# 2009 World Series of Poker

The 2009 World Series of Poker was the 40th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP). It was held at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and ran from May 27 to July 15. There were 57 bracelet events, culminating in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event. The "November Nine" concept returned for the second year, with the finalists of the Main Event returning to finish the tournament on November 7.

## Event schedule

| # | Event | Entrants | Winner | Prize | Runner-up | Results |
| 1 | $500 Casino Employees No Limit Hold'em | 866 | Andrew Cohen (1/1) | $83,778 | Paul Peterson | Results |
| 2 | $40,000 No Limit Hold'em | 201 | Vitaly Lunkin (1/2) | $1,891,012 | Isaac Haxton | Results |
| 3 | $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better | 918 | Thang Luu (1/2) | $263,135 | Ed Smith | Results |
| 4 | $1,000 No Limit Hold'em | 6,012 | Steve Sung (1/1) | $771,106 | Peter Vilandos (0/1) | Results |
| 5 | $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha | 809 | Jason Mercier (1/1) | $237,415 | Steven Burkholder | Results |
| 6 | $10,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud | 142 | Freddie Ellis (1/1) | $373,744 | Eric Drache | Results |
| 7 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,791 | Travis Johnson (1/1) | $666,853 | Steve Karp | Results |
| 8 | $2,500 2-7 Draw Lowball | 147 | Phil Ivey (1/6) | $96,361 | John Monnette | Results |
| 9 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Short Handed | 1,459 | Ken Aldridge (1/1) | $428,259 | Carman Cavella | Results |
| 10 | $2,500 Pot Limit Hold'em/Omaha | 453 | Rami Boukai (1/1) | $244,862 | Najib Bennani | Results |
| 11 | $2,000 No Limit Hold'em | 1,646 | Anthony Harb (1/1) | $569,199 | Peter Rho | Results |
| 12 | $10,000 World Championship Mixed Event | 194 | Ville Wahlbeck (1/1) | $492,375 | David Chiu (0/4) | Results |
| 13 | $2,500 No Limit Hold'em | 1,088 | Keven Stammen (1/1) | $506,786 | Angel Guillen | Results |
| 14 | $2,500 Limit Hold'em Short Handed | 367 | Brock Parker (1/1) | $223,688 | Daniel Negreanu (0/4) | Results |
| 15 | $5,000 No Limit Hold'em | 655 | Brian Lemke (1/1) | $692,658 | Fabian Quoss | Results |
| 16 | $1,500 Seven Card Stud | 359 | Jeff Lisandro (1/2) | $124,959 | Rodney H. Pardey (0/2) | Results |
| 17 | $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em World Championship | 1,060 | Lisa Hamilton (1/1) | $195,390 | Lori Bender | Results |
| 18 | $10,000 World Championship Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better | 179 | Daniel Alaei (1/2) | $445,898 | Scott Clements (0/2) | Results |
| 19 | $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Short Handed | 1,068 | Brock Parker (2/2) | $552,745 | Joe Serock | Results |
| 20 | $1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em | 633 | J.P. Kelly (1/1) | $194,434 | Marc Tschirch | Results |
| 21 | $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. | 452 | Zac Fellows (1/1) | $311,899 | James Van Alstyne | Results |
| 22 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Shootout | 1,000 | Jeff Carris (1/1) | $313,673 | Jason Somerville | Results |
| 23 | $10,000 World Championship 2-7 Draw Lowball | 96 | Nick Schulman (1/1) | $279,742 | Ville Wahlbeck (1/1) | Results |
| 24 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,506 | Peter Vilandos (1/2) | $607,256 | Andy Seth | Results |
| 25 | $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better | 376 | Phil Ivey (2/7) | $220,538 | Ming Lee | Results |
| 26 | $1,500 Limit Hold'em | 643 | Tomas Alenius (1/1) | $197,488 | Jason Tam | Results |
| 27 | $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better | 198 | Roland De Wolfe (1/1) | $246,616 | Brett Richey | Results |
| 28 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,638 | Mike Eise (1/1) | $639,331 | Jeff Chang | Results |
| 29 | $10,000 World Championship Heads Up No Limit Hold'em | 256 | Leo Wolpert (1/1) | $625,682 | John Duthie | Results |
| 30 | $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha | 436 | J. C. Tran (1/2) | $235,685 | Jeff Kimber | Results |
| 31 | $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. | 770 | James Van Alstyne (1/1) | $247,033 | Tad Jurgens | Results |
| 32 | $2,000 No Limit Hold'em | 1,534 | Ángel Guillén (1/1) | $530,548 | Mika Paasonen | Results |
| 33 | $10,000 World Championship Limit Hold'em | 185 | Greg Mueller (1/1) | $460,836 | Pat Pezzin | Results |
| 34 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,095 | Eric Baldwin (1/1) | $521,932 | Jonas Klausen | Results |
| 35 | $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha | 363 | Richard Austin (1/1) | $409,484 | Sorel Mizzi | Results |
| 36 | $2,000 No Limit Hold'em | 1,695 | Jordan Smith (1/1) | $586,212 | Ken Lennaárd | Results |
| 37 | $10,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better | 164 | Jeff Lisandro (2/3) | $431,656 | Farzad Rouhani (0/1) | Results |
| 38 | $2,000 Limit Hold'em | 446 | Marc Naalden (1/1) | $190,770 | Steven Cowley | Results |
| 39 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,715 | Ray Foley (1/1) | $657,969 | Brandon Cantu (0/1) | Results |
| 40 | $10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Omaha | 295 | Matt Graham (1/2) | $679,379 | Vitaly Lunkin (1/2) | Results |
| 41 | $5,000 No Limit Hold'em Shootout | 280 | Péter Traply (1/1) | $348,728 | Andrew Lichtenberger | Results |
| 42 | $2,500 Mixed Event | 412 | Jerrod Ankenman (1/1) | $241,637 | Sergey Altbregin | Results |
| 43 | $1,000 Seniors No Limit Hold'em World Championship | 2,707 | Michael Davis (1/1) | $437,358 | Scott Buller | Results |
| 44 | $2,500 Razz | 315 | Jeff Lisandro (3/4) | $188,370 | Michael Craig | Results |
| 45 | $10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Hold'em | 275 | John Kabbaj (1/1) | $633,335 | Kirill Gerasimov | Results |
| 46 | $2,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better | 424 | Derek Raymond (1/1) | $229,192 | Mark Tenner | Results |
| 47 | $2,500 Mixed Hold'em | 527 | Bahador Ahmadi (1/1) | $278,804 | John McGuiness | Results |
| 48 | $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better | 762 | Brandon Cantu (1/2) | $228,867 | Lee Watkinson | Results |
| 49 | $50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E. | 95 | David Bach (1/1) | $1,276,802 | John Hanson | Results |
| 50 | $1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout | 572 | Greg Mueller (2/2) | $194,854 | Marc Naalden (1/1) | Results |
| 51 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,781 | Carsten Joh (1/1) | $664,426 | Andrew Chen | Results |
| 52 | $3,000 Triple Chance No Limit Hold'em | 854 | Jorg Peisert (1/1) | $506,800 | Jason DeWitt | Results |
| 53 | $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better | 467 | David Halpern (1/1) | $159,390 | William Kohler | Results |
| 54 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,818 | Tony Veckey (1/1) | $673,276 | Jason Wheeler | Results |
| 55 | $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball | 257 | Abe Mosseri (1/1) | $165,521 | Masayoshi Tanaka | Results |
| 56 | $5,000 No Limit Hold'em Short Handed | 928 | Matt Hawrilenko (1/1) | $1,003,163 | Josh Brikis | Results |
| 57 | $10,000 World Championship No Limit Hold'em | 6,494 | Joe Cada (1/1) | $8,547,042 | Darvin Moon | Results |

## Main Event

The $10,000 World Championship No Limit Texas Hold 'em Main Event began on July 3 with the first of four starting days. There were 6,494 total entries. After reaching the final table of nine players on July 15, the final table was once again delayed until November 7. The Main Event once again was a draw for many celebrities to play including:
* Day 1A: Jason Alexander, Brad Garrett, Orel Hershiser, Nelly, Jennifer Tilly,
* Day 1B: Shane Warne
* Day 1C: Antonio Tarver, Paul Wight
* Day 1D: Shannon Elizabeth, Sully Erna, Jordan Farmar, Audley Harrison, Scott Ian, Lou Diamond Phillips, Ray Romano, John Salley, Nate Silver, Sam Simon, Marlon Wayans, Torrie Wilson
The highest number of participants for a single day was Day 1D at 2,809, with Day 1B the lowest with 873. According to news reports, as many as 500 players, including Patrik Antonius, T. J. Cloutier, Layne Flack and Ted Forrest, were denied entry because capacity was filled.
Players started with 30,000 chips, up from 20,000 in previous Main Events.

### Performance of past champions

| Name | Championship Year(s) | Day of Elimination |
| Amarillo Slim | 1972 | 2A |
| Doyle Brunson | 1976 and 1977 | 1B |
| Bobby Baldwin | 1978 | 5 (352nd place) |
| Tom McEvoy | 1983 | 1C |
| Berry Johnston | 1986 | 2A |
| Johnny Chan | 1987 and 1988 | 2A |
| Phil Hellmuth | 1989 | 4 (436th place) |
| Jim Bechtel | 1993 | 3 |
| Dan Harrington | 1995 | 5 (252nd place) |
| Huck Seed | 1996 | 1D |
| Scotty Nguyen | 1998 | 2B |
| Chris Ferguson | 2000 | 4 (561st place) |
| Carlos Mortensen | 2001 | 3 |
| Robert Varkonyi | 2002 | 2B |
| Chris Moneymaker | 2003 | 1B |
| Greg Raymer | 2004 | 3 |
| Joe Hachem | 2005 | 6 (103rd place) |
| Jamie Gold | 2006 | 1C |
| Jerry Yang | 2007 | 1A |
| Peter Eastgate | 2008 | 6 (78th place) |

### Other notable high finishes

NB: This list is restricted to top 100 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.
| Place | Name | Prize |
| 14th | Ben Lamb | $633,022 |
| 18th | Andrew Lichtenberger | $500,557 |
| 21st | Jonathan Tamayo | $352,832 |
| 24th | Antonio Esfandiari | $352,832 |
| 39th | Eugene Katchalov | $178,857 |
| 45th | Dennis Phillips | $178,857 |
| 56th | Joe Sebok | $108,047 |
| 64th | Prahlad Friedman | $90,344 |
| 78th | Peter Eastgate | $68,979 |

### November Nine

As in 2008, the final nine players returned on November 7 to complete the event. These players were as follows:
| Name | Number of chips (percentage of total) | WSOP Bracelets | WSOP Cashes* | WSOP Earnings* |
| Darvin Moon | 58,930,000 (30.2%) | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Eric Buchman | 34,800,000 (17.9%) | 0 | 9 | $320,893 |
| Steven Begleiter | 29,885,000 (15.3%) | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Jeff Shulman | 19,580,000 (10.0%) | 0 | 15 | $289,551 |
| Joe Cada | 13,215,000 (6.8%) | 0 | 2 | $28,214 |
| Kevin Schaffel | 12,390,000 (6.4%) | 0 | 2 | $92,166 |
| Phil Ivey | 9,765,000 (5.0%) | 7 | 38 | $3,843,018 |
| Antoine Saout | 9,500,000 (4.9%) | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| James Akenhead | 6,800,000 (3.5%) | 0 | 2 | $525,867 |
*Career statistics prior to the beginning of the 2009 Main Event.
Harrah's deposited the remaining prizepool of $15,847,250 into a risk-free interest-bearing account back on July 16, 2009 up until November 2, 2009. This was the total money left over in the prize pool after each member of the November Nine was paid out ninth-place money ($1,263,602). The remaining money accrued $1,321 in interest and was distributed throughout the payouts. The 2009 final table lasted for 364 hands, including 88 hands of heads up play.

#### Final table

| Place | Name | Prize |
| 1st | Joe Cada | $8,547,042 |
| 2nd | Darvin Moon | $5,182,928 |
| 3rd | Antoine Saout | $3,479,670 |
| 4th | Eric Buchman | $2,502,890 |
| 5th | Jeff Shulman | $1,953,452 |
| 6th | Steven Begleiter | $1,587,160 |
| 7th | Phil Ivey | $1,404,014 |
| 8th | Kevin Schaffel | $1,300,231 |
| 9th | James Akenhead | $1,263,602 |

## Notable achievements

* Jeff Lisandro became the first player to win a bracelet in each of the Stud disciplines in the same World Series. In doing so, Lisandro was the first player to win three WSOP bracelets in the same year since Phil Ivey achieved this feat in 2002.
* In addition to Lisandro, Ivey, Brock Parker and Greg Mueller won multiple bracelets during the series.
* Ville Wahlbeck, who won Event 12, became the first Finnish player to win a bracelet.
* Péter Traply, who won Event 41, became the first Hungarian player to win a bracelet.