The 2014 World Series of Poker ended Tuesday night with three Europeans at the final table and a 27-year-old from Stockholm with all the chips and the US$10 million first prize.
Martin Jacobson, a professional player now living in London, captured his first WSOP bracelet by defeating fellow pro Felix Stephenson of Norway after an hour-long duel at the tournament’s storied Main Event at the Rio’s Penn & Teller Theater in Las Vegas.
“I’m just in shock,” the Swede said afterward. “There was so much pressure leading up to this moment. … I’ve been focusing on this since play ended in July. For it to finally be over and me winning it all, it’s just surreal.”
Somewhat surreal for the crowd at the Penn & Teller was the absence of an American among the final three, which has never happened before, although five Europeans have won the Main Event, most recently in 2011, when Pius Heinz of Germany came out on top. The others are: England’s Mansour Matloubi (1990), Noel Furlong of Ireland (1999), Carlos Mortensen of Spain (2001), Peter Eastgate of Denmark (2008).
Mr Stephenson, an Oslo native also resident in London, took home $5,147,911.
Third place and $3,807,753 went to professional Jorryt Van Hoof of the Netherlands, who entered the final table of nine with the chip lead—he also was the leader when three-handed play began with $89.6 million in tournament chips—but lost more than half his stack in the first three hours Tuesday and was sent to the rail by Mr Jacobson.
American William Tonking of Flemington, N.J., finished fourth and won $2.84 million.
Fifth place went to the only amateur at the final table, American William Pappaconstantinou, a champion foosball player. He took home $2.14 million.
Andoni Larrabe, a poker professional from Spain now living in London, took sixth place and $1.6 million.
The 45th annual WSOP $10,000 buy-in No-limit Texas Hold ’Em World Championship started 5th July with 6,683 players from 87 countries and a prize pool of $62,825,752.
