Friday, June 30, 2023 6:30 PM Local Time
Austria's Klaus Ilk Wins 2023 WSOP Event #61: $1,000 Super Seniors for $371,603
After four grueling days of poker, and outlasting 3,121 opponents, Klauz Ilk of Austria won the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #61 $1,000 Super Seniors No Limit Hold'em tournament for $371,603, and a gold bracelet at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Ilk, who started the day with only eight big blinds, managed to outlast 12 other competitors to land the first prize. Ilk is only the seventh Austrian to lay their hands on the most coveted prize in poker — a WSOP gold bracelet!
It was the 66-year-old's biggest cash by far. With this win, he also increased his recorded lifetime winnings tenfold with his previous biggest cash coming last year for $11,351.
Throughout the day it looked like Farhad Davoudzadeh would steamroll his opponents to victory with an aggressive brand of poker that catapulted him into the chip lead. However, his momentum came off the tracks after moving all in preflop with ace-jack and running into Ronald Lane's pocket kings to play for a third of the chips in play. The board was clean for Lane who went heads-up with Ilk with a four-to-one chip lead while Davoudzadeh settled for third place.
2023 WSOP Super Seniors Final Table Results
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | Klaus Ilk | Austria | $371,603 |
| 2 | Ronald Lane | United States | $229,685 |
| 3 | Farhad Davoudzadeh | Iran | $172,058 |
| 4 | Ronald Swain | United States | $129,812 |
| 5 | Kevin Danko | United States | $98,644 |
| 6 | Federico Trujillo | Argentina | $75,503 |
| 7 | Arnon Graham | United States | $58,213 |
| 8 | Rassoul Malboubi | United States | $45,213 |
From that moment on, Ilk hardly lost a pot heads up against Lane. Ilk doubled up after spiking a seven on a flop to beat Lane's ace-high. Ilk managed to erode Lane's stack and took the chip lead after hitting an ace on the river to beat Lane's pocket jacks.
The winning moment came when Ilk called an all-in on the flop with pocket nines after Lane shoved with a double-gutter straight draw. Lane missed his draws to mint Ilk as the winner.
Ronald Lane
Winners Reaction
After the tournament, Ilk spoke to PokerNews and was asked what it meant to be only Austria's seventh bracelet winner. – "More than I could possibly say, my main aim was to climb the ladder and win more money, so I am not sure if I am awake or asleep!"
Ilk entered the day last in chips with only eight big blinds, and he was asked how he manage to navigate the field to victory? – "Luck! The poker gods were definitely with me, and I guess I played my best poker."
So, how would the latest WSOP bracelet winner celebrate his victory tonight?
"First, I need to move hotels and check in to the new place. My phone did not stop vibrating all day so I need to message my friends and family back home in Austria and hopefully, I can settle down with a nice bottle of wine."
Early Action
Overall, it was a tentative start from the 13 returning players with the day's first elimination happening 20 minutes into Level 31. James Martini shoved with queen-jack and ran into Lane's ace-queen and went home in 13th place.
Robert Whalen departed in 12th place, while Kevin Parmely may have got a brief stay of execution after Federico Trujillo accidentally exposed pocket aces while Parmely was still putting chips into the middle after min-raising. Trujillo mistook this as a call of his shove but received a three-hand penalty for turning up his cards. Parmely eventually exited in 11th.
The ten remaining players merged onto the unofficial final table. Jimmie James finished in 10th and Richard Wallace finished in ninth place who both missed out on a spot at the official final table.
The Day 3 chip leader Rassoul Malboubi was the next to head to the pay cage after shoving on the flop with a pair of deuces. Unfortunately for him, Ronald Swain had flopped top pair and called Malboubi's shove.
Arnon Graham who pushed pocket sevens into the pocket tens of Kevin Danko busted in seventh place. Despite having the loudest rail at the final table, Trujillo exited in sixth place after his pair of tens was beaten by Lane's pocket jacks.
The source of Ilk's epic resurgence in the tournament can be found when they knocked out Danko in fifth place. Danko was ahead with eights and sevens, but an ace on the river gave Ilk aces and eights to take a big pot and knock Danko out.
Swain left the tournament in fourth place after shoving with ace-queen and running into Lane's pocket aces. But the Austrian Ilk was not to be denied their biggest-ever poker windfall and earning a WSOP gold bracelet.
That does it for updates from Event #61: $1,000 Super Seniors, but there are still plenty of tournaments still to come from the 2023 WSOP. Click here to see what other live updates are happening now.
Friday, June 30, 2023 4:49 PM Local Time
Ronald Lane Eliminated in 2nd Place ($229,685)
Ronald Lane raised to 1,300,000 before Klaus Ilk made it 3,600,000. Lane called and the flop was .
Ilk fired 4,000,000 and Lane shoved around 17,000,000. Ilk did a little bit of math before he decided to call.
Ronald Lane:
Klaus Ilk:
The board finished up with and Ilk held on with the pocket nines to eliminate Lane in second place for $229,685.
| Klaus Ilk | 62,420,000 | 26,920,000  |
| Ronald Lane | 0 | -26,500,000  |
Friday, June 30, 2023 4:38 PM Local Time
The Chad & Jesse Poker Show Episode #9: Japanese Vlogging Superstar Masato Yokosawa
On the latest The Chad & Jesse Poker Show straight from the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Chad Holloway and Jesse Fullen welcome renowned Japanese vlogger Masato Yokosawa, AKA "World Wide Yokosawa."
While players in the United States might think folks like Brad Owen and Andrew Neeme has the biggest vlog followings in the world, that distinction actually belongs to Masato, who regularly clears 600K views on each of his vlogs!
The Japanese vlogging sensation opens up about his start in poker, what inspired him to start a vlog, and how he's managed to turn it into a smashing success with the help of a creative team. He also talks about his desire to win a WSOP gold bracelet, how Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth are perceived in his home country, and what the future looks like for poker in Japan.
Chad and Jesse then do a new "Calling the Clock" segment in which they offer quick two-minute dialogues for topics on "The Board."
Friday, June 30, 2023 4:35 PM Local Time
Ilk Grabs the Chip Lead
Ronald Lane bet 2,300,000 from the small blind and was met with a raise to 4,600,000 from Klaus Ilk in the big blind.
Both players checked to the river with the board reading and Ilk bet 2,000,000. "Did I let you get there?" Lane asked. After a couple of minutes, Lane made the call to see the bad news. Ilk turned over to river top pair while Lane revealed pocket jacks.
The Austrian Ilk came into the day as the shortest stack out of 13 players with only eight big blinds. Ilk now has all the momentum to claim the Bracelet.
| Klaus Ilk | 35,500,000 | 8,500,000 |
| Ronald Lane | 26,500,000 | -7,000,000 |
Friday, June 30, 2023 4:14 PM Local Time
Meet Ian Matakis, Shaun Deeb's Surprising WSOP Player of the Year Competitor
Shaun Deeb has some legit competition for 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Player of the Year, and it isn't Daniel Negreanu or Phil Ivey. The name you need to learn, if you haven't become familiar with him already, is Ian Matakis, who is about to take over the lead, and it appears he's going to be in the POY race until the end.
PokerNews caught up with the Minnesota native on break of Event #65: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (6-Handed), where he's still in it on Day 3.
Read the Full Interview Here
Friday, June 30, 2023 4:13 PM Local Time
Ilk Scores a Quick Double
Klaus Ilk raised to 2,000,000 and Ronald Lane made it 6,000,000. Ilk called from the button and the final two players went to a flop.
The flop was and Lane slid out a big stack of pink T-500,000 chips to put Ilk all in. Ilk called quickly and the cards were turned up.
Klaus Ilk:
Ronald Lane:
The board finished up and Ilk held on with a flopped pair of sevens to double at the start of heads-up play.
| Ronald Lane | 33,500,000 | -13,500,000 |
| Klaus Ilk | 27,000,000 | 13,450,000 |
Friday, June 30, 2023 4:11 PM Local Time
Farhad Davoudzadeh Eliminated in 3rd Place ($172,058)
Farhad Davoudzadeh shoved for over 10,000,000 and Ronald Lane called without hesitation to put him at risk.
Farhad Davoudzadeh:
Ronald Lane:
The board ran out and the kings held to eliminate Davoudzadeh from the tournament in third place for $172,058.
| Ronald Lane | 47,000,000 | 5,000,000 |
| Klaus Ilk | 13,550,000 | -2,250,000 |
| Farhad Davoudzadeh | 0 | -18,600,000 |
Friday, June 30, 2023 4:05 PM Local Time
Ronald Swain Eliminated in 4th Place ($129,812)
Ronald Swain bet 2,500,000 from the button and was met with a raise of 7,000,000 in the big blind by Ronald Lane. Swain responded by moving all in for 14,350,000 and was snap-called by Lane.
Ronald Swain:
Ronald Lane:
Swain made his move at the wrong time running into the rockets of Lane. The board of improved Lane to a set to win the hand and to knock Swain out in 4th place who will claim $129,812, which is the biggest tournament score of his life.
| Ronald Lane | 42,000,000 | 17,500,000 |
| Ronald Swain | 0 | -12,700,000 |
Friday, June 30, 2023 3:52 PM Local Time
2023 WSOP Featured Females: Who Will Win the Largest Ladies Event In Poker History?
Veronica Brill
The eventual winner of the currently underway Event #67: $1,000 Ladies Event Championship at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) will not only take home a bracelet and $192,167 but will also earn a special place in poker history. That's because with its 1,295 entries on Day 1, the event is the largest Ladies Event to ever take place in poker.
The previous biggest WSOP Ladies Event took place in 2007 with 1,286 entries and saw Sally Boyer defeating Anne Heft to win $262,077. Last year's WSOP Ladies Championship drew 1,074, making for a 20% increase this time around.
Read About the Record-Breaking Ladies Event!
Friday, June 30, 2023 3:45 PM Local Time
Kevin Danko Eliminated in 5th Place ($98,644)
Kevin Danko raised to 1,250,000 from under the gun and action folded around to Klaus Ilk for a call from the big blind.
The flop was and Ilk bet 1,500,000. Danko shoved for a total of 2,450,000 and Ilk called.
Kevin Danko:
Klaus Ilk:
Danko was ahead with a pair of sevens when the board finished up to give Ilk a pair of aces on the river. The aces were good enough to knock Danko out of the tournament in fifth place for $98,644.
| Klaus Ilk | 15,800,000 | 10,150,000 |
| Kevin Danko | 0 | -4,100,000 |
Friday, June 30, 2023 3:36 PM Local Time
Level 36 started
Level: 36
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 600,000
Friday, June 30, 2023 3:28 PM Local Time
Lane Takes Back Lead from Davoudzadeh
Ronald Lane bet 1,500,000 from the cutoff and was called by Farhad Davoudzadeh on the button.
Lane continued on the flop of for 1,500,000 which Davoudzadeh called. The came on the turn and Lane checked which opened the path for Davoudzadeh to bet 2,500,000.
Lane replied with a check-raise to 8,000,000 which caught Davoudzadeh off guard. The Iranian went into the tank and thought better of it and made the fold to give Lane the pot and regain the chip lead.
| Ronald Lane | 24,500,000 | 7,900,000 |
| Farhad Davoudzadeh | 18,600,000 | -2,700,000 |
Friday, June 30, 2023 3:17 PM Local Time
Lane Applies Pressure as Davoudzadeh Falls Back
Ronald Lane limped in from the small blind and Farhad Davoudzadeh checked his option from the big blind.
The flop was and Lane checked. Davoudzadeh fired 1,000,000 and Lane check-raised to 2,000,0000. Davoudzadeh called and the turn was .
Lane changed gears and fired 3,500,000 on the turn to a quick fold from Davoudzadeh.
| Farhad Davoudzadeh | 21,300,000 | -11,800,000 |
| Ronald Lane | 16,600,000 | -600,000 |
Friday, June 30, 2023 3:06 PM Local Time
Ilk Gets a Double Through Davoudzadeh
Farhad Davoudzadeh bet 1,500,000 from the button. Klaus Ilk in the big blind moved all in for 2,450,000 which was called by Davoudzadeh.
Klaus Ilk:
Farhad Davoudzadeh:
Ilk was behind and there was no help on the flop or the turn, but the river saved Ilk's tournament life by the skin of his teeth and is now back above ten big blinds to put themselves out of immediate danger.
| Farhad Davoudzadeh | 23,100,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Klaus Ilk | 5,650,000 | 625,000 |
Friday, June 30, 2023 2:56 PM Local Time
Federico Trujillo Eliminated in 6th Place ($75,503)
Federico Trujillo shoved his last 1,475,000 from under the gun and Kevin Danko called from the small blind before Ronald Lane joined from the big blind.
Both remaining players opted to check down the board of and the cards were turned up.
Danko turned over and Trujillo had , but Lane turned over to take the pot with a pair of jacks and eliminate Trujillo in sixth place for $75,503.
| Ronald Lane | 17,200,000 | 5,800,000 |
| Kevin Danko | 4,100,000 | -1,600,000 |
| Federico Trujillo | 0 | -5,200,000 |
Friday, June 30, 2023 2:41 PM Local Time
Level 35 started
Level: 35
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
Friday, June 30, 2023 2:24 PM Local Time
Break Time
Players have exited the stage for the second 15-minute break of the day.
Friday, June 30, 2023 2:24 PM Local Time
Davoudzadeh's Power Poker Gains Chip Lead
Ronald Lane bet 1,100,000 from the cutoff and was called by Farhad Davoudzadeh in the big blind. The flop came and both players checked.
The was dealt on the turn and Davoudzadeh bet 1,000,000 and was quickly called by Lane. The completed the board and Davoudzadeh bet 2,000,000.
Lane picked up calling chips, hesitated, then made the call to see the bad news. Davaoudzadeh turned over for trip aces, beating Lane's and the Iranian reclaimed the chip lead.
| Farhad Davoudzadeh | 20,100,000 | 4,500,000 |
| Ronald Lane | 11,400,000 | -5,600,000 |
Friday, June 30, 2023 2:21 PM Local Time
PN Podcast: Guest Vlogging Sensation Masato Yokosawa
On the latest PokerNews Podcast episode, Chad Holloway and Jesse Fullen continue The Chad & Jesse Poker Show straight from the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP).
They are joined by renowned Japanese vlogger Masato Yokosawa, AKA "World Wide Yokosawa." While players in the United States might think folks like Brad Owen and Andrew Neeme has the biggest vlog followings in the world, that distinction actually belongs to Masato, who regularly clears 600K views on each of his vlogs!
The Japanese vlogging sensation opens up about his start in poker, what inspired him to start a vlog, and how he's managed to turn it into a smashing success with the help of a creative team. He also talks about his desire to win a WSOP gold bracelet, how Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth are perceived in his home country, and what the future looks like for poker in Japan.
Chad and Jesse then do a new "Calling the Clock" segment in which they offer quick two-minute dialogues for topics on "The Board."
Listen to the New PokerNews Podcast Here!
Friday, June 30, 2023 2:10 PM Local Time
Arnon Graham Eliminated in 7th Place ($58,213)
Arnon Graham shoved his last 2,250,000 and Kevin Danko went all in with just a bit more from late position. The rest of the table was out of the way and the two short stacks were committed with Graham at risk.
Arnon Graham:
Kevin Danko:
The board ran out and Danko's pocket tens held on to eliminate Graham from the tournament in seventh place for $58,213.
| Kevin Danko | 5,700,000 | 300,000 |
| Arnon Graham | 0 | -3,200,000 |