Say hello to the newest champion. American Jonathan Tamayo outlasted 10,112 runners and navigated a tough final table to win the 2024 WSOP Main Event. Tamayo snagged his first bracelet and $10 million in cash. American Jordan Griff was the runner up and he banked $6 million for second place. Swedish pro Niklas Astedt was knocked out in third place, which paid out $4 million.
What a long strange trip it's been. The World Series of Poker Main Event is the most prestigious tournament in a world for a reason. And the newest champion becomes the next big name in poker whether they wanted it or not. Once you step into the winner's circle, you'll always get recognized -- for good or bad in some case -- as the Main Event champion. Right now, Jonathan Tamayo is the toast of Las Vegas. nearly 15 years after his last high-water mark durinfg a deep run at the 2009 WSOP Main Event.
Tamayo took down the 2024 WSOP Main Event. The Texans was the last player standing after 10 grueling days of action. A record-setting number of players took a shot at the Main Event this year, which was impressive. For a second summer in a row, the Main Event set a new record in attendance. Last summer became the first field to pass 10,000 in entrants. Even though 2023 was a banner year, 20024 just eclipsed last year's mark with a total of 10,112 runners.
The Main Event final table began on Tuesday and Jordan Griff from Illinois entered Day 9 as the chip leader with 143.7M, or almost 50M more than his closest competitor. He survived the carnage on Day 9 and advanced to the final day as the short stack. With 187M, Griff wasn't that much far behind Jonathan Tamayo in second with 197M. They both trailed the Swedish shark and online legend Niklas 'Lena900' Astedt who entered Day 10 with 223M as the chip leader.
Astedt would not make it to heads up action. Much to everyone's surprise, the heavy favorite to win the championship was knocked out in third place.
On Hand #170, Griff and Astedt were close in chips and Griff led 213M to 212M. The two rumbled and the results were deadly.
Astedt button-raised to 8M, Griff three-bet from the small blind to 28M, Tamayo wanted no part of this duel and folded. Astedt called. The flop was 
. Griff fired out 28M and Astedt called. When the 
appeared on the river, Griff shoved for 159M. Astedt headed into the tank and eventually called with 
for top pair and a straight draw. Griff tabled 
and had flopped a set of nines. The river was the 
. Astedt improved to a meaningless two pair and Griff dragged the pot with a set. Astedt shockingly headed to the rail in third place, which paid out $4 million.
After that massive monsterpotten, Griff led with 432.5M and Tamayo trailed with 174.5M. Heads up officially began with two Americans squaring off for the bling and mountain of cash.
Despite an early deficit, Tamayo seized the lead after he sniffed out a bluff, but he'd give it right back to Griff. By Hand #178, Griff led nearly 400M to 209M.
On hand #201, Tamayo avoided an elimination when he doubled up with King-ten against Griff's pocket sevens. Tamayo flopped a straight (and straight flush draw) to double up and regain the lead 314M to 293M.
When 44 level began, Tamayo led 431M to 176M. This level would see plenty of fireworks early on which set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
Hand #221, Griff won a race with pocket sixes against Ace-eight. Griff flipped a set which held up. He chipped up to 471M and Tamayo slipped to 136M. Five hands later, Tamayo was all-in on the flop with top pair against Griff's middle pair and a gutshot draw. Griff never improved and Tamayo doubled up. He still trailed 325M to 282M. Within five hands, Tamayo regained the lead and nearly led by 2-to-1.
At the start of Hand #235, Tamayo led 360M to 248M. He opened with a 12.5M raise and Griff called. The flop was 
. Tamayo fired 10M, Griff raised to 40M, Tamay shoved, and Griff snap called. Griff flopped a pair of nines and 
. Tamayo flopped two pair with 
. Yikes!
The turn was the 
and the river was the 
. Nether card helped Griff and he was knocked out in second place. For a runner-up finish, Griff won $6 million. Not too shabby, eh?
After only 65 hands of back-and-forth heads-up action, Tamayo shipped the 2024 WSOP Main Event for a $10 million score. He also won his first bracelet. Heck of a run for Tamayo. Congrats to the new champ.
2024 WSOP Main Event - Day 10
Buy-in: $10,000
Entrants: 10,112
Prize Pool: $94,041,600
Payouts: 1,517
Final Table Results:
1. Jonathan Tamayo (USA) $10,000,000
2. Jordan Griff (USA) $6,000,000
3. Niklas Astedt (Sweden) $4,000,000
4. Jason Sagle (Canada) $3,000,000
5. Boris Angelov (Bulgaria) $2,500,000
6. Andres Gonzalez (Spain) $2,000,000
7. Brian Kim (USA) $1,500,000
8. Joe Serock (USA) $1,250,000
9. Malo Latinois (France) $1,000,000
