Wild $102m pot decides World Series of Poker final table0:48
The World Series of Poker often throws up wild hands, but nothing compared to the crazy scenes that left commentators speechless. CREDIT: PokerNews
John Cynn poses for photographers after winning the World Series of Poker main event, Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)Source:AP
THE 2018 World Series of Poker champion is an Indiana resident and professional player who barely missed the cut for the final table two years ago.
John Cynn won the series’ marquee no-limit Texas hold ‘em main event Monday in Las Vegas, surrounded by a cheering crowd that included his dad.
He eliminated Tony Miles on the 442nd hand of the final table, after playing 199 hands just against each other with bricks of $100 bills and a gold bracelet at the table.
Cynn, 33, became $11.8 million richer after playing against Miles for more than 10 hours. He was visibly shocked, grabbed his head and momentarily crouched as the crowd roared after his win.
“Right now, I do feel pretty overwhelmed,” he said.
“The money is very significant, but I do like to think that I don’t need the money to be happy, but at the same time, practically, it’s going to make things a lot easier, things I want to do in life.”
He told reporters early Sunday that the money will be “life-changing” but does not have immediate plans to spend it.
Miles, a resident of Lake Mary, Florida, took home $6.7 million. He hugged many of his supporters after his defeat and shed some tears off stage.
Cynn’s final king of clubs and jack of clubs was stronger than Miles’, who went all in with queen of clubs and eight of hearts.
The community cards were king of hearts, king of diamonds, five of hearts, eight of diamonds and four of spades.
After outlasing a field of 7,874 players and 10+ hours of heads up play, John Cynn is your 2018 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion. pic.twitter.com/V8DkKoiLWu
— Poker Central (@PokerCentral) July 15, 2018
Earlier in the night, Miles bluffed Cynn off the better hand when he shoved 95.3 million chips, going all-in.
Cynn took about three minutes before folding. The broadcast showed Cynn had two pair — including a pair of threes on the board. Miles essentially had nothing, yet he reached 154.9 million chips after taking the pot.
Unfortunately he tried the tactic one too many times and it came back to bite him and he walked away without the WSOP bracelet.
Each of the nine players who made it to the final table was guaranteed at least $1.3 million. They represented the U.S., Australia, France and Ukraine.
The famed tournament this year drew more than 7,800 players who either risked $13,000 or earned a seat through satellite competitions with lower buy-ins.
The series as a whole has attracted a record 123,838 entrants this year, surpassing last year’s record of 120,995 with one event still left.
Cynn, a native of Evanston, Illinois, now residing in Indianapolis, had previously cashed at various series tournaments and barely missed the main event’s final table two years ago, when he finished in 11th place and won $874,000.
After over ten hours of heads-up play, John Cynn is the 2018 WSOP Main Event Champion!
— WSOP (@WSOP) July 15, 2018
Cynn earns $8,800,000 and the coveted Main Event bracelet, Tony Miles pockets $5,000,000.
The full recap posted shortly.
(photo credit @jtPHOTOjunkie) pic.twitter.com/UT0gVkPzj7
This year, he started play on the last night of the final table as the player with the second-most chips with 128.7 million.
“Different. Feels very different,” Cynn said, when asked about his 2016 and 2018 main event results.
“I mean, really, neither is supposed to happen. To make 11th is insane on its own, and then to win, that’s literally something that you like dream of but you just never expect to happen. Last time, when I got knocked out in 11th, I was really happy.”
His opponent was dejected after the loss, but was looking forward to being able to travel with his winnings.
“After the disappointment of losing, which there is some — I’m going to be honest — subsides, I’m sure I’ll be very happy that I’ll be able to help my family and do some travelling and some stuff that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time,” Miles told PokerNews.com after the tournament ended.
“It truly is a blessing to be here.”
John Cynn, left, and Tony Miles compete during the World Series of Poker final table.Source:AP
Miles and Cynn had dozens of supporters cheering them on in the ballroom hosting the event at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino near the Las Vegas Strip.
The supporters sported T-shirts that read #TEAMMILES, Welcome to Cynn City and The Cynnaloa Cartel, playing with the name of the drug-trafficking organisation Sinaloa Cartel.