$1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em (Event #39)

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

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.

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.

Michael Blake	35,000,000	9,500,000
Barry Shulman	18,000,000	-9,500,000

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.

Michael Blake	29,200,000	-5,300,000
Barry Shulman	23,800,000	5,300,000

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.

Michael Blake	34,500,000	-1,000,000
Barry Shulman	18,500,000	1,000,000

Hand #216: Michael Blake opened to 1.75M from the small blind and Barry Shulman defended. The flop came     and Shulman check-raised Blake's 2M continuation-bet to 7.5M. Blake folded.

Hand #217: Barry Shulman opened to 1.25 from the small blind and Michael Blake called. The flop came     and Blake led out for 1.5M. Shulman folded.

Hand #218: Michael Blake raised from the small blind to 1.25M and Barry Shulman called. The flop came     and Shulman check-folded to a 1.2M continuation-bet from Blake.

Hand #219: Barry Shulman opened to 1.25M from the small blind and Michael Blake three-bet to 2.5M. Shulman called and the flop came    . Blake made a continuation-bet of 1.5M and Shulman called. The turn was   and Blake down-bet to 1M. Shulman raised to 5M and Blake folded.

Hand #220: Michael Blake opened to 1.25M in the small blind and Barry Shulman defended before check-folding to a 1.5M continuation-bet from Blake on a flop of    .

Hand #221: Barry Shulman opened his small blind to 1.3M and Michael Blake called. The flop came     and Blake led for 1M. Shulman called and the turn came  . Blake led again for 1M and Shulman folded.

Michael Blake	27,000,000	-2,500,000
Barry Shulman	26,000,000	2,500,000

Hand #204: Michael Blake opened from the small blind to 1.25M and Barry Shulman folded.

Hand #205: Barry Shulman opened the small blind to 1.25M and Michael Blake defended. The flop came     and Blake led for 1.5M. Shulman raised to 4M and Blake folded.

Hand #206: Michael Blake opened the small blind to 1.25M and Shulman folded.

Hand #207: Barry Shulman opened the small blind to 1.25M and Michael Blake called. The flop came     and Blake checked. Shulman made a continuation-bet of 1.5M and Blake raised to 3.5M. Shulman folded.

Hand #208: Michael Blake opened his small blind to 1.25M and Barry Shulman called. The flop came     and Shulman check-folded to a 3M continuation-bet by Blake.

Michael Blake	32,000,000	3,250,000
Barry Shulman	21,000,000	-3,250,000

Hand #193: Barry Shulman opened to 1.25 million and Michael Blake called. The flop came down    , Blake checked to Shulman who bet 2 million and Blake folded.

Hand #194: Blake raised to 1.25 million on the button and took down the pot.

Hand #195: Shulman opened to 1.25 million on the button and Blake called. The flop came down     and Blake checked to Shulman who pushed in 2 million, Blake folded.

Hand #196: Blake raised to 1.25 million on the button and Shulman defended. The flop fell    , Shulman checked to Blake who bet 2 million and Shulman folded.

Hand #197: Shulman opened to 1.25 million and Blake three-bet to 2.5 million, Shulman folded.

Hand #198: Blake raised to 1.25 million and Shulman threw in 4.5 million. Blake folded and sent the pot to Shulman.

Barry Shulman

27,500,000

750,000

Barry Shulman and Michael Blake are taking a quick break before starting heads up play.

Hand #189: Michael Blake raised to 2M from the button and took down the pot preflop.

Hand #190: Cary Marshall shoved all in from the small blind and won the pot preflop.

Hand #191: Cary Marshall raised to 1.5M from the button and Michael Blake called from the small blind. The two went heads up to a flop of     and Blake checked to Marshall, who shoved all in. Blake folded.

Michael Blake	23,800,000	-3,500,000
Cary Marshall	11,700,000	2,500,000