Hossein Ensan wins $10 million in prize money for World Series of Poker victory
Hossein Ensan beat out 8,568 other competitors to win the $10 million first-place prize in the 2019 World Series of Poker's main event on Wednesday morning.
The 55-year-old German poker player held off Dario Sammartino (second place, taking home $6 million) in eight grueling hours of heads-up action — which spanned 100 hands — during the 10th and final day of competition.
On the final hand, Ensan held a pair of kings and Sammartino pushed his chips all in with nothing more than a flush draw and a straight draw. Ensan’s kings ultimately prevailed.
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Ensan is just the third person to win $10 million or more for a grand prize as the bracelet winner at the WSOP's main event. Jamie Gold banked $12 million in 2005 and Martin Jacobsen hauled in $10 million in 2014. The field size was the second biggest in the event's history.
Ensan is also the oldest person to win the WSOP Main Event since 61-year-old Noel Furlong in 1999.
Ensan, who finished Days 8 and 9 as the chip leader, saw his chip stack grow from $34,500,000 to $177 million by the time he got to the final table .
“It’s unbelievable, I cannot understand this moment,” Ensan said on ESPN. “After 10 days, I am excited. I must go to sleep and wake up, and then maybe I'll know I have the bracelet.
"This is a big prize in my career. I’m so happy. I thank my fans at home in Germany, also in Iran (where he was born). And my buddies here.”
No American reached the final three.