2025 World Series of Poker

Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller
Day: 1
Event Info
2025 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a3
Prize
$646,845
Event Info
Buy-in
$5,000
Prize Pool
$3,684,600
Entries
801
Level Info
Level
35
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000
Players Info - Day 1
Entries
750
Players Left
274
Players Left 1 / 801
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Big Names From Hall of Fame Headline Experienced Field in Day 2

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Billy Baxter
Billy Baxter

After playing out ten levels, each an hour in duration, 272 players have bagged up for Day 2 of Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller here at the Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas.

One player who’s been solidly creeping up the chip counts is Stephen Bierman, who currently finds himself fourth in chips with 385,000. He topped off a very solid Day 1 performance by flopping the nut flush and getting paid during the very last level.

Stephen Bierman
Stephen Bierman

There were a total of 748 entries today, generating a $3,535,280 prize pool; however these numbers will grow as late registration remains open for the first couple of levels in Day 2. Paul Snead will be taking the most chips into the second day of competition, as he starts Level 11 with an incredible 507,000. Patrick White just missed out on the Day 1 chip lead, but has still bagged up a very respectable 479,000. Completing the all American podium is Gary Gelman with 406,500.

Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts

RankPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Paul SneadUnited States507,000203
2Patrick WhiteUnited States479,000192
3Gary GelmanUnited States406,500163
4Stephen BiermanUnited States385,000154
5Leonardo FernandezSpain381,500153
6Chuanshu ChenChina335,000134
7Fraser MacintyreUnited Kingdom331,000132
8Samad RashidUnited States325,000130
9Vadim ShlezUkraine319,500128
10Joseph DipascaleUnited States306,000122

Snead has enjoyed the series so far. He cashed in both Event #3: $5,000 8-handed No-Limit Hold’em, and Event #11: $10,000 Mystery Bounty, placing in 32nd and 41st, respectively. That being said, he’ll be looking to put his enormous stack to good use and run even deeper in this one as he searches for his first bracelet win.

Paul Snead
Paul Snead

There were Hall of Famers aplenty on the felt today, with Erik Seidel (69,500), Billy Baxter (205,000), and John Juanda (133,000) proceeding to the second day of competition. Johnny Chan, Todd Brunson, and John Hennigan weren’t so lucky, but they may well make another appearance before late registration closes tomorrow.

John Juanda
John Juanda

Other notables that bagged include Victoria Livschitz (151,000), Angela Jordison (228,000), and Mike Matusow (234,000), the latter two making it through on their second bullets.

Day 2 of this event begins at 12 p.m. local time, and the competitors will play out another ten levels before bagging up for the tournament’s final day. Play will start with blinds at 1,000/2,500 with a big blind ante of 2,500.

Further entries and reentries will be allowed up until the end of Level 12, meaning players will have to be at the table before 2:15 p.m. should they want a chance at taking home a coveted WSOP bracelet.

That rounds out coverage of Day 1. Stay tuned as PokerNews brings you further live action and all the happenings during the rest of this event.

Tags: Angela JordisonBilly BaxterChuanshu ChenErik SeidelFraser MacintyreGary GelmanJohn HenniganJohn JuandaJohnny ChanJoseph DipascaleJosh AriehLeonardo FernandezMike MatusowPatrick WhitePaul SneadSamad RashidStephen BiermanTodd BrunsonVadim ShlezVictoria Livschitz

Matusow Takes out Reichard

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Mike Matusow
Mike Matusow

Champie Douglas raised from the button to 3,000. Mike Matusow three-bet from the small blind to 10,000. Brett Reichard four-bet all in from the big blind for 32,300. Douglas made the fold, and Matusow made the call.

Matusow queried, "Ace-king?"

Brett Reichard: AK All in
Mike Matusow: JJ

The board ran well for Matusow with 99298, and two pair was the winner.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Champie Douglas us
Champie Douglas
295,000
83,000
83,000
Profile photo of Mike Matusow us
Mike Matusow
68,200
68,164
68,164
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 4X Winner
Profile photo of Brett Reichard us
Brett Reichard
Busted

Tags: Brett ReichardChampie DouglasMike Matusow

Heimiller Doubles Up With Ochos

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Daniel Heimiller
Daniel Heimiller

Daniel Heimiller is off to a great start at the 2025 World Series of Poker, having won his third bracelet in Event #6: $1,500 Seven Card Stud. He hopes to capitalize on that momentum in Event #40 and was involved in a notable hand.

Michael Graffeo raised to 2,200 from the cutoff. Daniel Heimiller then three-bet to 6,200 from the small blind. Michael Graffeo responded by going all in, having Daniel Heimiller covered. Daniel Heimiller called for 29,300 and was ahead.

Daniel Heimiller: 88 All in
Michael Graffeo: 33

The dealer ran out a board 5910QQ, securing a much-needed double-up for Heimiller.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Daniel Heimiller us
Daniel Heimiller
61,000
38,000
38,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Michael Graffeo us
Michael Graffeo
7,500
7,500
7,500

Tags: Daniel HeimillerMichael Graffeo

Baxter Flushes Alekseev Away

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
Billy Baxter
Billy Baxter

On a flop of Q69, Matt Glantz bet 8,000 into the middle as first to act, and Billy Baxter made the call. Igor Alekseev then ripped in his 31,800 stack. Glantz got out of the way, but Baxter's decision wasn't so easy. He asked for a count, and then placed in his chips to indicate a call.

Igor Alekseev: 99 All in
Billy Baxter: A5

Play was paused for a moment, as the dealer waited for Alekseev to get his phone onto the camera app, as he wanted to record the runout. Once everyone was ready, the dealer put out the A on the turn. Although Baxter's hand improved, he was still only drawing to a diamond, and it came as the 10 eliminated Alekseev from the competition.

"No wonder you have so many bracelets," joked Alekseev, "you hit every single hand!" Baxter laughed, and replied, "the bracelets were a long time ago."

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Billy Baxter us
Billy Baxter
241,000
178,000
178,000
WSOP 7X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
Profile photo of Matt Glantz us
Matt Glantz
42,000
8,000
8,000
Team Lucky
Profile photo of Igor Alekseev ru
Igor Alekseev
Busted

Tags: Billy BaxterIgor AlekseevMatt Glantz

Livschitz Scores a Big Pot

Level 6 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
Victoria Livschitz
Victoria Livschitz

Action was picked up on the river where Victoria Livschitz was in early position and was all in for 43,900, and David Forbes had called the all-in from the hijack with the superior chip stack.

Victoria Livschitz: AA All in
David Forbes: QQ

The board was 86834, and aces were a ticket to a massive chip boost for Livschitz.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Victoria Livschitz us
Victoria Livschitz
91,000
50,000
50,000
Profile photo of David Forbes us
David Forbes
15,500

Tags: David ForbesVictoria Livschitz

Baxter Wins a Small Pot and Lang Wins a Big Pot

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante
Billy Baxter
Billy Baxter

Hand 1:
The action was picked up on the river with a board of 53QJJ, and Michael Lang was all in for his last 11,000 in the big blind, and David Lewis called from the small blind.

Lewis stated, "I have a queen".

Lang stated, "A queen what?"

Michael Lang: Q9 All in
David Lewis: Q7

Lang's kicker would play, and he scooped up a nice pot.

Hand 2:

Billy Baxter raised from the cutoff to 2,200, and Igor Alekseev called from the big blind. The flop came out with 99A, and Alekseev checked to Baxter, who continued with a bet of 2,500. Alekseev pondered a moment and folded.

Baxter jokingly stated, "I had to raise to get the other players out who might have a nine. I had Ace-jack".

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Billy Baxter us
Billy Baxter
63,000
63,000
63,000
WSOP 7X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
Profile photo of Igor Alekseev ru
Igor Alekseev
61,500
61,500
61,500
Profile photo of David Lewis us
David Lewis
43,000
43,000
43,000
Profile photo of Michael Lang us
Michael Lang
32,000
32,000
32,000

Tags: Billy BaxterDavid LewisIgor AlekseevMichael Lang

Preflop Controversy Pays Off

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante
John Morano
John Morano

John Morano opened the action to 1,000 from middle position, and received one caller before Keith Block threw in a three-bet to 5,600. Morano then placed in a small four-bet to 11,000, the original caller folded, and Block went for a five-bet to 28,000.

As the table waited to find out Morano's next action, he was ready to see a flop, and was extremely surprised when action was back on him, questioning how Block could have possibly raised, after his three-bet had been flatted. However, Morano had placed five 1,000 denomination chips into the middle, rather than the 100 chips that he was supposed to use.

The floor was called over, had the action recounted to them, and ruled that Morano had indeed three-bet, not called, despite Morano's pleas that he "didn't have a raising hand. Despite all this, and some more table talk, he picked up 17,000 more chips and played with them in his hand for a while, and called.

The two finally went off to a flop of 3JK and Block fired a continuation-bet of 15,000. Morano took no time in shoving for around 20,000 more, and Block sigh-called. "Top two", announced Morano gleefully.

John Morano: KJ All in
Keith Block: AA

The 29 board came out clean for Morano, as he doubled up in the most bizarre fashion, and Block was left with peanuts after having his aces cracked.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of John Morano us
John Morano
135,000
88,500
88,500
Profile photo of Keith Block us
Keith Block
8,500
8,500
8,500

Tags: John MoranoKeith Block

Liebert Sees Miracle River

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante
Kathy Liebert
Kathy Liebert

Action was picked up on the river, and there were two players still with hole cards in front of them as the board read 3J54Q. Larry Wright bet for 12,000 into the pot of 27,800, putting his opponent Kathy Liebert into the tank. After a bit of thinking, she ripped her stack in.

Wright asked for a count, which amounted to 38,000, and it was now his turn to start tanking. Eventually, he put in the chips, and was shown the bad news as Liebert tabled QQ. "Good river" announced Wright, as he showed that his flopped set with 33 had been pipped at the river.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kathy Liebert us
Kathy Liebert
103,800
51,300
51,300
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Larry Wright us
Larry Wright
79,000
42,000
42,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Kathy LiebertLarry Wright

Second Edition of $5,000 Seniors High Roller Kicks Off at Noon

Mark Checkwicz
Mark Checkwicz

Welcome back to PokerNews, the official media partner of the 2025 World Series of Poker and home of live updates from all bracelet events.

Today will see the kick-off of Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold'em here at Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas, which gets underway at 12 p.m. local time with starting stacks of 50,000 and blinds of 100/200/200. Levels are 60-minutes long for the entire tournament.

Day 1 will consist of 10 levels, with 20-minute breaks every two levels and a 60-minute dinner break after Level 6, scheduled for approximately 6:40 p.m. Day 2 will begin at noon on Friday and play another 10 levels. Late registration remains open until the start of Level 13 on Day 2, about 2:15 p.m. Day 3 will play down to a winner.

This was a new event for the 2024 WSOP and returns once more. Last summer, Mark Checkwicz bested the 680-entry field for his maiden bracelet, after he defeated Arie Kliper in heads-up play. Alongside the piece of WSOP hardware, Checkwicz picked up the $573,876 first-place prize from the $3,128,000 prize pool.

“Listen, I'm gonna tell you exactly what it means. I promised my wife, she's a school teacher, she's been a school teacher for twenty-four and a half years, she's got nine more years to work. I promised her if I won this tournament, I would buy her a year more of retirement. She now has eight years more to work. It's awesome!”

But with his previous biggest cash coming ten years ago for $25,986, how did Checkwicz keep so cool under the bright lights?

“I'm telling you, I have a beautiful family. I truly do, to the core. These people love me, and I love them back, and I can't find a reason to be unhappy when I'm playing the game. It’s just so perfect. Poker is just so beautiful, and really, there has to be a winner and a loser, and I appreciate both sides of the equation. That's what makes it work.”

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Stay tuned to PokerNews for updates on this and all bracelet events at the 2025 WSOP!

Tags: Arie KliperMark Checkwicz