Normally when we talk about the youngest player at a World Series of Poker final table it’s in regards to some Internet hotshot who just turned 21, but when the tournament in question is the $1k Seniors Championship the baby-faced player will be a minimum of 50 years-old! And it was 50 year-old James Hess who would use his youthful exuberance to outlast his final table compatriots in the Seniors Championship at the 2011 WSOP.

With 3,752 total entrants this was the largest Seniors Championship in WSOP history, and was actually a stronger turnout than most “Open” $1k tournaments!

Hess began to pull away from the rest of the field as the table began to shrink after a few eliminations, and by the time the table was five-handed Hess was in firm control. He later recounted the atmosphere at the final table, saying, “It was a slow grind, and I think patience was the key… When it got down to about five players or so, that’s when I started getting confidence. I realized that everyone was asking what the money jumps were, and I didn’t care. I said you know what, I want to win.”

1. James Hess – $557,435

2. Dick Harwood – $342,407

3. Craig Koch – $248,971

4. Joseph Bolnick – $182,347

5. Greg Alston – $134,801

6. James Jewell – $100,594

7. Charles Cohen – $75,775

8. Walter Browne – $57,608

9. Leo Whitt – $44,202

Results courtesy of wsop.com

Tags: Atmosphere, Charles Cohen, Compatriots, Craig, Dick, Eliminations, Harwood, Hotshot, James Hess, Koch, Leo, Patience, Seniors, Whitt, world series, World Series of Poker, World Series of Poker Final Table, WSOP, Youngster, Youthful Exuberance

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