It’s down to the last 28 in the 2009 World Series of Poker Event #43, $1,000 Seniors World Championship. Tom Thomas leads the 50-and-over set with 917,000 in chips, followed by Charles Simon with 626,000, Scott Buller with 541,000, and John Bennett with 487,000. Each remaining competitor is already guaranteed cash of at least USD 10,149. Those making the final table will receive a minimum of USD 53,208, while the winner gets USD 437,358 and a WSOP bracelet.
Day 2 began at 2:00 p.m. with 397 of the original 2,707 veteran players left. The usual practice this year is to play down to a final table or until 3:00 a.m., whichever comes first. However, in deference to the reduced average stamina that comes with advancing years, tournament officials made a last minute decision to end play at the end of Level 20, which occurred at about 2:15 a.m.
David Tuffing took an early chip lead, being the first to pass the 100,000 mark, after he flopped a set in the hole and the flop. He was paid off handsomely by an opponent who couldn’t get away from top pair/top kicker. The money bubble was reached just before 5:00 p.m. Two players — Mark Dolan and Charles Glorioso — went out at the same time during hand-for-hand play, but from different tables, meaning that they split the 270th-place prize money of USD 1,921, for USD 960 a piece.
As it usually happens, there was a flurry of bust-outs after that point. In fact, the players were exiting at such a clip that the field lost another 170 over the next four hours — just under one per minute, on average. “Minneapolis” Jim Meehan was eliminated in 206th place (USD 2,044). With blinds and antes at 100/2000/300 in Level 14, he pushed his last 21,000 chips into the pot from the button and was called by the small blind. Meehan couldn’t pair either of his overcards when the board came and he hit the rail.
1986 Main Event champion Berry Johnston was taken out in 185th place, good for USD 2,044, though details of his final hand were not recorded. Similarly, we know that Barbara Enright took USD 2,621 for her 76th-place finish, but not how the hand went down. Noted tournament director Jack McClelland took a rough road to the exit. He took his stand preflop with A-K against a player holding just A-J. He didn’t want to see his namesake card hit the board, but that’s just what happened, and that jack sent McClelland to the exit in 132nd place, worth USD 2,414. Overnight chip leader Lloyd Shinn couldn’t keep up the pace and went out in 130th, taking home USD 2,414.
This is not the crowd in which one would expect to see official penalties handed out for lack of decorum. But Adolfo “Speedy” Gonzalez was given one for excessive celebration. At least he had a good reason for his exuberance when he hit a two-outer on the river. His , all in preflop, was way behind his opponent’s after the flop came , and the turn didn’t help either. It was the river that launched Gonzalez into a screaming outburst of “Oh yeah! Ship it! I told you! Ship it!” as he ran around in circles and hugged random onlookers. In one of the last hands of the night, Gonzalez won another race, beating the exact same , this time with in the hole, receiving a much-needed double-up. Nevertheless, he will return for Day 3 as one of the shortest stacks, at 107,000.
The remaining players will reassemble at 1:00 p.m. PDT Wednesday and continue until a winner is determined.
Day 2 began at 2:00 p.m. with 397 of the original 2,707 veteran players left. The usual practice this year is to play down to a final table or until 3:00 a.m., whichever comes first. However, in deference to the reduced average stamina that comes with advancing years, tournament officials made a last minute decision to end play at the end of Level 20, which occurred at about 2:15 a.m.
David Tuffing took an early chip lead, being the first to pass the 100,000 mark, after he flopped a set in the hole and the flop. He was paid off handsomely by an opponent who couldn’t get away from top pair/top kicker. The money bubble was reached just before 5:00 p.m. Two players — Mark Dolan and Charles Glorioso — went out at the same time during hand-for-hand play, but from different tables, meaning that they split the 270th-place prize money of USD 1,921, for USD 960 a piece.
As it usually happens, there was a flurry of bust-outs after that point. In fact, the players were exiting at such a clip that the field lost another 170 over the next four hours — just under one per minute, on average. “Minneapolis” Jim Meehan was eliminated in 206th place (USD 2,044). With blinds and antes at 100/2000/300 in Level 14, he pushed his last 21,000 chips into the pot from the button and was called by the small blind. Meehan couldn’t pair either of his overcards when the board came and he hit the rail.
1986 Main Event champion Berry Johnston was taken out in 185th place, good for USD 2,044, though details of his final hand were not recorded. Similarly, we know that Barbara Enright took USD 2,621 for her 76th-place finish, but not how the hand went down. Noted tournament director Jack McClelland took a rough road to the exit. He took his stand preflop with A-K against a player holding just A-J. He didn’t want to see his namesake card hit the board, but that’s just what happened, and that jack sent McClelland to the exit in 132nd place, worth USD 2,414. Overnight chip leader Lloyd Shinn couldn’t keep up the pace and went out in 130th, taking home USD 2,414.
This is not the crowd in which one would expect to see official penalties handed out for lack of decorum. But Adolfo “Speedy” Gonzalez was given one for excessive celebration. At least he had a good reason for his exuberance when he hit a two-outer on the river. His , all in preflop, was way behind his opponent’s after the flop came , and the turn didn’t help either. It was the river that launched Gonzalez into a screaming outburst of “Oh yeah! Ship it! I told you! Ship it!” as he ran around in circles and hugged random onlookers. In one of the last hands of the night, Gonzalez won another race, beating the exact same , this time with in the hole, receiving a much-needed double-up. Nevertheless, he will return for Day 3 as one of the shortest stacks, at 107,000.
The remaining players will reassemble at 1:00 p.m. PDT Wednesday and continue until a winner is determined.
