As the 2012 Main Event finale brings to a close another thrilling World Series Of Poker in Las Vegas, here are some key facts and results from the prestigious $10,000 No-Limit Main Event.
The Main Event first got started in 1971, and now US pro Greg Merson completes 35 wins from 42 Main Events for the USA. However, since 1990 when the first non-US player won the title, USA has won 15 from 22 titles.
The 43rd WSOP awarded Greg Merson the 5th largest Main Event prize of $8,531,853. The biggest prize money ever awarded was $12 million in 2006 for Jamie Gold, followed by the 2008 Winner Peter Eastgate ($9,152,416), 2010 winner Jonathan Duhamel ($8,944,138) and last year’s winner Pius Heinz for $8,715,638.
At around 19.5 hours of play, this year’s Main Event was the longest in WSOP history beating the previous record set in 2009 by Joe Cada of 17 hours and 16 minutes.
Out of the 6,598 starting field those finishing from 666 to 595 received the minimum pay-out of $19,227. However, four players exited simultaneously in 666th place to receive $4,806 apiece.
Some of the notable names cashing high up at this year’s Main Event included 2011 finalist Sam Holden in 55th ($128,384), David ODB Baker in 56th ($128,384), Vanessa Selbst in 73rd ($88,070), Marcel Luske in 102nd ($52,718), 2010 finalist Joseph Cheong in 116th ($52,718), Sorel Mizzi in 151st ($52,718), and Daniel Negreanu in 160th ($52,718).
The 2012 WSOP Main Event proved a break-out year for the ladies, who threatened to reach a final table for the first time since Barbera Enright in 1995. Unfortunately, they fell just short with Norway’s Elisabeth Hille finishing in 11th ($590,442) and France’s Gaelle Baumann in 10th ($590,442).
Finally, here are the final 50 finishing positions at the WSOP 2012 Main Event:
1 Greg Merson 8,531,853
2 Jesse Sylvia 5,295,149
3 Jake Balsiger 3,799,073
4 Russell Thomas 2,851,537
5 Jeremy Ausmus 2,155,313
6 Andras Koroknai 1,640,902
7 Michael Esposito 1,258,040
8 Robert Salaburu 971,360
9 Steve Gee 754,798
10 Gaelle Baumann 590,442
11 Elisabeth Hille 590,442
12 Scott Abrams 590,442
13 Marc Ladouceur 465,159
14 Danny Wong 465,159
15 Wilfried Harig 465,159
16 Percy Mahatan 369,026
17 Robert Buckenmayer 369,026
18 David Balkin 369,026
19 Jamie Robbins 294,601
20 Paul Volpe 294,601
21 Robert Corcione 294,601
22 Cylus Watson 294,601
23 Yuval Bronshtein 294,601
24 Daniel Strelitz 294,601
25 Roland Israelashvili 294,601
26 Jan Heitmann 294,601
27 Nicco Maag 294,601
28 Erik Hellman 236,921
29 Jordan Batt 236,921
30 Niels van Alphen 236,921
31 Shahriar Assareh 236,921
32 Tomas Samol 236,921
33 Taylor Paur 236,921
34 Charles Coultas 236,921
35 Marty Zabib 236,921
36 Jonathan Schoder 236,921
37 Omar Saeed 191,646
38 Kyle Keranen 191,646
39 Amnon Filippi 191,646
40 Lasell King 191,646
41 Webber Kang 191,646
42 Paul Siem 191,646
43 Jordi Martinezalonso 191,646
44 Gwennael Grandmougin 191,646
45 Fabrizio Gonzalez 191,646
46 Tristan Clemencon 156,293
47 Amit Makhija 156,293
48 Jean Malherbe 156,293
49 Amit Zulkowitz 156,293
50 Leo Wolpert Onnit 156,293
Well done to Merson… a deserved winner!!