Dan Heimiller Wins WSOP Seniors Championship (Event #17) For $627,462

Dan Heimiller has just won the $1k NL Seniors Championship (Event #17), after overcoming a field of 4,425 players over three days to collect a second career WSOP bracelet, as well as the $627,462 first place prize. Following his impressive victory, the 52 year-old pro who now boasts $4,793,613 in winnings, commented:
“It was a retro tournament – it was like going back 15 years. The players had an old style. It was just my speed.”
By the time the final table of nine had been reached, Dan Heimiller was joined by other top pros including 2008 November Niner Dennis Phillips, and David Tran. Also competing for the tile was Donald Maas, David Smith, Doc Barry, Jim Custer, Anthony Wise and David Vida.
Dan Heimiller (K-J) then proceeded to eliminate Barry Schwartz (Q-10) from the competition in 7th for $87,615, before being dealt pocket sevens and doing likewise to David Tran (A-J) in 6th for $115,651.
Continuing his assault at the final table, Heimiller (J-7) then sent a short-stacked Anthony Wise (5-5) to the rail in 4th ($206,492), and sixty hands later his pocket fours bested David Smith’s A-10 to eliminate his fellow American in 3rd ($279,412) and set up the heads-up phase of  the competition against Norwegian Donald Maas.
As the final battle commenced Heimiller held a 9.7 million to 3.5 million chip advantage over Maas, and just six hands later the defining hand was played after Heimiller (6-2) flopped a straight before calling his opponent’s shove on a 5-4-3-A-Q board. Maas subsequently had to settle for a runner-up finish worth $388,054, while Dan Heimiller was awarded the bracelet, and $627,462 in prize money.
Heimiller also had his name etched onto the Golden Eagle trophy and when asked what was more important to him the his name on the trophy or the bracelet, replied, “Well, they don’t let me keep the trophy. The bracelet is more important.”
Final Table Results:
1 Dan Heimiller – $627,462
2 Donald Maas – $388,054
3 David Smith – $279,412
4 Anthony Wise – $206,492
5 Dennis Phillips – $153,883
6 David Tran – $115,651
7 Barry Schwartz – $87,615
8 David Vida- $66,945
9 Jim Custer – $51,573