Howard "the Professor" Lederer, after making two World Series of Poker Europe 2009 final tables- out of only three offered preliminary events- was denied WSOP Europe gold yet again, this time making it all the way into heads-up play before being taken out by Finland's Jani Vilmunen.

Lederer, having steadily increased his chip stack throughout the day's final table, entered the heads-up portion of the event with a comfortable chip lead and numerous times appeared to have the event all but sewn up, but Vilmunen, his last obstacle at the table, turned out to be unsurpassable. 

After winning a series of hands late in the match, Lederer's villain Vilmunen, put the final nail in his coffin when both men flopped straights but Vilmunen's was slightly higher. 

For the runner-up cash, Lederer earned ?126,134, about $125,000 less than Vilmunen, who as well as the top prize also got to take home the bracelet.

The final table finish positions for the WSOP Europe Event #3, the ?5,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha, were as follows:

1st.  Jani Vilmunen- ?204,048

2nd.  Howard Lederer- ?126,134

3rd.  Aarno Kivelio- ?93,293

4th.  Ross Boatman- ?69,030

5th.  Ville Haavisto- ?51,890

6th.  Daniel Hindin- ?39,193

7th.  Roberto Romanello- ?29,830

8th.  Jeff Kimber- ?22,869

9th.  Robert Williamson III- ?17,772

For more information on Event #3 of the WSOP Europe visit www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

With Event #3 now completed, all that's left of this year's World Series of Poker Europe is the Main Event, which starts tomorrow and is once again expected to attract large fields and countless poker masters.

Previous winners of the WSOP Europe Main Event include Annette Obrestad and John Juanda.

To follow the all the WSOP Europe action stick with PokerRoad.com, for all new episodes of PokerRoad Radio as well as news from the event, blogs from the pros and tweets straight from the players at the tables, courtesy of the PokerRoad Nation.


Story by Mark Anderson