Kevin Schulz opened to 100,000 from the cutoff and he found one caller in Panayote Vilandos in the big blind.
The flop came and Vilandos checked to Schulz, who fired 125,000 into the middle. Vilandos then check-raised to 300,000. Undeterred, Schulz verbally announced a re-raise to 735,000 total. Vilandos thought it over and slid his hand into the muck.
Originally from Naperville, Illinois, 25-year-old Kyle Julius made a name for himself online under the screenname “KJulius10”, which came after learning the game from his older brother, Ryan, 27, who Kyle says is the better player. Kyle studied for a brief time at the Northern Kentucky University before turning to poker full time.
Kyle Julius opened to 105,000 from under the gun and action folded around to Derek Gregory in the big blind, who went all in for 630,000. Julius snap called and hands were revealed.
Gregroy:
Julius:
The flop gave Gregory a pair of tens, but he would still need help to survive. The turn changed nothing, however a river would give Gregory two pair for the double up.
On a flop of , Derek Gregory checked from the big blind, Panayote Vilandos bet 230,000 from the hijack, and Dan Smith folded from the cutoff. Gregory ended up making the call and then check-called a bet on the turn.
When the was put out on the river, Gregory checked for a third time and Vilandos took his time lining up a big bet and slid out 725,000. Gregory snap-called but mucked when Vilandos proudly rolled over .
In a hand that would cripple Thomas Conway, Derek Gregory opened to 110,000 from the hijack position and it was folded around to Conway in the big blind - who pushed all in. Gregory called all in for just under 1 million and hands were revealed.
Conway:
Gregory:
The board ran out and Gregory doubled through Conway - leaving him with just 60,000 behind.
On the very next hand, Kyle Julius min-raised to 100,000 from early position and Conway called all in for less from the small blind. Kevin Schulz also came along from the big blind.
Julius and Schulz then proceeded to check down the board and all hands were exposed.
Julius:
Schulz:
Conway:
Julius and Schulz would split the pot with with aces and nines with a queen kicker - eliminating Conway in the process.
This final table marks Conway's second of the series, as he recently placed third in Event 44: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em.
Action folded to Kevin Schulz on the button and he raised to 120,000, which Derek Gregory called from the small blind. Kyle Julius was in the big and opted on a three-bet to 315,000, Schulz got out of the way, and Gregory made the call.
The flop saw Gregory check, Julius bet 190,000, and Gregory check-raise to 500,000. Julius made the call and then both players checked the turn. Gregory checked for a third time on the river, and then snap-called when Julius bet 100,000. The latter rolled over for aces with a queen kicker, which was good as Gregory simply shook his head and mucked.
Action folded to Panayote Vilandos in the small blind and he limp. Dan Smith was in the big and decided to exercise his option with a raise to 140,000, which Vilandos called. Both players then checked the flop, and Vilandos check-folded to a bet of 200,000 from Smith on the river.
It wasn't much of a hand, but was a good opportunity to tell you a little about Vilandos. According to the WSOP Final Table Announcer Notes:
"Panayote is a 73-year-old family man from Athens, Greece. He now lives in Houston, Texas and works as an electrical engineer. Previously Panayote served in the Navy. He is married with two children and two grandchildren."