The 2021 World Collection of Poker (WSOP) Primary Occasion is over, and 31-year-old Koray Aldemir from Germany was the final man standing.
Koray Aldemir exhibits off probably the most coveted World Collection of Poker bracelet after successful the 2021 Primary Occasion. The German is $8 million richer after besting 6,650 entrant buy-ins. (Picture: Las Vegas Evaluate-Journal)
Late Wednesday night time, Aldemir, who had solely regained the lead over his heads-up opponent George Holmes in the course of the 219th to 222nd palms, gained all of it on the 223rd and closing hand.
With the blinds at 1.2/2.4 million and a pair of.4 million massive blind ante, Holmes raised six million with pocket king-queen. Aldemir known as with 10-7 suited.
10-7-2 got here on the flop, prompting Aldemir to boost to 19 million. Holmes known as, and when the flip was a king, the American shoved all-in for 133 million. After a lot deliberation, Aldemir known as. The river 9 card did nothing for both’s hand.
Aldemir’s two pairs topped Holmes’ pair of kings to win the 2021 Primary Occasion and the event’s $8 million high prize. For his efforts, Holmes gained $4.3 million.
It felt nice. It’s the largest closing desk on the earth, so it’s a dream come true. Each poker participant thinks about this second once they watch this, believing ‘possibly I could possibly be there at some point,’” Aldemir mentioned afterward.
“[This is] the one event household and pals know of, mainly. It does imply loads to me to win it,” Aldemir added.
One in every of Germany’s Finest
Together with his $8 million money — his (it ought to go with out saying) greatest reside efficiency of his profession — Aldemir strikes into eighth place in Germany’s all-time cash listing. The monumental win additionally pushes him as much as 67th on the earth’s all-time poker reside money listing.
Previous to Wednesday’s victory, Aldemir’s largest reside money, in line with the net poker database TheHendonMob, was the $2.154 million that he obtained for putting third on the 2016 WSOP $111,111 No-Restrict Maintain’em Excessive Curler for One Drop charity occasion.
Aldemir has loved a fruitful 2021 WSOP. Together with the Primary Occasion, he’s recorded 13 cashes throughout this 12 months’s event collection, totaling $8,049,309.
Primary Occasion Momentum
The 2021 WSOP noticed reside poker return to Las Vegas after a 12 months off due to the pandemic. Although Primary Occasion participation was down from 2019, organizers are optimistic that poker is as common as ever.
The numbers, nonetheless, trigger concern. The $10,000 buy-in Primary Occasion peaked in 2006 by way of entries with 8,773 buy-ins. The 2021 occasion, the 52nd in its wealthy historical past, obtained 6,650 buy-ins, greater than 24 p.c decrease than the document. However COVID-19 restricted many worldwide gamers from competing within the 2021 Primary Occasion. The US authorities earlier this month started permitting business airliners from Europe and elsewhere to reach within the states.
The 2019 ME additionally attracted 8,569 — practically matching the 2006 document — and noticed the grand prize return to $10 million for the primary time since 2014.
After being contested on the Rio since 2005, the WSOP is shifting to the Strip, the place the 2022 collection will likely be performed at Bally’s and Paris. The Primary Occasion can also be bringing in some A-list expertise by the use of Vince Vaughn, who will function the occasion’s official Grasp of Ceremonies.
