Event #39: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em
Day 4 Completed
2019 World Series of Poker
Event #39: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 4
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2019 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$1,000
Prize Pool
$2,385,000
Entries
2,650
Level
37
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000
Level 37
: 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Arguably one of the most fun tournaments of the series has come to an end today and a new champion has been crowned in Event #39: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em. A record-breaking field of 2,650 players walked through the doors of the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, and when the last chance saloon had closed for business it was Michael Blake who took down the tournament for a staggering $359,863 as well as a shiny new WSOP bracelet.
Blake started the unscheduled fourth day as the chipleader of the final ten and instantly started to stack chips, taking a pot early from Rick Austin with a rivered straight. Shortly after, Blake sent William Davis out the door in tenth, winning a classic flip with ace-king against jacks.
The Broomfield, Colorado native started the official final table as the only person over the ten million mark and had almost double the chips of Kanajett Hathaitham who was sitting in second on the leaderboard. After about 60 hands it was Cary Marshall taking the lead, running over everyone and opening almost every hand.
"No I didn't, I thought Cary would definitely win the thing, to be honest with you," Blake said when asked if he expected it to play out this way. "But the cards turned and I hit some good hands and it turned out really well."
Blake has only played three events at the WSOP – the Super Seniors tourneys in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He's cashed in all three. “It's the third time I've played in it. I'm an old guy, I've played poker for most of my life, and I feel very fortunate,” he said.
He thanked his home game for being able to get better at poker collectively as a whole. “There is a group of fellows in what they call Anthem Ranch. It's an excellent, excellent game, and I have to be honest: Most of my poker was not hold'em poker.” Blake then described another home game in New Mexico he often frequented which included two jokers in its most-played variant. “So the game at Anthem Ranch has really helped me.
“So hold'em was something new to me over the past two to three years. I always understood that I would come to Vegas and play it, day in and day out. There was a gentleman, Dave Burritt, who runs the game at Anthem Ranch, who's really improved my game.” Blake mentioned Burritt a second time as a home-game friend whose support really made a difference in making Blake's hold'em game competitive on the WSOP scene.
When asked about the final hand Blake replied, "It was an excellent hand and I was fortunate that Barry didn't hit the straight or the flush on the river." Blake mentioned that two-time bracelet winner Barry Shulman was a very good opponent. "Well, I've played poker for most of my life and I think Barry is a very strong player, I feel very very fortunate and I feel very elated."
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Blake | United States | $359,863 |
| 2 | Barry Shulman | United States | $222,295 |
| 3 | Cary Marshall | Unites States | $162,536 |
| 4 | Timothy Joseph | United States | $119,888 |
| 5 | Rick Austin | United States | $89,217 |
| 6 | Kanajett Hathaitham | United States | $66,987 |
| 7 | Jeffrey Miller | United States | $50,751 |
| 8 | Bruce Treitman | United States | $38,802 |
| 9 | Miles Harris | United States | $29,939 |
Final Table Action
The first player to leave the final table of nine was Miles Harris who shoved a ten turn card and was called by Jeffrey Miller with his flopped king. Harris failed to catch up and took the first exit on the final table of nine. Bruce Treitman was the next casualty after he shoved his pair of dimes from under the gun and was called by Cary Marshall's big slick. Treitman lost the race after Marshall smacked a king on the flop, being eliminated in eighth.
On perhaps one of the sicker of the beats, Jeffrey Miller was eliminated. Marshall opened to almost three times the big blind and Miller shoved over 15 big blind back at him. Marshall took a brief moment and then called the all in of Miller who tabled a suited slick in spades. Marshall turned smaller spades, queen high. The flop and turn looked good for slick, but the seven on the river connected with Marshall's kicker, giving him two pair, while sending Miller out the door.
Just two hands after Miller was eliminated, Kanajett Hathaitham moved all in and again Marshall was the caller. This time though it was Marshall holding the big slick and Hathaitham failed to catch up as he was sent home in sixth place. Marshall continued his elimination streak against Rick Austin who was shafted on the river after moving all in with ace-three and called by Marshall's dominated five-three. All seemed well for Austin until an unlikely river landed, giving Marshall a pair of fives and the pot. Austin headed to the payout desk in fifth place.
Timothy Joseph moved all in for his remaining stack in the cutoff and Blake elected to call. Joseph was in poor shape with his paint cards versus the ace-queen of Blake. Joseph failed to find any hope as he was drawing dead on the turn, taking an exit in fourth place for a respectable six-figure cash.
Marshall was the leader for the better part of the final table but once the three-handed game started it seemed as all of his run-good had faded. He found himself on a continuous downswing, grinding down to a short-stack and in need of a double. Marshall was facing a button raise by Shulman and looked down at an ace, he elected to move all in and Shulman called with his sixes. Marshall could not find another river and was sent home by Shulman.
The heads-up portion of the tournament lasted almost two hours before a player had all of the chips in play. Shulman and Blake started almost even, but Blake drew first blood and seemed to have the advantage throughout the rest of the match. Barry jumped back a few times but failed to ever gain any real traction as Blake was just running too well. The final hand of the tournament saw Shulman move all in on the turn with flush and straight draws on the turn of a queen high board but Blake called with queen-six, giving him two pair. It was a sweat for Blake but Shulman failed to connect on the river and was eliminated in second, taking home $222,295 for his efforts.
That brings an end to this tournament! Tune in for updates on the every WSOP event here on PokerNews throughout the rest of the summer.
Level 37
: 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Hand #249: Michael Blake opened to 1.3 million from the button and Barry Shulman defended. The dealer fanned out 
on the flop and Shulman checked to Blake who pushed in 1.5 million.
Shulman check-raised to 3 million and Blake called to see the 
turn card. Shulman instantly moved all in for around 14.5 million and Blake snap-called.
Shulman tabled 
for both a flush and straight draw. Blake tabled 
for two pair on the flop and the crowd started to rumble as the dealer burned a card.
Shulman needed to hit or his day would be done and the dealer turned over an 
, missing Shulman as he was eliminated to the two pair of Blake for a respectable $222,295.
Congratulations to Michael Blake on taking down Event #39: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em for an immense $359,863 and a new WSOP bracelet.
A recap of the tournament will be posted shortly, along with final table results.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
53,000,000
18,000,000
|
18,000,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 37
: 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Hand #244: Barry Shulman called in the small blind and Michael Blake raised to 2.6 million from the big blind, Shulman folded.
Hand #245: Blake opened to 1.8 million from the button and Shulman called. The flop came down 
and Shulman check-called a bet of 2 million from Blake. A 
fell on the turn, Shulman pushed in a bet of 2.5 million and Blake folded.
Hand #246: Shulman opened to 2.1 million on the button and Blake folded.
Hand #247: Blake opened to 1.3 million and Shulman called. The flop came down 
, Shulman bet 2.5 million and Blake quickly raised to 5 million. Shulman folded.
Hand #248: Shulman opened to 1.3 million, Blake called and the flop came down 
. Blake checked to Shulman who bet 1 million and Blake check-raised to 2 million. Shulman called and the 
came down on the turn.
Blake pushed in 1 million and Shulman called. A 
came down on the river and Blake fired in another bet of 1 million, Shulman folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
35,000,000
9,500,000
|
9,500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
18,000,000
-9,500,000
|
-9,500,000 |
|
|
||
Level 37
: 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Hand #238: Barry Shulman opened the small blind to 1.7M and Michael Blake folded.
Hand #239: Michael Blake opened his small blind to 1.3M and Barry Shulman three-bet to 5.1M. Blake folded.
Hand #240: Barry Shulman opened to 1.3M from the small blind and Michael Blake defended. The flop came 
and Blake checked. Shulman made a continuation-bet of 1.5M and Blake called, bringing the turn. Both players checked and the river came 
. Blake led out for 1.5M and Shulman went all in. Blake thought for a little and then tapped his cards to the table and sent them to the muck.
Hand #241: Barry Shulman received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #242: Barry Shulman opened from the small blind to 2.8M and Michael Blake folded.
Hand #243: Michael Blake opened to 1.3M from the small blind and Barry Shulman defended. The flop came 
and Shulman checked to Blake, who made a continuation-bet of 2M. Shulman check-raised to 5M and Blake announced he was all in.
Shulman checked his cards once more and sent them to the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
27,500,000
3,700,000
|
3,700,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
25,500,000
-3,700,000
|
-3,700,000 |
|
|
||
Level 37
: 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Hand #233: Barry Shulman opened to 2.3 million and Michael Blake defended his big blind. The flop came down 
and Blake check-folded to a bet of 4 million by Shulman.
Hand #234: Blake opened to 1.2 million, Shulman called and the flop fell 
. Shulman check-called a bet of 2.2 million from Blake and the 
fell on the turn. Shulman check-called 3 million on the 
river and Blake tabled for a rivered straight. Shulman says "Nice catch," as he turns over 
for the same straight, that Shulman already had on the turn.
Hand #235: Blake opened to 1.3 million on the button and Shulman called. The flop came down 
and Shulman check-raised a bet of 1 million by Blake to 3 million. Blake folded.
Hand #236: Shulman raised to 2.3 million and took down the pot.
Hand #237: Blake opened to 1.3 million, Shulman pushed in a three-bet of 3.8 million and Blake released.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
29,200,000
-5,300,000
|
-5,300,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
23,800,000
5,300,000
|
5,300,000 |
|
|
||
Level 37
: 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Just like that, players have decided to resume the tournament and continue their heads-up match for the WSOP bracelet and $359,863.
Level: 37
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 600,000
Level 36
: 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
The final two players are currently on what is scheduled to be a one-hour dinner break.
When asked if they wanted to forego the dinner break, Barry Shulman said he preferred to do so. However, Michael Blake said he preferred to take a few minutes and think about whether or not he wanted a full hour or a shorter break.
In the meantime, 51 minutes remain on the tentative break. Stay tuned for updates.
Level 36
: 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Hand #227: Michael Blake received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #228: Michael Blake opened his small blind to 1.25M and folded when Barry Shulman three-bet to 3M.
Hand #229: Barry Shulman opened the small blind to 1.25M and Michael Blake defended. The flop came 
and Blake led out for 1M. Shulman folded.
Hand #230: Michael Blake opened to 1.25M from the small blind and Barry Shulman defended. The flop came 
and Shulman led for 1M. Blake clicked it back, putting 2M in the pot and Shulman quickly shoved all in for 13.5M. Blake thought for a few moments before folding.
Hand #231: Barry Shulman opened from the small blind to 1.25M and Michael Blake called. The flop came 
and Blake led for 1M, getting a fold from Shulman.
Hand #232: Michael Blake opened his small blind to 1.25M and Barry Shulman called The flop came 
and Shulman bet 1.5M. Blake folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
34,500,000
-1,000,000
|
-1,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
18,500,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
||