Leo Wolpert Named Champion of Event 29 of 2009 WSOP

June 17, 2009 - Written By Bonnie

Congratulatiosn to Leo Wolpert who has earned the title of World Champion of the Heads Up NL hold em' tournament. In his early 20's, Wolpert was well known for his professional poker career. After choosing to take a break from poker and go back to school to study law, while in Nevada for his summer internship, Wolpert decided to brush up on his poker skills and enter into the World Championship Heads Up NL Hold em' tournament at the 2009 WSOP.

After two long days of play, Wolpert started day three with determination and wasted no time to take out oponents Dustin Woolf and Jamie Stokes. Stokes actually stood in the way of professional poker player Johnny Tran and prevented him from earning his 11th gold bracelet.  Wolpert's next challenge would get spectators talking as went up against EPT founder John Duthie. Both determined to make it to the next round, the first match would last an incredible 96 hands. Wolpert managed to keep a chip lead through a majority of the matches but was soon over taken by a double up from Duthie and Wolpert was out just a few hands later. Wolpert lost the first match but was eager to get things rolling again. The second match was looking much better for Wolpert as when they reached the ninth hand, Duthie's chips were dwindling away. This match was in favor of Wolpert and over in no time.

The final match displayed determination from both players. After 191 hands, Duthie goes all in, and Wolpert is right there with him and sitting with a better hand. After beating out 255 other players, Wolpert takes home the title, a cash prize of $625,682 and a 2009 WSOP gold bracelet.