Juan Rodriguez wins WSOP Seniors High Roller title for "Beautiful Son"

祕魯Juan Rodriguez won the WSOP $5,000 Senior High Roller event, taking home $673,011 in prize money and his first gold bracelet. He dedicated his victory to his three-and-a-half-year-old son, Max.

Amidst the cheers of enthusiastic family and friends, with a Peruvian flag draped over the back of his chair, Juan Rodriguez rode this momentum to victory in Event #39: Senior High Roller No-Limit Hold'em at the 2026 World Series of Poker in Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

Rodriguez emerged victorious from a field of 844 entries, winning his first WSOP gold bracelet and a champion's prize of $673,011, defeating numerous bracelet winners and experienced tournament veterans along the way.

The seven-player final table began at 1 p.m. on June 15 and concluded in less than six hours. Although Nariman Yaghmai entered heads-up with a slight chip lead, the match progressed rapidly. Rodriguez quickly seized the initiative, turning the tide with an aggressive strategy. Once he took the lead, he never looked back.

Throughout the long day, Rodriguez drew motivation from his family. "I used to play more for fun, to collect rings and wins, but now I play for my beautiful son Max so he can have a future. This thought lingers in my mind all day," he said after his victory.

His wife, Maribeth, was on the sidelines supporting him from start to finish, sharing every twist and turn. "It was really tough," she admitted. "Every time he went all in, I was shaking on the sidelines." Her tension eventually turned into celebration as Rodriguez secured the gold bracelet and the biggest win of his career.

Event #39: $5,000 Senior High Roller No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results

Peru on site

Rodriguez's victory was met with thunderous cheers from a huge group of family and friends, who celebrated wildly after the last card was dealt. Reflecting on the support he received during the tournament, Rodriguez explained why so many people gathered to cheer him on.

“I’ve been playing poker for a long time, and I think it’s important to maintain a good image at the poker table,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve made a lot of friends over the years, first in Indiana, and now in Florida. That’s why I have such a large circle of friends and family today.”

Rodriguez was born in Peru and moved to Indiana at the age of 20 to pursue his tennis career and attend college. He has lived in the United States ever since, but his Peruvian roots have always been an important part of his identity. In fact, on the second day of the tournament, he specifically requested PokerNews to correct the flag displayed on his player profile.

When asked if he would ever return to Peru, Rodriguez's face lit up. "Yes, I love that country," he said. "I miss my family, I miss the music, and I miss the food."

Rodriguez attributes his poker success to the competitive drive he developed on the tennis court and the discipline he applies off the poker table.

Despite the pressure of competing for the WSOP gold bracelet, Rodriguez later explained that he never felt overwhelmed, but instead relied on his experience, competitive instincts, and the unwavering support of his family and friends throughout the event.

Rodriguez describes his playing style as both aggressive and exploitative, constantly adjusting to the tendencies of his opponents.

"I analyze my opponents, figuring out who's trying to climb the rankings and who's fighting for the championship," Rodriguez explained. "Then I use aggressive play to gain chips when the time is right."

This strategy was fully demonstrated during the prize bubble – Rodriguez executed one of the most discussed bluffs of the tournament. Facing Michael Rein, Rodriguez applied maximum pressure by going all-in on the river, forcing his opponent to fold a hand that was actually leading. This hand quickly went viral on social media, sparking a wide debate among poker fans and commentators about whether the fold was the right decision.

While many onlookers quickly offered their opinions, Rodriguez expressed sympathy for his opponent's situation. "It was a tough position, and a very difficult decision. I feel sorry for that person," he said.

This successful bluff not only helped Rodriguez go further in the tournament, but also demonstrated the fearless style that ultimately led him to his first WSOP gold bracelet.

"King, King, King!"

Rodriguez's path to the title accelerated after winning two crucial coin flips in a row. The first was against Arie Kliper, where Rodriguez's AJ beat Kliper's pocket 10, securing the crucial double.

Shortly after, he found himself in the opposite position, with pocket nines against Kenneth Kim's AJ. This time, the pocket pair held, sending Kim out and putting Rodriguez in contention for the chip lead.

As the cards were dealt, Rodriguez's energetic supporters could be heard shouting, "Stay low!" This shout proved to be prescient—Rodriguez avoided danger and became the new chip leader in the tournament.

Rodriguez held the chip lead for most of the final table, consistently putting pressure on short stacks and using his position to accumulate chips. Although he briefly lost the lead later in the day, before heads-up play, he quickly regained control and gradually chipped away at his opponents' chips.

When asked who posed the greatest threat at the final table, Rodriguez answered without hesitation.

“Chad Lipton,” he said. “He plays exceptionally well, he knows everything. Every time he plays a hand, I pray he loses, because he’s incredibly aggressive.”

The match ended dramatically. Facing Yaghmaai in the final hand, Rodriguez needed a King to secure the victory. As the dealer prepared to deal the remaining community cards, his supporters began chanting, "K, K, K!"

Their wish came true—a King appeared on the river, securing the pot and the championship. The entire room erupted in cheers as Rodriguez's supporters celebrated his first WSOP gold bracelet.

Day Four and the Future

Rodriguez is focusing on senior events this summer, as he recently reached the age requirement to compete.

“My goal was to play in the seniors event,” he explained. “In fact, I played in a seniors event at another venue and packed a lot of chips for the next day, but I felt that winning the gold bracelet was more important, so I gave up my chips there and let them run out of blinds.”

This decision ultimately led to the biggest prize of his career and his first WSOP gold bracelet. However, for Rodriguez, the victory meant much more than just money.

"My son is very important to me, and I will use this money to help secure his future," Rodriguez said emotionally.

His son Max is three and a half years old and may not fully understand the meaning of the WSOP gold bracelet, but he will certainly enjoy the celebration.

"He's completely obsessed with Toy Story right now," Rodriguez said with a laugh. "So he'll get a surprise gift."

As for the gold bracelet itself, Rodriguez was still processing the significance of his achievement in the minutes following his victory. "I simply can't believe how beautiful it is," he said. "I almost don't want to touch it."

After years of honing his skills at the poker table, building friendships in the poker world, and striking a balance between competition and family life, Rodriguez finally realized his dream of becoming the World Series of Poker champion.

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