2012 WSOP Update – Seniors Event Sets Records, Baker Wins 2nd, and Japan Claims First Bracelet
Four weeks are officially in the books at the 2012 World Series of Poker. Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth both had another shot at a bracelet while the Seniors Event produced the largest Day 1 field in WSOP. Finally, Japan has finally claimed their WSOP bracelet.
Allyn Jaffrey Shulman Wins Largest Seniors Event in History
Event #29, the $1,000 Seniors World Championship kicked off this past Friday and quickly made history as it set the mark for largest opening day in WSOP and poker history as well as the largest Seniors Event in poker history. A total of 4,128 players took to the field in what would prove to have a historic final table.
The final table of this event was stacked as it included former WSOP November Niner Dennis Phillips as well as Hoyt Corkins and Allyn Jaffrey Shulman. Ultimately, it was heads-up between Shulman and Phillips and after a back and forth heads-up battle, Shulman came out on top to win the largest Seniors Event ever.
Shulman not only won the largest Seniors tournament in poker history but also became the first woman since 2008 to win a non-ladies tournament at the WSOP. For her win she took home the gold bracelet and $603,713.
David Baker Beats Ivey and Hellmuth to Win HORSE Championship
The final table of the $10k HORSE Event was easily the strongest of the 2012 World Series of Poker. Both the Phil’s, Hellmuth and Ivey, were at the final table as well as Abe Mosseri, David “Bakes” Baker, Dan Kelly, John Monnette, and Matt Waxman.
Ivey and Hellmuth went out 5th and 4th respectively and this ultimately led to David Baker facing Monnette for the bracelet. Monnette already had one bracelet earlier this WSOP for taking the $5k Stud Event and Baker was looking for his 2nd career bracelet.
In the end, Baker ran well late and took down the $10k HORSE title and $451,779.
Naoya Kihara Wins First Bracelet for Japan
The $5,000 PL Omaha Six-Max Event was the Naoya Kihara show from about half way through Day 2 until the end. He held the chip lead for much of the time until around the start of the final table where he started 2nd in chips.
With 5 players left, Kihara went on a run that saw him take over a 3:1 chip lead into heads-up play with Chris De Maci. Kihara continued to dominate and ultimately took down the event for $512,029 and the gold bracelet. This was the first bracelet for someone from Japan in the history of WSOP.
