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 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
Place
Player
Prize
1
Michael Malm
$225,104
2
Steven Wolansky
$139,034
3
Greg Mueller
$89,673
4
Eric Crain
$64,975
5
Michael Hurey
$47,771
6
Dario Alioto
$35,634
7
Mike Wattel
$26,966
8
Marco Johnson
$20,699
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!
Michael Malm limped on the button. Steven Wolansky raised to 90,000 and Malm replied by raising pot. Wolansky moved all in and Malm called.
Malm:
Wolansky:
Wolansky paired up on the flop but Malm was adamantly cheering for a diamond. Wolansky made two pair on the turn when the hit, but it was all for naught as the struck the river and gave Malm the nut flush for the win. Wolansky was eliminated in 2nd place and will collect $139,034 for his efforts.
Steven Wolansky had the button. He popped it up to 65,000 and Michael Malm defended his big blind.
The flop brought and Malm checked to the raiser. Wolansky fired 75,000 and Malm called. The hit the turn and Malm checked once more and called after Wolansky slid out 160,000. The finished off the board. Malm checked a third time. Wolansky announced a bet of 325,000.
"Didn't think you had the balls to pull that trigger," said Malm to Wolansky. He sat thinking.
Minutes ticked down on the clock as Malm stacked and and disassembled stacks of chips while thinking and muttering to himself about the hand.
"This is TOUGH," he emphasized after about three minutes.
Four minutes into his decision was enough for Wolansky, who called the clock on Malm. He had sixty seconds to act on his hand or it would be declared dead.
Malm continued to think and used his time all of the way down until there were just six seconds left. He pushed out a call.
Wolansky showed for just king-high. Malm rolled up for a pair of sixes and the best hand. He clenched his fist tightly and did a fist pump to himself as he dragged in the pot. He now is sitting on about 2.27 million in chips.
Steven Wolansky had the button. He popped it up to 48,000. Michael Malm three-bet to 124,000 and Wolanski called.
The flop brought and Malm continued out for 100,000. Wolansky thought for a moment before announcing all in. Malm stood up from the table and slapped face up on the table, announcing call in the process.
"Wow," said Wolansky, meekly showing .
The dealer rapped the table and produced the on the turn.
"CLUB!" said Wolansky suddenly.
Fortunately for Malm, Wolansky's request was denied as the touched down on the river and secured him a double up to 1.872 million in chips.
Action folded to Steven Wolansky who raised from the small blind. Greg Mueller called out of the big blind and the flop brought . Wolansky led out and Mueller raised. Wolansky called to see a turn.
The hit the turn and Wolansky checked. Mueller led.
"Raise," instantly proclaimed Wolansky.
Mueller, who had less than one big bet behind, called it off.
"You hit the nine, didn't you?" said Mueller. Wolansky nodded and showed . A frustrated Mueller replied with for a pair of eights.
The finished off the board and Mueller, last year's runner-up, was eliminated in 3rd place. He will collect $89,673 in tournament winnings.
Eric Crain opened with a raise from under the gun and Steven Wolansky three-bet out of the big blind. Crain four-bet from the button and Wolansky capped it, putting Crain all in. Crain called and the hands were tabled.
Crain:
Wolansky:
The board ran out and Wolansky was able to win the pot with his pair of kings. Crain, who finished Day 1 of this event as the chip lead and has been a force throughout this whole tournament, has been eliminated from play. Crain will take home $64,975 in tournament winnings.
Steven Wolansky was first to act and opened to 24,000. Eric Crain three-bet to 68,000 from the button and it folded around to Michael Malm who went into the tank. Eventually he opted to flat call. Wolansky stuck around too.
The trio took in a flop of and Malm snap-shipped all in for 59,000. Wolansky called and Crain did the same. Both players checked down the turn and river.
Wolansky showed but was bested by Crain's . The best hand, however, was held by Malm who had for two pair of queens and jacks. Malm was able to triple to about 385,000.
Steven Wolansky had the button. He raised the action and it folded to Michael Hurey in the big blind who three-bet. Wolsansky announced four bets and Hurey five bet all in.
"Call. Aces," remarked Wolansky, tabling .
Hurey meekly showed and was in extreme need of help.
Unfortunately for Hurey the board failed to oblige as it fell . He was eliminated in 5th place and will take home $47,771 in winnings.
Eric Crain opened from UTG+1 with a raise and it folded around to Dario Alioto who called out of the small blind. The flop came and Alioto checked. Crain continued and Alioto slid out a check-raise. Crain three-bet and Alioto came back with a four-bet. Crain capped it and Alioto called.
The turned and Alioto moved all in with his last bet. Crain called.
Crain:
Alioto:
The river bricked out for Alioto and Crain's wheel was enough to scoop the pot. Alioto was eliminated in 6th place and will collect $35,634 in winnings.
Greg Mueller raised from under the gun, and Mike Wattel called from the big blind.
The flop came , and Wattel check-raised the last of his chips.
Wattel:
Mueller:
Mueller had the superior low draw, but Wattel's threes led for high. A fell on the turn, and Wattel was in decent shape to survive. An river gave Mueller both the high and the low though, and Wattel hit the rail.
flop but Malm was adamantly cheering for a diamond. Wolansky made two pair on the turn when the 
hit, but it was all for naught as the 
struck the river and gave Malm the nut flush for the win. Wolansky was eliminated in 2nd place and will collect $139,034 for his efforts.
hit the turn and Malm checked once more and called after Wolansky slid out 160,000. The 
finished off the board. Malm checked a third time. Wolansky announced a bet of 325,000.
for just king-high. Malm rolled up 
for a pair of sixes and the best hand. He clenched his fist tightly and did a fist pump to himself as he dragged in the pot. He now is sitting on about 2.27 million in chips.
on the turn.
touched down on the river and secured him a double up to 1.872 million in chips.
finished off the board and Mueller, last year's runner-up, was eliminated in 3rd place. He will collect $89,673 in tournament winnings.
and Malm snap-shipped all in for 59,000. Wolansky called and Crain did the same. Both players checked down the 
. The best hand, however, was held by Malm who had 
for two pair of queens and jacks. Malm was able to triple to about 385,000.
and was in extreme need of help.
and Alioto checked. Crain continued and Alioto slid out a check-raise. Crain three-bet and Alioto came back with a four-bet. Crain capped it and Alioto called.
