Jonathan Tamayo wins WSOP Main Event

Jonathan Tamayo has won the largest World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event evert ever.

Tamayo outlasted a massive 10,112-player field to win the $10 million top prize, his first WSOP bracelet, and the title of world champion. Tamayo previously won four WSOP Circuit rings and placed in the Top 10 in WSOP events four times.

The 38-year-old poker pro from Humble, Texas began the main event with $2.3 million in career tournament cashes. That has been bumped up to $12.3 million following his main event victory. Prior to winning the $10 million prize Tamayo’s largest single cash was $352,832 which he won for finishing 21^st in the 2009 WSOP $10,000 Main Event.

On the final day of the 2024 main event three players remained at the final table including Tamayo, Jordan Griff, and Niklas Astedt. When play began on the final day Astedt was the chip leader with 223 million chips followed by Tamayo with 197 million. Griff was close behind Tamayo with 187 million.

Despite beginning the day with the chip lead Astedt was the first player to hit the rail. In his final hand of the tournament Astedt raised to 8 million on the button and Griff three-bet to 28 million. After a fold by Tamayo, Astedt called. The flop showed 10c-9d-3d. Griff came out betting 28 million. After a call from Astedt the turn was the Jc. Griff moved all-in and after thinking it over for several minutes Astedt called.

Griff turned over pocket nines for a set, while Astedt showed Kc-Jd for a pair of Jacks. To stay alive Astedt needed a Queen or a Jack on the river but instead the Kh landed, and he was eliminated. For second place Astedt cashed $4 million.

When heads-up play began between Griff and Tamayo, Griff has a sizable chip lead with 432.5 million chips to Tamayo’s 174.5 million. That lead did not last long. Only four hands into heads-up play Tamayo, who won all four hands, moved into the lead with 337 million chips.

That was followed by a fierce back and forth that saw the chip lead change hands multiple times. At one point saw Griff took an even larger lead with 471 million chips. That lead quickly dwindled and once Tamayo was back on top Griff would not recover.

In the final hand of the tournament Tamayo started out with a raise to 12.5 million. Griff made the call, and the flop was 9d-8c-3d. After Tamayo bet 10 million Griff raised to 40 million. Tamayo shoved all-in and Griff called with his remaining 230 million. Griff showed 9h-6c for top pair, but he was trailing after Tamayo showed 8d-3s for two pair. The turn was the Ac providing no help to Griff. The river was the 5d which gave Tamayo the hand and the tournament win.

For second place Griff pocketed $6 million.