Jonathan Dimmig Wins $1.3m And WSOP Bracelet In Vegas

Jonathan Dimmig has just triumphed in the second-biggest live poker tournament of all-time, after overcoming a field of 7,976 players over four days to take down the $1,500 WSOP “Millionaire Maker” title, and collect the huge $1,319,587 first place prize.
Interestingly, the 31-year-old MBA-degree holder left the financial industry after almost ten years of service in order to pursue a career in poker. Dimmig’s decision came after discovering he could make as much money playing his favourite card game as his previous job, but one assumes it relates to cash games as previous to his remarkable victory this week Dimmig had earned roughly $35,000 since 2011.
“One of the toughest decisions I ever made in my life. I said, ‘you’ve got to chase your dreams..I’ve been out here for a year and a half, and have had some really minor success I guess you could call it. I was really just hoping for a decent tourney cash.”
One can only imagine what Dimmig might have shelled out on tournament buy-ins over the years, too, as he said he played in nine WSOP bracelet events prior to winning the Millionaire Maker, including competing at the $10k Main Event over the last three years. Nevertheless, it appears Dimmig’s patience has finally paid dividends as not only has he now received all his good fortune in one hit, but has also immortalized himself in tournament poker’s history books.
On his way to victory, Jonathan Dimmig had to negotiate a 12-hour session on Day 3 before returning for an unscheduled fourth day on account of the greater than expected tournament turnout. Dimmig subsequently used his aggressive approach to full effect at the final table, and as he explains:
“I never sit back and wait. I noticed a couple other guys at the final table, and even before that, who were just trying to get up the money ladder. I just don’t think like that. This is a life-changing event. I don’t want to look back in 30 years and say, ‘what if?’”
Jonathan Dimmig then proceeded to make it all the way to heads-up, albeit at an almost 2-1 chip disadvantage over Jeffrey Coburn. Nonetheless, Dimmig soon made up the deficit before the defining hand was played with his 6-2 flopping a pair of deuces to consign Jeffrey Coburn (K-Q) to a runner-up finish worth $815,963. Reveling in the moment, Dimmig subsequently drew attention to the plight of his favorite hockey team, the Buffalo Sabres, stating:
“I’ve played hockey my whole life, huge Buffalo Sabres fan and the Sabres have never had a championship. The Bills have never had a championship. We’ve always finished in second place it seems like, so I’m proud to bring a little piece of championship-ness to the city.”
Final Table Payouts:
1 Jonathan Dimmig $1,319,587
2 Jeffrey Coburn  $815,963
3 James Duke       $614,368
4 Andrew Teng       $465,972
5 Brad Anderson   $355,913
6 Stephen Graner  $273,854
7 Jason Johnson   $211,394
8 Andrew Dick       $164,118
9 Maurice Hawkins $128,150