William Wachter Is Oldest Player Ever To Cash In A WSOP Main Event

The WSOP Main Event has been running for 46-years during which time the oldest person ever to win the prestigious tournament was the 1974 champion Johnny Moss, aged 66. Back then, however, just 16 players took place in the event, and as its popularity has grown the older players have been left behind as their younger counterparts possess the extra stamina needed to survive the now huge fields, whilst playing up to 10 hour plus of poker each day. Even back-to-back winner of the 1976/77 Main Events, Doyle Brunson, no longer takes part in the competition, and in 2014 tweeted the following message to his fans:
“To everybody who keeps asking.. I’m not playing the Main Event. Hours are just too damn long. #oldpokerplayersneverdietheyjustfadeaway”
Nevertheless, the 2015 WSOP Main Event proved a record breaking year for the golden oldies, with 72-year-old Pierre Neuville becoming the oldest player ever to become a November Niner. However, the Belgian pro was not the only senior citizen making the record books, as 94-year-old William Wachter also became the oldest man ever to cash in a WSOP Main Event.
Not only did the World War II veteran manage to outlast most of the 6,420 player field to finish in 524th place for $19,500, but his performance was all the more impressive considering he suffers from cataplexy, and on occasions had to be woken up whilst playing at the table.
Wachter learned to play poker 74 years ago whilst in the Merchant Marines, and later continued his hobby in between running a string of successful ice cream, then retail stores. Commenting on his attitude towards the game, William Wachter said “I really love it. I couldn’t do without it,” and encouraged by his recent record-breaking performance at the 2015 Main Event, after being eliminated from the competition he tweeted:
“Had a great time at @WSOP, can’t wait to do it again next year!”