Jonathan Tamayo is a hotel management graduate from Cornell University. This poker player enjoys golfing during his leisure time. His first recorded live cashes came in the year 2006 from a No-Limit Hold’em tournament for over $5K. From such a modest start to grabbing headlines, this American had quite the journey in poker. With over $12 Million in career earnings and four WSOP Circuit rings, Tamayo is well-versed in making deep tournament runs. However, his success in 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event outshines all his previous stellar performances.
At the Horseshoe Las Vegas Event Center, 10-foot-high banners honour the champions from the first 54 years of the World Series of Poker (WSOP). These banners feature legendary names like Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth, and Chris Moneymaker among others. Together, they weave the story of how, every year, the poker world unites to crown a world champion in the most prestigious tournament globally.
The newest name to join this elite group is Jonathan Tamayo, a 38-year-old from Humble, Texas. Tamayo, who enjoys golfing and daily fantasy sports, etched his name in the WSOP record books by becoming the 2024 world champion. He achieved this feat by defeating Jordan Griff in a thrilling heads-up match. Tamayo shares this honour with his friend, Joe McKeehen, the 2015 Main Event champion.
Tamayo was almost in disbelief when he realised he was the last one standing from a record-breaking 10,112 players in the Main Event. Holding the diamond-encrusted gold bracelet, he expressed his amazement. “Not real life. My roommate’s picture is right there from 2015. We both have banners now. What in the world just happened?” said Tamayo, soaking in the gravity of his achievement.
Throughout the final table, Tamayo mentioned how surreal the experience felt, as if it were a dream. Yet, it was very real, and he was now $10 Million richer. “I’m just kind of taking it in right now. Actually, let’s take a perspective photo just so I can have one for myself. This is what it looks like from here,” Tamayo said further.
Tamayo had the advantage of having someone experienced by his side. McKeehen, his roommate, was present throughout the final table, offering valuable tips on navigating this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The two shared a house in Las Vegas during the 2024 WSOP, a house that proudly boasts having two Main Event bracelet winners as residents. In a fitting gesture, WSOP VP Jack Effel gave McKeehen the honour of presenting Tamayo with his Main Event bracelet. This remarkable journey has placed Tamayo among poker’s greatest, and his banner will hang alongside the legends, commemorating his victory in the 2024 WSOP Main Event.
Main Event Final Table chip counts
Seat 1: Boris Angelov – 52,900,000
Seat 2: Malo Latinois – 25,500,000
Seat 3: Brian Kim – 94,600,000
Seat 4: Niklas Astedt – 94,200,000
Seat 5: Joe Serock – 83,600,000
Seat 6: Jordan Griff – 143,700,000
Seat 7: Jonathan Tamayo – 26,700,000…— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) July 15, 2024
ALSO READ: WSOP 2024 Highlights Day 46: High Rollers, Slow Rolls And More
Tamayo had a unique vantage point during Joe McKeehen’s Main Event victory, and his Twitter profile humorously declares him the ‘Defensive Coordinator of the 2015 Main Event Champion.’ McKeehen watched and supported Tamayo from the rail, as the latter aimed at creating his own legacy in the 2024 WSOP Main Event.
As per Hendon Mob, this Humble, Texas resident registered a notable cash in July 2009 when he finished 21st for $352,832 at the WSOP $10,000 World Championship No Limit Hold’em event. All Time Money List puts this player in 1,100 with his Texas rank sitting at under 40. Tamayo’s WSOP records are quite interesting. He has 91 cashes which led to total WSOP earnings to settle at over $1.4 Million. Tamayo has grabbed four WSOP rings which only make him an opponent to watch out for.
While there is no official number in the public domain, we expect this figure to be an impressive one given his long list of cashes and impressive WSOP records.
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With a Masters Degree in Journalism and Communication, Mrinal Gujare currently is cruising through an exciting genre of writing and editing at Gutshot Magazine. Apart from being an Editor, Mrinal is an avid reader and a former contemporary dancer. She is also perennially hungry for intriguing scoops from across the globe. No holds barred is the rule Mrinal follows in life.
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