Ville Wahlbeck To Quit Poker While He’s Ahead
Ville Wahlbeck is having quite a year. Such a year, in fact, that he’s decided it’s his last, as far as professional poker is concerned, at least. In a clear case of knowing when to hold ‘em, when to fold ‘em, when to walk away, and when to run, this Finnish wunderkind is quitting while he’s ahead. And ahead big, at that.
Wahlbeck became the first Finn ever to win a World Series of Poker bracelet when he won the $10,000 Mixed Game World Championship and this year’s 2009 WSOP. Then he managed to come in runner-up in the $10,000 2-7 Draw Lowball World Championship and third place in the $10,000 7-Card Stud World Championship.
What’s more, he placed twelfth in a $2,500 Razz event and thirteenth in the $10,000 Omaha 8 or Better World Championship.
With of $900,000 in 2009 WSOP winnings, this is hands-down Ville’s best year in 6 years of “grinding” in the cutthroat poker world. And he’s a contender for the Card Player Magazine Player of the Year Award (POY). So this is the perfect time to cash in his chips. He admits that he may still play a tournament or two now and again, but as for cash games, he’s out.
I guess this means that he will be missing out ont his years EMOP and wont be a contender for the Euro Poker player of the year award.