For the 51st consecutive 12 months, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) $10,000 No-Limit Hold-Em World Championship, often known as the Main Event, topped a world champion on Sunday, Jan. 3, at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino as worldwide champion Damien Salas of Bueno Aires, Argentina, performed head-to-head in a first-of-its-kind showdown in opposition to U.S. champion Joseph Hebert of Metairie, LA.
At stake, the title of World Champion, an extra $1 million courtesy of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. and GGPoker, and essentially the most beneficial trophy on the planet of sports activities – the 2020 diamond and gold encrusted WSOP Main Event bracelet. After 173 fingers and practically six hours of play, the ultimate hand noticed Salas name Hebert’s all-in earlier than the flop with king-jack in opposition to ace-queen. Salas flopped a pair of kings to offer him the lead, the flip card was no assist to Hebert, and the river card sealed the cope with one other king to solidify Salas’ victory.
“Joseph was a very hard opponent, and he played really well. In a few instances, he was about to win, it was a real fight and he never slowed down,” mentioned Damian Salas. “Going into the championship, I felt all the energy and support from my family and friends in Argentina tonight, and that helped me.”
Image:Damien Salas of Bueno Aires, Argentina World Series of Poker Champion 2020
Having positioned seventh in 2017’s Main Event, the 45-year-old South American powerhouse was targeted on redemption throughout his 2020 run. With his eye on the final word prize, Salas gained GGPoker’s worldwide leg of the 2020 Main Event, defeating Brazil’s Brunno Botteon at King’s Resort in Rozvadov, Czech Republic.
Salas’ second time on the Final Table locations him in elite firm as the primary Latin American champion and one in all only some gamers to ever make it to the ultimate desk greater than as soon as. While Salas has thrived as a poker participant, he’s nonetheless captivated with his day job and continues to be a practising lawyer. The South American’s nickname, earned throughout his youth enjoying soccer, is “Pampa,” which suggests “the wild one, the nation man.” Salas is a household man by means of and thru. After his historic win he proudly posed with each the official championship bracelet and the home made model his daughter created, which he’s stored with him all through the match.
“Both these men are champions in their own right and were a pleasure to host for this unique match,” mentioned Ty Stewart, Executive Director of the World Series of Poker. “We thank everyone who participated in this chapter of WSOP history and can’t wait to see you in Las Vegas later this year.”
The journey for Salas’ U.S. counterpart, Hebert, was no simple feat. The 38-year-old dominated the Main Event’s home leg in chip depend from begin to end, successful $1,553,256 in dramatic heads-up play with runner-up Ron Jenkins on the reside Final Table on Monday, Dec. 28. The champion unexpectedly misplaced his mom in September. In their closing alternate, he instructed her his dream was to win a WSOP bracelet and devoted this unimaginable run to her reminiscence, #ForLinda. Hebert has been a long-time grinder, steadily incomes a high 200 rating within the Global Poker Index by enjoying largely in smaller stake, regional tournaments, together with a WSOP.com $300 satellite tv for pc occasion during which he gained his Main Event seat.
The 2020 Main Event established a brand new benchmark for prize swimming pools in U.S. regulated markets, simply eclipsing the $2.019 million achieved for the 2020 WSOP Online championship in July 2020. Also of notice, since laws started for on-line poker in 2014, by no means had a participant gained $1 million or better on a U.S. licensed poker website. The 2020 Main Event made millionaires of each first and second place for the home subject, and when mixed with first and second place payouts for the worldwide bracket, noticed 4 gamers hitting the millionaire mark from the match.
By The Numbers
Total Entrants – 1379
Total Prize Pool – $13,238,000 + $1,000,000 for the heads-up World Championship
Total Entrants on WSOP.COM – 705
Total Prize Pool on WSOP.COM – $6,768,000
Total Entrants on GGPoker – 674
Total Prize Pool on GGPoker: $6,470,000
Full Payouts Available – https://www.wsop.com/2020-Main-Payouts
As has been the case every year since 2003, ESPN will air full protection of the 2020 WSOP Main Event
in February.
Source link