The 2025 World Series of Poker $1,000 super seniors event drew 3,338 entries, all of whom were at least 60 years old. From this vast field of seasoned contenders, it was 63-year-old Lonny Weitzel who emerged victorious with the $356,494 top prize and his first WSOP gold bracelet.
The Texarkana, Texas resident had a few prior tournament titles to his name, including a WSOP Circuit gold ring earned in a $400 buy-in triumph at Harrah’s Cherokee a few years ago. While he is no stranger to the winner’s circle, this latest victory was on a whole new level for Weitzel. It bested his previous top score by over $316,000.
“It’s an achievement. It’s a personal goal for me,” Weitzel told PokerNews live reporters after closing out the win. “Money is not as important as getting to win and being in the WSOP in a world-class event like this.”
Weitzel is not the only decorated poker player in his family, though. His wife Bonnie also has a WSOPC ring to her name, having won a $300 ladies event in Tunica in 2024.
Strong Turnout Results In Millions In Prize Money
The super seniors event first debuted in 2015. Initially, players had to be at least 65 years of age to enter, a minimum threshold that has since been reduced. The strong turnout of several thousands for this year’s running resulted in a prize pool of $2,937,440, which was split amongst the top 501 finishers.
2004 WSOP main event tenth place finisher Marcel Luske wound up placing in the exact same spot in this event, hitting the rail at the end of day 3 when his pocket queens ran into the pocket kings of Lawrence Whyte. Both players flopped sets and improved to full houses buy the river, but Luske’s queens full was second best. He earned $28,244 for his deep run.
Nine To Five
The fourth and final day saw nine finishers return to Horseshoe Las Vegas to play down to a champion, with Weitzel out in front. Zaher Sayegh lost a classic preflop coinflip to finish ninth. He earned $35,872 after his pocket tens were unable to hold against the A-K of Edwin Huston.
The $1,000 Super Seniors final table is back in action with eight remaining players.
They are batting it out for the first-place prize of $356,494 and the gold bracelet.
Lock in! #WSOP2025 pic.twitter.com/tbYQtPkN83
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 27, 2025
Despite scoring that knockout, Huston was ultimately the next to fall. He ran A-7 suited into the A-Q suited of Damir Stefanic, and despite picking up the nut flush draw on the flop, failed to come from behind. Huston cashed for $45,920 as the eighth-place finisher.
Speaking of flush draws, that’s exactly what Wesley Cameron had when he got the last of his stack in. He was up against the top pair of Weitzel, which held through the turn and river to see the field narrowed to six. Cameron earned $59,243 for his efforts.
Richard Frandsen ran pocket sixes into the pocket queens of Martin Kohler. Things got worse for Frandsen after the flop brought another queen to give Kohler top set. Frandsen was drawing dead after the turn, settling for $77,025 as the sixth-place finisher.
Monsters For Weitzel
Weitzel won the next knockout hand, with K♠K♥ holding against A♣10♦ for Lawrence Whyte. The Q♠Q♥7♣10♣4♠ runout kept the overpair best and Whyte was eliminated in fifth place. Whyte was the first player to cash for six figures in the tournament, with a payout of $100,915.
Like Whyte, Martin Kohler also took his final stand with A-10. Unfortunately for Kohler, he also ran into a big pocket pair held by Weitzel. This time around it was pocket aces, which held through a paired king-high board to see Kohler busted in fourth place ($133,228).
Richard Jutte got all-in with A♠K♣ leading the K♥6♥ of Stefanic, but an A♥8♥2♥ flop gave the Canadian the nut flush and a stranglehold on the hand. The 4♣ turn left Jutte drawing dead, rendering the 10♥ river a mere formality. Jutte scored $177,222 for his podium finish.
A Super Swift Heads-Up Showdown
The final battle for the bracelet began with Stefanic holding 36,775,000 to Weitzel’s 34,475,000.
Heads-up for it all!
Event #64: $1,000 Super Seniors has been narrowed down to the final two players.
Damir Stefanic holds a small chip lead over Lonny Weitzel as they battle for the bracelet and $356,494! #WSOP2025 pic.twitter.com/Axg3wShRLT
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 27, 2025
Weitzel got off to a hot start, seizing the lead and then expanding it in the brief time the two squared off. The final hand arrived quickly, and began with a limp from the button for 300,000 from Weitzel with 8♦8♣. Stefanic raised to 1,200,000 in the big blind with Q♠Q♥ and Weitzel moved all-in. Stefanic quickly called and was a big favorite to double up, but the 9♠8♠6♥ flop soon turned the tables. The K♣ turn left Stefanic in need of one of the two remaining queens on the river. The A♣ rolled off instead and Stefanic’s run ended in second place ($237,521). This was the Wallaceburg, Ontario resident’s largest tournament score yet by far.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout |
| 1 | Lonny Weitzel | $356,494 |
| 2 | Damir Stefanic | $237,521 |
| 3 | Richard Jutte | $177,222 |
| 4 | Martin Kohler | $133,228 |
| 5 | Lawrence Whyte | $100,915 |
| 6 | Richard Frandsen | $77,025 |
| 7 | Wesley Cameron | $59,243 |
| 8 | Edwin Huston | $45,920 |
| 9 | Zaher Sayegh | $35,872 |
Photo credit: WSOP / Rachel Kay Winter.
