WSOP 2024: Jonathan Tamayo Wins Main Event Final Table, Earns $10M Prize Money

Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for World Series of Poker (WSOP

In 2009, Jonathan Tamayo made an incredible run in the World Series of Poker Main Event before finishing 21st.

Fifteen years later, the poker pro got the job done, coming from behind to beat second-place Jordan Griff and third-place Niklas Astedt on Wednesday to earn $10 million and his first-ever WSOP bracelet.

WSOP – World Series of Poker @WSOPJonathan 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

Eric Nathan @BarstoolNateA lifelong grinder. Great winner Jonathan Tamayo. pic.twitter.com/rl0APmMBHQ

This year’s $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship saw a record 10,112 entrants, per David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Tamayo, a Cornell University graduate from Humble, Texas, is certainly a well-deserving winner. He now has eight tournament wins and over $12.3 million in career earnings.

Tamayo won on a less-than-glamorous hand of 8-3 offsuit. Tamayo raised to 12,500,000 from the small blind, and Griff called with his 9-6 offsuit.

The ensuing 9-8-3 flop was a dream for Tamayo and his two-pair and a nightmare for Griff and his top pair. Tamayo raised 10,000,000, and Griff re-raised to 40,000,000. Tamayo then shoved all-in, and Griff called for his remaining 230,000,000.

The last two cards were an ace and a 5, and Tamayo emerged victorious. Griff, a recreational poker player from Scottsdale, Arizona, earned $6 million.

This wasn’t an easy win for Tamayo by any means.

He started the final table, which began play Tuesday, in seventh. By the time play ended that day, Tamayo was second.

The final day began with Astedt holding the chip lead with 223,000,000, followed by Tamayo (197,000,000) and Griff (187,000,000).

Astedt came in as the clear favorite. The 33-year-old Swedish pro (also known as Lena900 online) entered the tournament with more than $48 million in career online earnings and more than $7 million in live earnings. He added $4 million with the third-place finish.

Astedt had a great tournament, but Griff eliminated him after a huge showdown.

Astedt raised to 8,000,000 with K-J offsuit, and Griff called with a pair of nines. The flop came 10-9-3, giving Griff trips. Griff bet 28,000,000, which Astedt called. The turn revealed a jack. Griff went all-in for 159,000,000, and after much deliberation, Astedt called.

Astedt needed a jack for trips or a queen or a straight. He got a face card, but it wasn’t the one he needed (king).