They came out in droves to Event #42 of the 2008 World Series of Poker. June 25th marked the stirring conclusion of the $1,000 buy-in Seniors World Championship. A tournament designed with the over-50 crowd in mind, the Seniors World Championship is always one of the highlights of the WSOP. This year’s tournament was the largest Seniors event ever held. Sporting a field of 2,218 entrants, the tournament attracted 18% more entrants in 2008 compared to 2007. At the end of the three-day tournament, Dan LaCourse turned $1,000 into $368,832 and his first WSOP bracelet.
A former police detective from Toledo, Ohio, LaCourse used his ability to read people to catapult him into victory. He commented to Harrah’s staff after the final cards were dealt: “It’s an honor I wanted my entire life. I have always wanted this and to be standing here with a gold bracelet and this moment is very special to me.” LaCourse defeated Dale Eberle heads up. On the final hand, the two players got all in on a board of 9-9-K-2. LaCourse held 9-7 and Eberle showed K-4. The runner up pocketed a healthy $235,141 for his efforts. The top 198 places paid out.
The list of players who cashed in the $1,000 Seniors event reads like an encyclopedia of some of the best poker players ever. Take Tom McEvoy, who finished 28th. He’s a four-time WSOP bracelet winner. In the 1983 WSOP, he captured his first two WSOP victories, including a win in the Main Event. His other bracelets came in 1986 and 1992. Recently, however, he has struggled. McEvoy hasn’t made a final table since 2002. His lifetime WSOP earnings exceed $1.2 million.
Men “The Master” Nguyen finished in 45th place. The professional poker player from Bell Gardens, California is a six-time WSOP bracelet winner. He recorded his first WSOP win back in 1992 and won a pair of charms in 1995. It was Nguyen’s first cash of the 2008 World Series of Poker. He’s finished in the money a whopping 58 times in his poker career at the WSOP.
Tom Franklin finished 64th. You probably know him as “Captain” Tom Franklin. He earned his first (and so far only) WSOP bracelet in the 1999 World Series of Poker. Like Nguyen, he recorded his first Las Vegas WSOP cash of 2008.
Finally, Amarillo Slim cashed in this year’s Seniors Event. He finished in 91st place. If you head over to the World Series of Poker website and look at Slim’s cashes, the first four that are listed are all WSOP bracelet wins. They came in 1972, 1974, 1985, and 1990. Slim is one of the most memorable names in poker history. Play stopped when he was eliminated, as the Rio erupted into a thunderous applause.
The Main Event starts next Thursday, July 3rd, from the Amazon Room. There are four starting days. Stay tuned for all of the thrills from the 2008 WSOP.
