Hit for millions! The Five Biggest World Series of Poker Wins
The World Series of Poker began as early as 1970. Over time, they have established themselves among the most prestigious tournaments. In addition, they are among the most profitable. Each year, the winner of the SPS Main Event gets a few million to celebrate beating the best possible opponents at the table. The competition is huge. However, a number of professionals have become seriously rich after strong participation in the World Series of Poker. And these are the 5 biggest winners in the history of the tournament.
5. Jonathan Duhamel (2010) – $8,944,310 million
In 2010, 7,319 players entered the Las Vegas World Series of Poker Main Event. Until 2018, only one edition had more participants, and the total prize fund was 69 million. The winner was allocated approximately 9 million, and the Canadian Jonathan Duhamel beat them all. The then 22-year-old player's lucky final hand turned out to be an ace and a jack. With it, he removed the last opponent - John Reasoner.
4. Peter Eastgate (2008) – $9,152,416 million
In 2008, the main event of the SPS underwent a major change. The tournament is played, but only until the number of players for the final table is reached. A break follows to complete the race in Rio between the best 9. This brings good fortune to Dane Peter Eastgate, who becomes richer by more than 9 million dollars. At that time, he also broke the record for the youngest winner of the tournament. The very next year, Joe Kada improved it.
2. Hussein Ensan (2019) – $10 million
That's right, no mistake! There is no third place in our ranking, but tied for second. First on the list we put the German Hussein Ensan, who reaches the top of the Main Event with the second largest prize pool in history - just over 80 million dollars. A full 10 remains for the Iranian-born pro, who beats 8,568 other players in Las Vegas. The last of his victims turns out to be the Italian Dario Sammartino, who falls into the trap of the two popes in Ensan's hand.
2. Martin Jacobson (2014) – $10 million
A new Scandinavian in our ranking, but this time from Sweden. Jakobsson's winnings equaled Hussein Ensan's 5 years later. The concept in poker is that the more players enter a tournament, the more will win the first one. In 2014, at the World Series of Poker, the idea is different. The winner is guaranteed exactly 10 million dollars even before it is known how much the prize fund will be. It swells to just over $62 million. Jakobsson collected 10 of them, which is twice as much as the prize for the runner-up, Felix Stevensen. The biggest difference in Main Event history, leading to many scandals and the cancellation of the new idea.
1. Jamie Gold (2006) – $12 million
Gold win for Jamie Gold and first place in the history of the World Series of Poker Main Event. And that was in the distant 2006. The then tournament logically also holds the record for the largest prize fund in the history of the organization - 82.5 million dollars. A total of 8,773 players entered the race, again a record. Jamie Gold won almost 5 million dollars more than Joe Hachem, who triumphed a year earlier. The Californian finished things off with a hand of queens and a 9 to go down in poker history.