Reactions From the 2016 WSOP Main Event Final Table

A total of 6,737 players entered the 2016 WSOP Main Event to create a prize pool worth more than $63 million. After taking a break for almost four months, the November Nine returned to the Rio in Las Vegas on Sunday to resume their quest for WSOP glory, and following three days of action Qui Nguyen eventually managed to overcome his competitors to claim the biggest title in poker tournament history, as well as its $8 million prize.
Final Table Results
1: Qui Nguyen $8,005,310
2: Gordon Vayo $4,661,228
3: Cliff Josephy $3,453,035
4: Michael Ruane $2,567,003
5: Vojtech Ruzicka $1,935,288
6: Kenny Hallaert $1,464,258
7: Griffin Benger $1,250,190
8: Jerry Wong $1,100,076
9: Fernando Garcia $1,000,000
Final Three
Here are some of the reactions coming from the pros following the 39 year-old professional gambler’s victory, starting with the final three players:
Qui Nguyen (Champion)
“With millions of dollars [on the line], I didn’t think a lot about winning and losing. I was just thinking in my mind ‘don’t make a misstep at all’. In a tournament, you can’t make a misstep — if you make a misstep, you’re done.”
Gordon Vayo (2nd)
“It’s hard to pinpoint his strategy. He just kind of plays every hand uniquely; he doesn’t necessarily have a constructed strategy. Not that that’s a negative, but most people aren’t able to adapt to every hand and make so many correct assumptions and correct plays over and over again and he was able to do that.”
Cliff Josephy (3rd)
“They gave me a good sweat there. I was happy to get cards — I was card-dead for two days, and I wasn’t happy about that. I played the best that I could, finally picked up some hands early, got excited, and then they just beat me right down.”
The Twitterverse
Phil Hellmuth
“Craziest @WSOP #NovemberNine action EVER! Every hand intricate, exciting, fun! @ESPN.. Vayo’s big weakness is showing: he seldom makes big call! Too many times folded best hand!”
Doug Polk
“I’m a fan of the way Vayo is playing in general with a more protective style. Checking has more ev then vs most players. #WSOP #WSOP2016
Vanessa Selbst
“Just loving this @WSOP final table. Every hand is huge drama, completely gripping. Props to fast play and MVP Qui Nyugen.”
Chris Moorman
“Best Main event final table to watch ever.Thanks Qui for being unpredictable and the dealers for some absurd flops and board run outs #WSOP”