The 2024 World Series of Poker introduced a new high-buy-in event for senior players, the $5,000 Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold’em, which proved to be a massive success. Event #65 attracted 680 entries, generating a substantial prize pool of $3,128,000. After three days of intense play, it was Mark Checkwicz who emerged victorious, claiming the top prize of $573,876 and, most importantly, his first-ever WSOP bracelet.
In the heads-up match, Checkwicz faced the more experienced Arie Kliper, who took home $382,581 for his runner-up finish. Despite being primarily a local tournament player from Springfield, MA, Checkwicz maintained his cool on poker’s biggest stage.
“I’m telling you, I have a beautiful family. I truly do to the core,” Checkwicz explained to WSOP. “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.”
The final table was packed with seasoned poker players, including WSOP bracelet winner Kevin Nathan, Team Winamax Pro Bruno “Kool Shen” Lopes, and the 2022 Breakout Player of the Year Angela Jordison.
Event #65: $5,000 Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 |  Mark Checkwicz | United States | $573,876 |
| 2 |  Arie Kliper | Israel | $382,581 |
| 3 | Michael Vela | United States | $266,257 |
| 4 | Kevin Nathan | United States | $188,385 |
| 5 | Samuel Wagner | United States | $135,543 |
| 6 |  Bruno Lopes | France | $99,203 |
| 7 | John Thornton | United States | $73,877 |
| 8 | Richard Lowe | United States | $55,998 |
| 9 | Angela Jordison | United States | $43,216 |
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Event #65: $5,000 Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Recap
Kevin Nathan led the pack with 91 big blinds on the last day of Event #65: $5,000 Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold’em, seeking his second career bracelet, 18 years after winning his first in the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event at the 2006 WSOP, where he defeated JC Tran in heads-up. Bruno Lopes closely followed with 72 big blinds, while the rest of the players had 53 big blinds or less.
The final table formed after Judith Bielan, who put all her chips on ace-nine suited, was dominated by Lopes’ ace-jack. Bielan received no help from the dealer and was eliminated as the final table bubble girl.
Angela Jordison was unexpectedly the next to go after flopping top two pair with ace-queen on a 4♣Q♥A♠ board. She bet on the flop and turn 2♥, with Checkwicz coming along both streets. On the river K♦, she pushed all-in, only for Checkwicz to snap-call, showing jack-ten for a rivered straight, knocking Jordison out in ninth.
Richard Lowe was eliminated next by Kevin Nathan, whose ace-king suited dominated Lowe’s ace-ten. John Thornton was also dominated as he pushed with pocket sixes from the small blind, only to see Michael Vela wake up with pocket nines on the big blind, knocking him out in seventh place.
French hip-hop star and poker pro Bruno “Kool Shen” Lopes had to bow out in sixth place. The flop of A♥4♣6♥ seemed good for his ace-eight, as he check-called a bet from Nathan. The turn brought a safe 3♦, and Nathan put Lopes all-in, who called only to see he was behind ace-queen, with the river missing him.
Checkwicz and Nathan started pulling away from the field, battling each other in several hands, including when Samuel Wagner was knocked out in fifth. Checkwicz opened, Nathan called on the button, and Wagner pushed all-in from the big blind. Checkwicz went over the top, and Nathan folded A♠Q♠. Wagner showed A♦Q♣, but Checkwicz had him dominated with A♣K♠. The board offered no help, sending Wagner to the payout table with $135,543.
Half an hour later, Kevin Nathan faced a major bad beat. He five-bet jammed with pocket kings, and Arie Kliper called with pocket queens. The flop brought a queen, ending Nathan’s dreams of a second WSOP bracelet. Checkwicz then opened with king-jack, and Vela called with queen-jack. Checkwicz moved all-in on a K♠10♥8♥ board, and Vela called with a straight draw. The turn and river were blanks, sending Vela home with $266,257.
Mark “Cookie Monster” Checkwicz began heads-up with a slight lead and maintained the initiative, slowly chipping away at Kliper’s stack. In the final hand, Checkwicz opened, and Kliper called. On the 6♥9♣7♣ flop, Checkwicz bet and three-bet, with Kliper calling. On the 2♠ turn, Kliper moved all-in, and Checkwicz called. Kliper showed 6♣5♣ for a pair and a straight-flush draw, while Checkwicz had flopped the nut straight with 10♥8♥. The river brought an 8♠, giving Kliper an inferior straight, and Checkwicz claimed the inaugural $5,000 Seniors High Roller WSOP championship.
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* Images and hands courtesy of WSOP and PokerNews.
