The 2009 World Series of Poker Circuit Championship Main Event concluded today at Caesars Palace Las Vegas.

The winner was Jeremiah DeGreef, from Salt Lake City, UT. He earned his first WSOP Circuit gold ring ever plus a whopping cash prize of $69,890, one of the biggest payouts so far at this year’s tournament series.

DeGreef is a 27-year-old disabled veteran. He served three years in the U.S. Army. DeGreef, who has a prodigal talent for learning new languages, served as an Arabic translator. Despite his disability and departure from the armed forced in 2007, DeGreef discovered a passion for poker, which has begun paying big rewards. Indeed, poker talent seems to run in the DeGreef family. Earlier this week, Jeremiah’s brother Anthony finished second in a Caesars Circuit event. Not content with just making it to the final table, Jeremiah DeGreef outlasted a formable lineup which included four-time gold ring, and five-time gold bracelet winner Men ‘the Master” Nguyen. He also beat the star of the Caesars’ series thus far, James Lopushinsky, who has won two events within the past two weeks. DeGreef also vanquished another tough competitor, Vinny Pahuja, who has been one of the most highly-ranked tournament players in the last 18 months.

The $2,000 buy-in two-day tournament attracted 134 entries, which generated $259,960 in prize money. The top 18 finishers collected payouts. All the action took place inside Caesars Palace Las Vegas poker tournament room.


The 2009 Cleopatra Open concluded today at Caesars Palace Las Vegas with Courtney Wulfe as a Champion

The $300 buy-in ladies-only poker tournament attracted 115 entries. It has become a custom for all WSOP Circuit events to hold a special tournament for ladies-only who prefer playing in their own event.

The winner was Courtney Wulfe, from Houston, TX. She was one of the lower stacks when final table play began on the second of the two-day event. But Wulfe ended up defeating Kathryn Meeks in heads-up play, who finished second. Wulfe earned $8,868 in prize money.

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by Nolan Dalla