WSOP Event #41

The winner of Event #41, the 2007 Seniors Poker World Championship was Ernest Bennett, a 55-year-old former business owner from Encino, CA.

Bennett was born in Canada, before moving to the U.S. at a young age. He started playing seriously about five years ago, learning the game mostly through playing with friends. He has a very impressive string of cashes in recent years. In fact, Bennett has cashed over 30 times in tournaments since 2004, but this was his first major tournament win.

Bennett arrived at the final table with a significant chip advantage. It took him just over five hours to achieve victory, which paid out $348,423.

"Aggressive poker – that’s the only way I know how to play," Bennett said in a post-tournament interview. "I’m always raising. Sometimes I have to try and slow it down, but I think the aggressive style works for me."

This event was won by a woman last year – the first such occasion. Clare Miller became the first lady to win the seniors event in history. Women players did not fare as well this year. The highest woman finisher in this tournament was Jeanne David of Las Vegas (18th).

The age requirement to play in the Seniors World Poker Championship was 50 years or higher. Player ages at the final table ranged from 51 to 71, and this was the largest seniors poker event of all time. The 1,882 entries destroyed the previous record that was set last year (1,184) by more than 30 percent.

Poker legend "Amarillo Slim" Preston, the 1972 world poker champion cashed for the first time in five years at the WSOP. The poker icon finished in 96th place and was given a nice ovation from the crowd. Another ex-champ, 1983 world poker champion Tom McEvoy finished in 34th place.

Final results:
1. Ernest Bennett, Encino, CA, $348,423
2. Tony Korfman, Boulder City, NV, $217,503
3. Rod Clarida, Yorba Linda, CA, $142,147
4. Ed Smith, Twentynine Palms, CA, $95,907
5. Thomas Catanzaro, Palm Harbor, FL, $65,080
6. Leon Lewis, Chelsea, MI, $47,953
7. Jack Deutsch, Staten Island, NY, $35,965
8. Ray Abels, Danville, CA, $26,546
9. Chuck Anderson, Columbus, OH, $20,209