Washington's Lucas Jumalon, 22, captures WSOP main event - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Lucas Jumalon, a 22-year-old professional poker player from Spokane, Washington, finished a wire-to-wire performance Wednesday night to win the 2026 World Series of Poker main event and $10 million.

Jumalon became the second-youngest champion in history (Joe Cada won at 21 in 2009). He needed just 17 hands of heads-up play to eliminate Finland's Lauri Saaskilahti and claim the title.

The closest Jumalon came to giving up his lead came on hand 166. Saaskilahti raised to 10 million in chips with Ah-10d. Jumalon moved all-in with As-9c, and Saaskilahti called. The Ad-Qd-4s flop left the Finn in front, but the 9d turn gave Jumalon control. But that control was short-lived as the river was the 6d to complete Saaskilahti's flush. After that hand, Jumalon had 287 million in chips to Saaskilahti's 266 million.

Jumalon reestablished dominance on the very next hand. With the board showing As-Ks-4c-Js and 20 million already in the pot, Jumalon bet 40 million with Qs-5d and Saaskilahti called holding Jd-3d. The river was the 6s and Jumalon bet 180 million, forcing Saaskilahti to think for a few minutes before calling, only to be shown the winning hand. That pot left Jumalon with 519 million of the 553 million chips in play.

Two hands later, it was over.

Jumalon moved all-in with Ks-6d, and Saaskilahti called with As-7d. The board ran out Js-8d-6s-6c-4d to give Jumalon three 6s and the last of Saaskilahti's chips, sending Jumalon running to his friends and family, with whom he allowed his emotions to take over after three days of keeping them in check.

«I blacked out, I'm pretty sure. So, I don't have much recollection of that,» Jumalon said of the final moments.

Jumalon said he knew when play started Wednesday that he