Michael T. Davis barreled through a record-setting field in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Seniors No Limit Hold’em World Championship (Event #43). Davis earned $437,000 for the win.
Event #43 attracted the largest field in WSOP history for the Seniors’ event at 2,707 runners, a 22% increase over last year’s tally of 2,218. All players in the field are at least 50 years-old and the tournament has been held every year since 2001. The six-hour final table began with the elimination of Robert Beck in ninth place for $53,208. Beck pushed all-in over the top of a raise by Michael Morusty with K-J on a J-8-6 board. Morusty promptly called and flipped over pocket sixes for a set. The turn and river were blanks and Beck was sent packing.
Richard McCall hit the rails in eighth place for $56,903. McCall picked an inopportune time to push all-in and represent a flush on a board of Q-7-2, all hearts. Dan DeLatorre happily called and turned over K-J suited for a flush. The turn and river came a king and six, respectively, and that was all she wrote for the Baylor University alum. Art Duncan was bounced ten minutes later after pushing pre-flop with K-J. However, he ran into Charles Simon’s K-Q and found himself way behind in the hand. The flop came A-Q-6, giving Duncan a straight draw. However, a three on the turn and nine on the river ended his bracelet run.
Delatorre shoved with Q-4 of spades, but ran into Morusty’s pocket kings. The final board showed a pair of eights with no spades, sending the firefighter from Colorado to the exits in fifth place from the $1,000 buy-in Seniors World Championship. Simon was ousted in fourth place and earned $95,332. He pushed pre-flop with A-Q and, after picking up A-K, Scott Buller swiftly called. The flop came J-6-2, keeping Buller ahead. A king on the turn, while pairing him, also gave Simon a straight draw. However, a nine hit the river.
Barry Bounds, a retired IBM employee, finished in third place and grabbed $179,210. Bounds pushed over the top of a raise by Davis pre-flop with A-6. Davis called and turned over A-Q of spades. The flop came 4-2-7, preserving the status quo, and the five of spades on the turn gave Davis a flush draw and Bounds a straight draw. An eight of spades hit the river, filling both draws, but gave Davis the better hand with a flush.
Heads-up, Davis doubled up with pocket aces against Buller’s pocket nines. The flop came ace-high and no help came, giving Davis a sizable stack, the first time he held the chip lead at the final table. He capitalized by knocking out Buller with A-9 against A-J. After a flop of 5-4-3, a nine on the turn sealed the win. Throughout the final table, Davis wore a shirt given to him by the late Poker Road producer Justin Shronk, who tragically passed away before this year’s WSOP. Davis noted, “A lot of people miss Justin. He was very good for the poker community.” Among those rooting him on was Poker Road personality Joe Sebok.
Davis is a relative WSOP newcomer who cut his teeth on the Senior events last year with a 115th finish and took it by storm this year.
Here’s a look at the final standings from Event #43 of the 2009 WSOP:
1. Michael Davis – $437,358
2. Scotty Buller – $268,507
3. Barry Bounds – $179,210
4. Michael Morusty – $126,863
5. Charles Simon – $95,332
6. Dan Delatorre – $76,118
7. Art Duncan – $64,047
8. Richard McCall – $56,903
9. Robert Beck – $53,208
