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Every Poker Player's Dream: 20-Year Veteran Lionel Barracano Secures First WSOP Bracelet
Twenty-year poker veteran Lionel Barracano secures his first WSOP bracelet and $355,263 in Event #61: $1,000 Super Seniors at the 2026 World Series of Poker.
TL;DR
Lionel Barracano, a 20-year poker veteran, claimed his maiden World Series of Poker bracelet and a prize of $355,263 in Event #61: $1,000 Super Seniors. He overcame a field of 3,323 entries at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Lionel Barracano triumphed in Event #61: $1,000 Super Seniors at the 2026 World Series of Poker, earning $355,263 and his first career bracelet. The event, held at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, attracted 3,323 participants, all aged 60 or older, contributing to a $2,924,240 prize pool. Barracano's victory concluded four days of competition, culminating in a final day where 15 players vied for the title.
Barracano, a French player, expressed the significance of this win, stating it is "every poker player's dream to win a bracelet." He shared this achievement with his friends, noting a special connection to the tournament after finishing 12th in the same event two years prior in 2024. This previous deep run allowed him to adapt to the field, which he described as less aggressive, despite the large number of players common in such tournaments.
Barracano entered Day 4 in the middle of the pack and maintained an average stack through much of the final table. A key turning point occurred when he doubled up with ace-eight against Kevin Song's pocket jacks, hitting an ace on the turn. He then secured another critical double-up against Donald Briggs, who was eliminated shortly after, setting the stage for heads-up play against Song.
Heads-up play began with Song holding a slight chip lead. Barracano quickly gained a significant advantage after his pocket jacks held against Song's ace-trey in a preflop all-in confrontation. Although Song managed a double-up with pocket aces, Barracano maintained a substantial lead. The tournament concluded when Barracano's pocket fives bested Song's pocket fours, with a five appearing on the flop to virtually secure the victory.
Here are the final table results for Event #61: $1,000 Super Seniors:
| Place | Player | Country | Prize | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Lionel Barracano | France | $355,263 | | 2 | Kevin Song | South Korea | $236,712 | | 3 | Donald Briggs | United States | $176,564 | | 4 | Paul McMullin | United States | $132,696 | | 5 | Nancy Birnbaum | United States | $100,488 | | 6 | Alexander Dovzhenko | Ukraine | $76,683 | | 7 | Micheal Dokell | United States | $58,970 | | 8 | Dhesikan Ananchaperumal | United States | $45,703 | | 9 | Glen Clementi | United States | $35,699 |
