The air at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas was filled with the sweet fragrance of Jonathan Tamayo’s Main Event victory. After a 21st place finish in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event, Tamayo surely had a goal to close this prestigious tournament and etch his name in poker history.
Tamayo, who is 38 years old hails from Humble, Texas. This poker player secured his place in the WSOP history books by becoming the 2024 world champion after a thrilling heads-up battle against Jordan Griff. Throughout the final table, Tamayo frequently expressed his disbelief, describing the experience as surreal and dream-like. However, it was very much a reality, and it resulted in a $10 Million prize money.
I think they ran out of bags so they gave me one if these instead pic.twitter.com/EXSRD9FFq8
— Jonathan Tamayo (@driverseati) July 18, 2024
“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, capturing the moment from behind the table where he triumphed after hours of intense play. Tamayo was fortunate to have Joe McKeehen, someone who had previously navigated the same path, by his side. McKeehen was present throughout the final table, offering invaluable advice.
“Leading up to it, Joe was just like, play your game. I realized you’re never going to play perfect poker, and weird things happen. And it’s just unreal,” Tamayo reflected. Tamayo recounted a pivotal moment on Day 4, a series of improbable events that kept him in the tournament. He was all-in with AQ against pocket jacks, needing a miracle to survive.
Jonathan Tamayo is the 2024 World Champion!
Tamayo takes home the $10,000,000 top prize in the largest WSOP Main Event in history!
Congratulations to Jonathan Tamayo, your 2024 Main Event Champion! #wsop2024 pic.twitter.com/qnsKNwjILa
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) July 18, 2024
“[Someone] folded AK in the cutoff, and the other two jacks were dead because the big blind on seven or eight big blinds folded Jacks. And the turn is an Ace. If that chain of events doesn’t happen, I don’t have that bracelet, and I’m not here,” he said, acknowledging the role of luck and timing in his victory.
ALSO READ: WSOP 2024 Winners List
End of Day | Chips | Rank |
1D | – | – |
2D | 272,500 | 311/2,068 |
3 | 823,000 | 141/1,524 |
4 | 445,000 | 387/464 |
5 | 5,430,000 | 37/160 |
6 | 13,300,000 | 19/59 |
7 | 18,400,000 | 13/18 |
8 | 26,700,000 | 7/9 |
The WSOP Main Event is unique in the poker world, creating stars rather than relying on them. Chris Moneymaker, an accountant from Tennessee, ignited the poker boom with his 2003 win. Greg Raymer was an attorney, and Joe Hachem a chiropractor in Australia before their victories. The Main Event turned them into household names as they rose from massive fields to claim their titles.
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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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