first bracelet for Finland,” said Wahlbeck. “I’ve been dreaming about this since I started playing poker. Now to actually be here and have a bracelet it’s just like a dream come true.”

Playing the role of dreamcrusher during most of the day was four-time WSOP bracelet winner Chiu and online poker player Scott “dorinvandy” Dorin. The 23 year old Dorin went to battle first with Doyle in a monster pot on a round of Hold’em. The two players put all their chips in the middle pre-flop with Doyle holding Q Q and Dorin holding A Q. The first card on the flop was the A and when he was unable to catch the case queen Doyle was out in 16th.

Todd on the other hand made the final table – barely. The younger Brunson rolled to the final table before finding trouble in a round of Seven-card Stud with split tens against the rolled-up kings of Chiu. Most of the money was committed early and Brunson simply couldn’t catch up, especially after 7th street filled up Chiu.

All told the Brunsons combined to cash for $76,211.

With the first family of poker on the rail the remaining players got down to business and Chiu and Dorin were front and center. Chiu kept the pressure on by sending Mike Wattel out in 7th during a round of No Limit Texas Hold’em, James Van Alstyne in 6th while playing Pot Limit Omaha and former Main Event champion Huck Seed out in fifth via Limit Hold’em.

Dorin gave Chiu a rest from the role of executioner during a round of Deuce to Seven Triple Draw. Mark Gregorich, who had the likes of Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow and Orel Hershiser supporting him from the rail, went out in fourth place. The three remaining players, Dorin, Chiu and Wahlbeck played for nearly two hours without an elimination. Dorin, who’d led most of the day wasn’t able to garner any momentum and was eliminated during Deuce to Seven Triple Draw when Wahlbeck made the second nut.

Heads-up play began and despite Chiu’s dominance, he was behind in the chip count by a 7-1 margin. It didn’t take long for Wahlbeck to the end the tournamnet. Having moved all-in preflop during Omaha 8-or-better Chiu tabled A 5 9 T and Wahlbeck called with A Q 8 8. The board came J J 5 T K and the river gave Wahlbeck broadway, a bracelet and a reason to shed some tears.

WSOP Event #12 ($10,000 Mixed Game World Championship)

1. Ville Wahlbeck – $492,375
2. David Chiu – $304,176
3. Scott Dorin – $199,940
4. Mark Gregorich – $139,159
5. Huck Seed – $102,286
6. James Van Alstyne – $79,181
7. Mike Wattel – $64,373
8. Todd Brunson – $54,854

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