Texas pro outlasts record field to win WSOP Main Event

Jonathan Tamayo thought his chance at glory in the World Series of Poker Main Event came and went 15 years ago after he finished in 21st place.

Tamayo took advantage when given another opportunity this year.

The professional poker player from Humble, Texas, topped a record field to win the $10,000 buy-in No-limit Hold’em World Championship on Wednesday at Horseshoe Las Vegas. Tamayo, 38, defeated Jordan Griff after more than three hours of heads-up play to collect the $10 million first prize.

“There’s only so many Main Events you can run in a lifetime. So if you get one deep run, chances are that’s the one deep run,” Tamayo said. “And somehow I can’t believe I was able to get two, a second chance, and actually close it.”

Tamayo is a longtime tournament grinder who entered the Main Event with four WSOP Circuit event victories and more than $2.3 million in lifetime tournament earnings, according to the Hendon Mob Poker Database. He is roommates with 2015 winner Joe McKeehen and jokes in his X profile that he is the “Defensive Coordinator of the 2015 Main Event Champion.”

Tamayo has his own gold bracelet now after outlasting a field of 10,112 entrants, which broke the record of 10,043 set last year.

“Standing here does not feel like real life,” Tamayo said. “One of my good friends also won the Main, so now we have a circle of friends that has two Main Event winners, which you would never, ever, ever think would ever happen.

“It’s going to be kind of fun that we can both make fun of all of our friends at the same time.”

Tamayo made a polarizing play Sunday on Day 8 with 10 players left when he folded pocket queens preflop on the final-table bubble. The move drew widespread criticism and praise on social media. His patience paid off as he went from seventh in chips when the final table started to second place when action was halted Tuesday night.

Tamayo started with a 2½-to-1 chip disadvantage against Griff, but they traded the chip lead on multiple occasions. Both players survived two all-in scenarios with their tournament life at stake.

Tamayo finally seized control when he picked off a bluff by Griff and finished off the match on the 65th hand of heads-up play. With the board showing nine-eight-three, Tamayo moved all-in after he was re-raised. Griff made the call with top pair.

Tamayo rolled over eight-three for two-pair and dodged the final two cards before he celebrated with his rail, which included McKeehen and four-time WSOP winner Dominik Nitsche. Tamayo’s parents, who were already in town for a business trip, were also there.

Griff, 30, is a data and analytics supply chain manager residing in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was one card from elimination on Day 8 but went on to earn $6 million for second place. The recreational poker player had $47,192 in live tournament earnings prior to this run, according to the Hendon Mob Poker Database.

“Every hand it felt like we were playing for our lives,” Griff said. “I knew he was the more studied player, so I tried to go the higher-variance route, tried to get us all-in in some high-variance spots. I think I accomplished what I wanted to. I got him on the ropes. … That’s kind of how poker goes.”

Sweden’s Niklas Astedt, who entered three-handed play with the chip lead and was considered the favorite, bowed out in third place for $4 million. The online poker phenom was eliminated in a massive confrontation with Griff after nine hands.

Astedt called off his tournament life with top pair and a straight draw against the set of nines held by Griff.

“He’s a bit of a wild one, so sometimes you have to guess.” Astedt told PokerNews after being eliminated. “This time I was wrong.”

Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on X.