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A new event to the schedule, Event #59: $1,000 Battle of the Ages at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) saw a staggering 3,074 entrants, generating a huge prize pool of $2,815,784. In the end, it was Sebastiaan de Jonge left standing to claim the first-place prize of $335,390.

Alongside the enormous sum of money amassed to compete for, there was something else at play: generational bragging rights. This unique structure saw those aged over 50 years old play in a separate Day 1 flight from those aged under 50. Once the cream of the respective age groups had risen to the top, the two fields were combined to see which could triumph — experience or youth.

It took just over 20 hours of play, including spilling over into an unscheduled Day 3, to whittle the field down to one player. Coming into the final day with just five big blinds, De Jonge battled back to emerge victorious, flying the flag high for the under-50s contingent.

De Jonge claimed the $335,390 up top, a WSOP bracelet, bragging rights, and the knowledge that he will forever be the first Battle of the Ages champion.

Battle of the Ages Final Table Results

Winners Reaction

“Incredible run, actually really lucky, ridiculously lucky. It’s funny how many rivers, how many good rivers, you need to win the tournament. If you think back on all the rivers you had, it’s really insane,” De Jonge told PokerNews following his big win.

This was De Jonge’s first WSOP final table, first WSOP win and, of course, first bracelet. The first-place prize is also De Jonge’s largest ever tournament score, and as a result, moves him into the top 50 for his nation’s all-time money list, the Netherlands. Last but by no means least, De Jonge’s name will forever be etched in history as the first ever champion of the WSOP Battle of the Ages.

When questioned as to which of the above meant the most, he said, “The bracelet by far. The final table was already really cool to make it, out of 3,074 players, like I said, you have to go on an incredibly good run. But just really happy, really, really happy, really good feeling to win.”

When asked if this settles the score on which generation plays better poker, De Jonge gave a humble answer, “It’s not as simple as that. The older guys were playing well; they were often a little less technical, less GTO than the younger guys, but the tournament, the blinds were going so fast, and everybody was playing really slow. It was not a lot of poker, it was a lot of all in and survive, survive, survive; so I am the biggest survivor, I guess.”

Despite being the sole survivor, there’s no time for celebrations just yet as the poker isn’t pausing for De Jonge.

“We are going to play the tag team event right now, then I am going to have some dinner, then I am going to find a party to drink a little bit.”

Final Table Action

With stacks short and blind levels ever-increasing, chips were sure to fly from the get-go.

Xia Wang was the first to fall, coming into Day 3 with just 5 big blinds, she wasn’t able to spin up a stack, departing in eighth place.

Just 15 minutes later, Allan Le suffered the same fate. The 25K Fantasy Draft player found his remaining chips in the middle versus a dominating hand, and couldn’t catch up to stay alive. De Jonge made quick work of Jack Maskill and start-of-day chip leader Joseph Roh, sending them both to the exit in quick succession.

Srivinay Irrinki departed in fourth place, all in with the best hand. He couldn’t hold on versus Ignacio Sagra. Hakeem Mashal was next to fall, losing a flip versus De Jonge and departing in third place.

De Jonge faced Sagra for the title, going into heads-up with a slight chip disadvantage. The duo exchanged pots back and forth before a huge hero call, and crucial hold, swung things in De Jonge’s favour.

With stacks short, three rapid fire all-ins went in favor of De Jonge, seeing Sagra eliminated in second place and the Dutchman triumphing.

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