Last year, we discussed how the 2013 WSOP Seniors Hold’em tournament was a record-smashing event as it drew 4,407 players. Well, it doesn’t look like the popularity of this tourney has leveled off any because the 2014 WSOP $1k Seniors Hold’em event eclipsed last year’s mark by drawing 4,425 entrants.

People often talk about how poker has become a young man’s game, most notably those who have endless hours to spend grinding in online poker. However, back-to-back giant fields in the WSOP Seniors tournament show that the older generation still has a place in the game too.

Moving on, you might be wondering who the big winner in the record-setting 2014 WSOP Seniors Hold’em event was. That honor belonged to Dan Heimiller, who navigated through the massive field to win his second-career gold bracelet along with $627,462.

Unlike 2013’s winner, Ken Lind, Heimiller is a full-time poker pro who’s been in the game for 20 years. And his previous biggest victory included taking down a 2002 WSOP Seven Card Stud event. But Heimiller’s latest bracelet means so much more to him than the one from 12 years ago.

“Back in 2002, it wasn’t for as much cash, so that makes this one a lot more important,” he said. “It was also a smaller field and wasn’t as prestigious back then. It was a great feeling, but this one feels extra spectacular because it was for such a big prize.”

This victory probably tasted even sweeter since Heimiller outlasted 2008 WSOP ME third-place finisher Dennis Phillips at the final table. He also beat retired firefighter Don Maas heads-up to secure the victory. Heimiller, who’s more of a mixed games player, showed that his Hold’em game isn’t too bad either.

“My No-Limit game game seems to be catching up,” he joked. “Up to a couple of years ago, I used to tell people No-Limit was my worst game. There seemed to be a lot of people who had a great grasp of it, so I was an underdog. But now I guess I’m able to hold my own.”

2014 WSOP $1k Seniors Hold’em Championship Final Table
1st: Dan Heimiller – $627,462
2nd: Don Maas – $388,054
3rd: David W. Smith – $279,412
4th: Anthony Wise- $206,492
5th: Dennis Phillips- $153,883
6th: David Tran – $115,651
7th: Barry Schwartz – $87,615
8th: David Vida – $66,945
9th: Jim Custer – $51,573