Event #8: $2,500 8-Game Mix

The 8th event of the 2013 World Series of Poker is officially in the books. After three grueling days of mixed game play, it was Michael Malm who rose above the star-studded field to claim the title, the gold WSOP bracelet, and the $225,104 in first-place prize money.

Malm's story proves the old adage that is so frequently spoken at the WSOP that "Anyone can win,". Malm, who recently chopped a Daily DeepStack tournament here at the WSOP, was going to register for another but found himself too late. Registration for this event, however, was still open. He decided to hop in and give it a go. Little did he know three days ago that he would be the one to rise above some of the top professional mixed game players in the world and earn himself his first WSOP championship.

The third and final day of Malm's journey began with a grand total of 19 runners returning to the felt. One by one the professional players began to hit the rail. The likes of Josh Arieh, Robert Mizrachi, Chris Reslock, Randy Ohel, and Chris Tryba all fell before the final table was reached. Travis Pearson became the official final table bubble boy during a hand of No-Limit Hold'em where he lost a coin flip to Eric Crain in dramatic fashion.

Marco Johnson was eliminated in eighth place just a few hands later when his ace-king was outdone by last year's runner-up Greg Mueller's ace-queen. Shorty thereafter, Mike Wattel was also slain by Mueller and had to settle for a seventh place finish.

The next casualty came just a few mere moments later when Crain made a wheel in Omaha Eight-or-Better to bust Dario Alioto in sixth place. Michael Hurey was next to follow when he ran into Steven Wolansky's pocket aces in limit hold'em.

The final four played for quite some time before Crain found himself the fourth-place finisher. The last casualty before heads up play was none other than last year's runner-up Mueller. Mueller was looking to improve on his finish and clinch the bracelet, but was unfortunately forced to settle for third place after a hand of limit hold'em resulted in his demise.

Malm and Wolansky began heads up play virtually even in chips and it was actually Wolansky who was the first to pull away. Wolansky had Malm down to just around two big bets at one point. After a key double up and a a grueling few levels of play, the match finally came to a head during a pot-limit omaha round. After a preflop all in, Malm was able to make the nut flush on the river and clinch the bracelet, eliminating Wolansky in second place in the process.

Final Table Payouts

PokerNews extends its congratulations to Malm on his spectacular run and first WSOP victory. Be sure to stay tuned to our Live Reporting page as we continue to provide live updates from the tournament floor of the WSOP!

Razz

Michael Malm completed with a four, and Steven Wolansky called with a five. Wolansky called down to sixth, when he bet after being checked to.

Wolansky:     
Malm:     

Malm called, then saw Wolansky bet into him again on seventh street.

"Big pot," he said. Finally, he called, turning over a ten-eight that bested Wolansky's ten-nine.

Michael Malm	2,370,000	440,000
Steven Wolansky	530,000	-450,000

Stud

Michael Malm completed with both players showing an eight, and Steven Wolansky raised. Malm called. They got it all in on sixth street after Wolansky continued betting.

Malm:   /    
Wolansky:   /    

Malm needed to catch up with a straight or flush and hope Wolansky didn't fill up. He squeezed out a brick, and Wolansky doubled.

Michael Malm	2,000,000	-270,000
Steven Wolansky	920,000	290,000

No-Limit Hold'em

Michael Malm raised to 65,000 from the button, and Steven Wolansky called.

The flop came    , and Wolansky check-raised Malm's 65,000 bet to 155,000. Malm called. Wolansky kept up the aggression on a   turn, firing 180,000. Malm raised to 380,000, and Wolansky folded.

Michael Malm	1,500,000	-25,000
Steven Wolansky	1,400,000	25,000

Both heads up competitors were given the option to play one more level tonight. Michael Malm did not want to play one more tonight but Steven Wolansky was adamant that he wanted to play one more level. Malm agreed to flip a coin for it. If it landed heads they went home for the night, tails they would play on.

Wolansky flipped the quarter, it fell off of the table and onto the floor. Someone from the rail declared that it fell tails. That means we're on a 20-minute break and will return for one more level.

Limit Hold'em

Michael Malm called a raise in the big blind, and the players saw a     flop. Malm check-called, and did the same on a   turn. He led out when the   hit the river, and Wolansky called.

Malm showed    for a rivered gutshot straight, and Wolansky's small cheering section expressed disgust.

Steven Wolansky	1,700,000	-210,000
Michael Malm	1,200,000	200,000

Pot-Limit Omaha

Michael Malm raised the button, Steven Wolansky potted in the big blind, and Malm shipped it in.

Malm:     
Wolansky:     

Malm was in good shape with blockers and better flush cards, but a     flop left him trailing. A   on the turn quickly turned that around, and a brick on the river meant Malm, who has been stubbornly clinging to a very short stack, is back in contention.

Steven Wolansky	2,400,000	-220,000
Michael Malm	508,000	218,000

Stud

Steven Wolansky completed with a six, and Michael Malm called with an eight. Wolansky kept the betting lead on fourth, but Malm raised him on fifth with a six-seven-ten against Wolansky's eight-ten-jack. Wolansky called, then fired out on sixth with a queen. Malm folded.

Wolansky showed his hand:   /    

"Nice bluff," Malm said.

Michael Malm	1,600,000	-272,000
Steven Wolansky	1,300,000	262,000

Stud Eight or Better

Steven Wolansky check-raised on sixth street after calling on fifth. He bet seventh street.

Wolansky:     
Malm:     

"I hope you don't have three sixes," Malm said, tossing in a call.

"I have a straight," Wolansky responded, revealing     as his down cards.

"That works," Malm said.

Steven Wolansky	1,900,000	420,000
Michael Malm	1,000,000	-420,000

Razz

Greg Mueller completed with a four then bet every street to seventh, and Michael Malm called him down after starting with a five. Mueller checked dark on seventh, and Malm checked behind him.

Mueller:    /    
Malm:    /    

"You kept going after you paired that four, huh?" Mueller said, shaking his head in disgust before flipping his cards high into the air toward the muck.

Michael Malm	1,150,000	-35,000
Greg Mueller	500,000	-170,000