WSOP 2009

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Event #43, $1,000 Seniors No Limit Hold'em World Championship, Final Results

Official Report
Event #43
World Championship
Seniors No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $1,000
Number of Entries: 2,707
Total Net Prize Pool: $2,463,700
Number of Places Paid: 270
First Place Prize: $437,358
June 22-24, 2009

Event Headlines

Michael T. Davis Wins First WSOP Gold Bracelet. 2009 Seniors World Poker Championship Shatters Previous Attendance Record – Numbers Up by 22 Percent over Last Year. Berry Johnston Makes the Money – First Cash of 2009 Gives the 1986 World Champion Cashes for 27 Straight WSOP Years (Most in History).

The Champion

The 2009 World Series of Poker $1,000 buy-in Senior’s No-Limit Hold’em World Champion is Michael T. Davis, from Dubuque, IA.

Davis is 58-years-old and is now retired. He recently sold his business, which was a home inspection company.

Davis was born and raised in Dubuque. However, he has recently been considering moving to Las Vegas, NV in search of a warmer climate. Following his victory in this event, worth over $400,000, he expects to hasten those plans and move much sooner.

Davis plays poker regularly in two local casinos, located in Dubuque.

Davis cashed in the Seniors World Championship last year. He finished 115th out of 2,218 entrants.

Davis collected $437,358 for first place. He was also awarded his first WSOP gold bracelet.

Davis wore a t-shirt from the popular poker site called “Poker Road.” He is the second player this year to wear such a display at the final table, which Davis referred to as his “lucky shirt.” Davis wore the shirt in memory of Justin Shronk, a Poker Road employee who passed away a few months ago. Davis was the second gold bracelet winner this year to honor Shronk. Brian Lemke won the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em event in a similar display of reverence. “Justin gave me this shirt,” Davis said afterward. “A lot of people miss Justin. He was very good for the poker community.”

This was the largest cash prize ever won in any senior poker event of any kind. It is also believed to be the largest cash prize of any seniors-only competition – of any game or competition – in the world.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There is some inaccurate reporting on a few poker websites. Since “Michael Davis” is a relatively common name, there are several Michael Davis’ listed in official records. Some of these results are inaccurate, and/or results have been combined. The winner requests that all of his tournament records be listed under MICHAEL T. DAVIS. The WSOP will update his official WSOP record for all media soon, with a complete listing of his cashes.

Winner Quotes (Michael T. Davis)

On being from Dubuque, Iowa: “Dubuque is a beautiful little town on the Mississippi River. I’ve been enjoying Dubuque all my life. We live there out in the country. I sold my business last week, so I don’t have a job to go home to.”

On his future plans: “We have plans to move to Las Vegas. My daughter lives here in Las Vegas. We decided we got sick of the minus 20-degree weather and are sick of the winters. Its warmer here and there seem to be a lot of friendly people in Las Vegas.”

On wearing a shirt in honor of Justin Shronk: “I don’t know if that had anything to do with it. I hope to God he is smiling down right now.”

On cashing in the seniors event last year, and then winning this year: “I decided I am not getting any younger. I have to make my yearly pilgrimage to play in the senior event. I might even play in another event or two. (Laughing and smiling) Who knows?”

On getting to the final nine and overcoming a record field-size: “They all played very well. They are very good players. Everybody at that final table deserved it.”

On the quality of competition in the seniors event versus other tournaments: “They are very good players. What can I say? I feel that I got lucky hitting some cards. There were some superb players. I had fun the entire time – every table I was at. I had a ball. I want to thank everybody out here.”

The Final Table

The final table contained no former WSOP gold bracelet winners. This was the 14th of 44 finales held this year with no former winners -- which guaranteed a first-time champion.

There were no professional poker players amongst the final nine. This was the only finale with year with an all-amateur makeup.

Final table player ages ranged from 53 to 66.

The runner up was Scott Buller, from Lincoln, NE. He is an avid golfer and poker player. Buller has over $800,000 in poker winnings.

The third-place finisher was Barry B. Bounds, from Littleton, CO. He is a retired former employee of IBM.

The fourth-place finisher was Michael Joseph Morusty, from Seattle, WA. He is a mechanical administrator.

The fifth-place finisher was Charles Simon, from Sunrise, FL. He is an attorney.

The sixth-place finisher was Dan DeLatorre, from Highlands Ranch, CO. He is a firefighter.

The seventh-place finisher was Art Duncan, from Lake Zurich, IL. He is a contractor with many previous cashes at the WSOP and elsewhere.

The eighth-place finisher was Richard McCall, from Waco, TX. He is a lawyer and proud alumnus of Baylor University.

The ninth-place finisher was Vaughn Beck, from New Orleans, LA. He is retired.

In-the-Money Finishers

Former WSOP gold bracelet finishers who cashed in this event included – Vince Burgio, Barbara Enright, and Berry Johnston.

Prior to this event, Berry Johnston’s record for most consecutive years to cash at the WSOP was in jeopardy. He has now cashed ever year (at least once) since 1982. Johnston’s streak stands at 27. He finished 185th.

Another Poker Hall of Fame member who played well was Barbara Enright, who cashed in 76th place.

The defending champion from 2008 was Daniel Lacourse, from Toledo, OH. He entered this year’s event, but did not cash.

Odds and Ends

This was the largest seniors' event in poker history. The turnout shattered last year's record of 2,218 (then, a record high). The 2009 figure represents a 22 percent increase over 2008.

To be eligible for entry into the Seniors No-Limit Hold’em world championship, the entrant must be age 50 or older -- which means the player had to have been born prior to June 22, 1959.

A tournament similar to the Seniors World Poker Championship was first played in 1993. It was spread at various locations in California and Nevada during the first eight years of its existence. Then, in 2001 an exclusive event for seniors only was added to the WSOP schedule. Jay Heimowitz won the first official WSOP seniors gold bracelet.

The seniors play No-Limit Hold’em. This has been the game since inception at the WSOP in 2001. The buy-in has always been $1,000.

The final table was played out on ESPN’s main stage. Coverage was broadcast live over the Internet. Five more events are scheduled, which are split between ESPN 360 and Bluff Media. For a complete broadcast schedule of all events, go to: http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/tourney/tourneydetails.asp?groupID=607

The official WSOP gold bracelet ceremony takes place on the day following the winner’s victory. The ceremony takes place on at center stage of the main tournament room and begins during the break of the noon tournament. The ceremony usually starts around 2:20 pm. The national anthem of the winner’s nation is played. The entire presentation is open to public and media. Video and photography is permitted by both media and the public.

The Event

The $1,000 buy-in Seniors No-Limit Hold’em world championship attracted 2,707 entries. The total prize pool amounted to $2,463,700. The top 270 finishers collected prize money.

The tournament was played over three consecutive days. Due to the field size, Day Three was expected to run very long. But the final table lasted a reasonable six hours.

Michael T. Davis won his victory in a very quiet manner. He never held the chip lead until about 15 minutes prior to victory. He won a series of late key pots which gave him the victory.

The tournament officially began on Sunday, June 22nd, at 12 noon. The tournament officially ended on Wednesday, June 24th, at 10:05 pm.

Final Results

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