Stan Schrier, Who Took 3rd at Toughest Final Table in WSOP Main Event History, Passes Away at 89
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Stan Schrier, who turned an $80 satellite into a third-place finish at arguably the toughest final table in World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event history, passed away on April 1, 2025, at the age of 89.
Schrier famously finished in third place behind Carlos Mortensen and Dewey Tomko in the 2001 WSOP Main Event, a final table that also included Phil Gordon, Phil Hellmuth, and Mike Matusow, not to mention Daniel Negreanu, who nearly made it by finishing in 11th place.
“I was 63 and the grandpa at the table,” Schrier said in a 2019 interview. “And I never told them I had never played a no-limit tournament before.”
Prior to that final table, Hellmuth was famously boasting about being the best no-limit player in the field, to which Schrier had an iconic quip – “I’ve been in business all my life, now that’s pressure. This isn’t pressure, this is pleasure.”
That year, poker’s most prestigious tournament attracted 613 of the best players to Binion's Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas. A few years prior, Schrier, who was then in his late 60s, sold his businesses in Omaha and relocated to Vegas to play poker, but that year marked the first time he'd ever played in the WSOP.
"I knew Daniel Negreanu real well," Schrier told PokerNews in a 2015 interview. "I think he took a bad beat. I remember when we were down to 11, during hand-for-hand, Daniel was at the other table, so I can't remember what he went out with. It was quite the experience."
The 2001 WSOP Main Event Final Table
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Mortensen | $1,500,000 |
| 2 | Dewey Tomko | $1,098,925 |
| 3 | Stan Schrier | $699,315 |
| 4 | Phil Gordon | $399,610 |
| 5 | Phil Hellmuth | $303,705 |
| 6 | Mike Matusow | $239,765 |
| 7 | Henry Nowakowski | $179,825 |
| 8 | Steve Riehle | $119,885 |
| 9 | John Inashima | $91,910 |
"All the guys were real nice," Schrier reflects. "I think the greatest memory was when we watched Hellmuth get busted out. He cried like a baby and ran to his dad sitting back there. I mean, he's really a nice guy when you get him away from poker, but he can't take it when he loses. But he's really a nice guy, I always kid him about it."
"I knew all those guys," Schrier continued. "Mike [Matusow] I had played with. The guy who wrote the book, Phil Gordon, and then a guy about my age, or probably a little younger, from Miami, he got second, Dewey Tomko. Real nice guy."
As for the man who won it all, Schrier kept it simple: "The young man who won it just got cards all day and played real well."
Stories of Phil Ivey, a Hellmuth Fight & More
In a PokerNews interview with Johnny “Quads” Wenzel back in 2019, Schrier shared some stories, including how he once got a nickname courtesy of Phil Ivey.
“I was playing in Reno once and put in a big bet against Phil Ivey,” said Schrier. “He thought about it for a long time and then finally folded, saying: ‘You’re the one person at the table I won’t call, Tighty Whitey.’ That became my nickname for a while.”
Schrier also recalled a story from the 2001 WSOP Main Event final table between Hellmuth and Gordon, who recently granted PokerNews his first poker-related interview in 12 years.
"There were five really good players left – and me."
“Gordon bluffed Phil and showed it and told him: ‘You’re not the only one here who knows how to play poker.’ There were some words, and the tournament director had to step in.”
Schrier also remembered Hellmuth saying “How can you play crap like that?” to Matusow after Matusow bluffed with 7-2 and lost a lot of chips to Mortensen.
“There were five really good players left – and me,” Schrier reflected. “And it was an honor to be there. It wasn’t about the money with me; after all, this was the final table at the World Series of Poker! But after a while, the money started to look pretty good too, and I really wanted to win.”
Remembered as a Family Man & True Gentleman
His obituary read: “A devoted family man, visionary businessman, and fierce competitor … His life was one of hard work, determination, and an unwavering commitment to his loved ones. Born on July 5, 1935, Stan attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he earned a business degree. During his time in college, he met the love of his life, Felicia, and together they built a marriage that lasted 60 years, filled with love, laughter, and an unbreakable bond.”
"Stan's legacy is one of perseverance, success, and love for his family. His impact on those who knew him will never be forgotten."
Schrier served his country by deploying to Lebanon for two years before graduating college and joining his family grocery business, which he helped grow into a massive chain.
His obituary continued: “Stan's competitive spirit extended beyond business. He was an avid racquetball player, winning nearly every tournament he entered. A self-taught poker player, he studied the game through books and went on to achieve an impressive third-place finish at the World Series of Poker.”
Schrier had $979,528 in lifetime earnings dating back to 2000, according to The Hendon Mob.
“Stan was very well respected. A true gentleman,” WSOP bracelet winner and Nebraska native Bob Slezak told PokerNews. “He was a friendly familiar fixture on the Nebraska circuit who also played many events in Las Vegas.”
“Stan's legacy is one of perseverance, success, and love for his family. His impact on those who knew him will never be forgotten,” his obituary concluded.
Schrier was laid to rest at Beth El Cemetery in Omaha. The family has asked that any donations be made to the Nebraska Humane Society.
