It’s not as if it hadn’t already happened during the 2012 World Series of Poker, but it is still a bit of a weird feeling when a tournament goes overtime. The excitement and anticipation of a dramatic finish builds up during the final scheduled day and then…nothing. No bracelet winner. The remaining players have to go get some sleep and come back to finish during a day they were never supposed to reach. It’s like they are trespassing on the other events’ turf. But like it or not (and who doesn’t like bonus poker), a fourth day was in order for 2012 WSOP Event #50: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em. Fortunately, a fifth day was not required is it took less than three hours for the final three players to be narrowed to one. That one: Peter Vilandos, who notched the third bracelet of his career and just shy of $1 million.
Peter Vilandos is not exactly a household name, but he has been playing at a high level for a long time. He has recorded tournament cashes dating back to 1990, with his first cash at the WSOP coming in 1993. He earned two bracelets prior to this one, the first coming in 1995 in the $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em event ($148,500) and the next 14 years later in $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em ($607,256). Vilandos has six other final table appearances at the World Series of Poker. With this most recent win, he has eclipsed the $3 million mark in career earnings.
Vilandos was in third place of the three players to make it to Day 4, holding 3.955 million chips. Just ahead of him was Kyle Julius with 4.435 million and leading the way was Dan Smith with 6.62 million chips. Vilandos came right out of the gate firing, taking a 1.245 million pot from Julius, allowing him to swap places with his opponent. Over the next hour, it was up and down for Vilandos, but mostly up, as he was able to grab the chip lead. Though he was already the chip leader, the turning point of the day came with the first of Sunday’s two eliminations.
Smith and Vilandos got into a raising war pre-flop, eventually getting all-in. Smith was in a great position to double-up, holding A♠-K♠ against Vilandos’ A♣-T♥. The flop was great for Smith, offering all low cards, but the turn produced the T♠, giving Vilandos a pair. The river was a blank and Smith was out of the tournament in 3rd place.
Going into heads-up play, Peter Vilandos had a sizable chip lead over Kyle Julius, 9.2 million to 5.9 million. And that lead just got bigger and bigger. Julius was never able to gain a foothold. On the final hand, Julius moved all-in pre-flop for 2.1 million with A♠-5♠ and Vilandos made the call with A♣-J♠. None of the community cards were of any consequence and Peter Vilandos won his third bracelet and $952,694.
2012 WSOP Event #50: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Final Table Results
1. Panayote “Peter” Vilandos – $952,694
2. Kyle Julius – $589,687
3. Dan Smith – $368,943
4. Kevin Schulz – $267,792
5. Derek Gregory – $197,691
6. Thomas Conway – $148,198
7. Matt Giannetti – $112,725
8. Tommy Vedes – $86,889
9. Amir Lehavot – $67,889
