Event #81: $10,000 MAIN EVENT No-Limit Hold'em World Championship

Around the Horseshoe Las Vegas Event Center hang 10-foot-high banners depicting the champions from the first 54 years of the World Series of Poker. The names are legendary: Moss, Slim, Pearson, Brunson, Chan, Hellmuth, Moneymaker. Together they tell a story about how, once a year, the poker world gathers together to crown a world champion in the greatest tournament in the world.

The latest name to join them is an unassuming 38-year-old from Humble, Texas who enjoys golfing and daily fantasy sports. Jonathan Tamayo put his name in the WSOP record books alongside friend, roommate, and 2015 Main Event champion Joe McKeehen as the 2024 world champion after defeating Jordan Griff in an epic back-and-forth heads-up match.

2024 WSOP Main Event Final Table Payouts

Winner's Reaction

Tamayo was seemingly in disbelief over being the one left standing from 10,112 players, the largest field in Main Event history, and hoisting the diamond-encrusted gold bracelet over his head.

"Not real life. My roommate's picture is right there from 2015. We both have banners now. What in the world just happened," the newly-crowned champion said, finally taking in the enormity of the environment he found himself in and the achievement he had just pulled off.

He mentioned throughout the final table how this felt like it wasn't real life, that his experience over the past two weeks was nothing more than a dream. But it was reality, and he's $10,000,000 richer after all of it.

"I'm just kind of taking it in right now. Because this perspective, and actually, let's take a perspective photo just so I can have one for myself. This is what it looks like from here," Tamayo said, standing behind the table where he had just battled Griff for hours and taking out his phone to snap a photo.

Tamayo was fortunate to have someone who's experienced this all before. McKeehen was on his rail throughout the final table giving tips about how to navigate through this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The two shared a house in Las Vegas throughout the WSOP that now boasts the distinction of being the only one with two Main Event bracelets. McKeehen was even given the honor by WSOP VP Jack Effel of handing Tamayo his newest jewelry.

"Leading up to it, Joe was just like, play your game. I realized you're never going to play perfect poker, and weird things happen," Tamayo said. "And it's just unreal."

"I remember…I shouldn't have been here after Day 4. There was a crazy series of events on Day 4 where I was all in, and if one certain individual didn't fold their hand pre, I'm not here."

Tamayo had shoved ten big blinds with ace-queen late in Day 4 and beat pocket jacks to stay alive.

"[Someone] folded ace-king in the cutoff, and the other two jacks were dead because the big blind on seven or eight big blinds folded jacks. And the turn is an ace. If that chain of events doesn't happen, I don't have that bracelet and I'm not here."

The Main Event is the one tournament on the poker calendar that doesn't rely on star power. It's where stars are made. Chris Moneymaker was an accountant from Tennessee before sparking the poker room with his win in 2003. Greg Raymer was an attorney, Joe Hachem a chiropractor in Australia. The Main Event made them household names as they emerged from a field of thousands.

Griff nearly pulled off his own Cinderella story today. A supply chain manager originally from Schaumburg, Illinois, he came into the Main Event with less than $50,000 in live earnings. His previous best cash was for $18,000. Tamayo, meanwhile, was a four-time WSOP Circuit ring winner with more than $2 million in live earnings, including a run to 21st-place in the Main Event in 2009.

Griff was in last place on the chip leaderboard entering Day 8 and needed a two-outer on the river to survive. But survive he did, all the way to second place as he takes home $6,000,000 to his pregnant wife and soon-to-be newborn baby.

Day 10 Action

Three players returned to play today at 2 p.m. to battle for the world championship. Swedish online legend Niklas Astedt was the chip leader with 223,000,000, while Tamayo (197,000,000) and Griff (187,000,000) followed close behind. Griff pulled even with Astedt early on when he took a big pot with pocket deuces against Astedt's ace-high.

The two remained virtually tied atop the leaderboard when they tangled in a hand that shocked the room. Griff moved all in for 159,000,000 on the turn and sent Astedt deep into the tank. Astedt eventually called with top pair of jacks and a straight draw, but Griff had a set of nines. Astedt missed the river and Griff, who had Astedt covered by just 500,000, sent the online phenom to the rail in third place.

"Yeah, tough one. I'm not sure. He's a bit of a wild one, so sometimes you have to guess. This time I was wrong," Astedt said after making his exit.

Griff led Tamayo 432,500,000 to 174,500,000 at the start of heads-up action. Griff continued his aggressive play when he bet 75,000,000 on the river of an ace-high board. Tamayo agonized over the decision for a few minutes before calling with ace-six. Griff could only show queen-high as he handed over the big pot and the chip lead.

Tamayo expanded his lead until they saw the turn on a queen-jack-high board. Griff then moved all in for 97,500,000 and Tamayo called with ace-jack, but Griff had jacks and sixes and held on through the river to double up back into the lead.

Griff then had a chance to secure the bracelet when he had Tamayo all in for the Texan's last 155,000,000. Griff had pocket sevens, while Tamayo was racing with king-ten. The flop brought Tamayo a straight and Griff was already drawing dead by the turn as Tamayo doubled up to 314,000,000 and into a narrow lead.

Another coin flip had the chance to settle the tournament. Griff was all in for 233,000,000 with two sixes, while Tamayo showed ace-eight and needed to connect with the board to win the tournament. Instead, the flop gave Griff a set of sixes as the lead changed hands yet again. But it lasted just five hands, as Tamayo then called for 133,500,000 with top pair of sevens against Griff's pair of fours and straight draw. Tamayo dodged the turn and river to double up and pull nearly even with Griff.

Tamayo then picked off Griff's bluff with a pair of jacks as he moved back up over 400,000,000. Finally, on the 235th hand of the final table and 65th of heads-up play, Tamayo bet 10,000,000 on a nine-high flop and Griff raised to 40,000,000. Tamayo then moved all in and Griff called for 230,000,000 with top pair. Tamayo showed eight-three for two pair and held on through the turn and river to win the hand and the world championship.

The final hand was a study in irony. A few days earlier, as the final 10 players combined for the unofficial final table, Tamayo folded two queens to a single raise, a play that sparked plenty of conversation around the poker world.

From folding two queens to winning with eight-three: Tamayo fully recognizes the oddity of it all. "That's going to be a fun one. I'm happy to never live that one down now," he said.

Tamayo and McKeehen spent the summer sharing a house. They'll get to spend the rest of WSOP history alongside each other on the wall, forever linked as world champions. "What in the world just happened?" Tamayo asked.

He just took down the biggest tournament in poker. And, no, it wasn't all a dream.

Hand #231- Jonathan Tamayo raised to 12,500,000 with    before Jordan Griff moved all in for 200,000,000 with the   . Tamayo quickly folded.

Hand #232- Jordan Griff limped his    in before Jonathan Tamayo raised to 25,000,000 holding the   . Griff folded.

Hand #233- Jonathan Tamayo raised to 12,500,000 with   , Jordan Griff three-bet the    to 40,000,000, and Tamayo folded.

Hand #234- Jordan Griff limped his    this time and Jonathan Tamayo checked the   .

The flop came     and Griff bet 5,000,000. Tamayo called and the   fell on the turn.

Griff bet another 7,500,000 and Tamayo again called. The river was the   and Griff fired out 30,000,000. Tamayo folded this time and Griff took the pot.

Jonathan Tamayo	360,000,000	-42,000,000
Jordan Griff	248,000,000	43,000,000

Hand #222- Jordan Griff limped in with the   , Jonathan Tamayo shoved for 131,000,000 with   , and Griff folded.

Hand #223- Jonathan Tamayo raised to 12,500,000 with    and Jordan Griff folded the   .

Hand #224- Jordan Griff limped in again with the    and Jonathan Tamayo shoved once more, this time for 146,000,000 holding the [KsQc6]. Griff snap-folded.

Hand #225- Jonathan Tamayo with the    raised to 12,500,000, Jordan Griff three-bet to 40,000,000 with   , and Tamayo folded.

Hand #226- Jordan Griff limped in and Jonathan Tamayo checked his option.

The flop came     and Griff bet 7,500,000. Tamayo then raised to 23,000,000 and Griff moved all in. Tamayo ripped off his hood and leaned back in his chair before committing his last 133,500,000.

Jonathan Tamayo:   
Jordan Griff:   

Tamayo was ahead with a pair of sevens against Griff's pair of fours and straight draw. The   turn took away some of Griff's outs, while the   fell on the turn and Tamayo doubled up.

Jordan Griff	325,000,000	-146,000,000
Jonathan Tamayo	282,000,000	146,000,000

Hand #217: Jonathan Tamayo raised to 12,500,000 with    and Jordan Griff called out of the big blind with the   . The     flop was checked by Griff and he then called a bet worth 10,000,000 by Tamayo. Both checked the   turn and Griff then bet the   river for 7,000,000, Tamayo folded.

Hand #218: Griff limped in with    and Tamayo checked his    to the     flop, Tamayo checked and Griff took it down with a bet of 6,000,000.

Hand #219: Tamayo raised to 12,500,000 with the    and Griff opted for a three-bet to 40,000,000 with   , forcing out Tamayo.

Hand #220: Another button limp by Griff with    saw Tamayo check his    to the     flop. Both players checked to the   turn on which Tamayo bet 7,000,000 and Griff called. Tamayo checked the   river and Tamayo showed the   , which Griff had beat holding the   

Jonathan Tamayo	369,000,000	-62,000,000
Jordan Griff	238,000,000	62,000,000

The players are headed on a 20-minute break.

Blinds increase to 2,500,000-5,000,000 with a 5,000,000 big blind ante once action resumes.

Hand #207: Jonathan Tamayo opened the action with a button raise to 10,000,000 with    and Jordan Griff called out of the big blind. The     flop was checked by Griff and Tamayo continued with a bet of 8,000,000, Griff called.

Fast forward to the   turn, they both checked and the river brought the  . Griff checked and Tamayo bet 62,000,000 into a pot of 40,000,000. Griff stared at his opponent for several seconds and eventually sigh-folded   .

Hand #208: Griff raised to 12,000,000 with    and Tamayo folded   .

Hand #209: Tamayo opened to 10,000,000 and Griff called. The     flop was checked by Griff and Tamayo used his usual continuation bet sizing of 8,000,000, which Griff called.

On the   turn, Griff opted to check once more and Tamayo knuckled it back. The river was the   and Griff led for 20,000,000, Tamayo called. Griff showed the    and Tamayo won the pot with the    for sevens full of kings.

Hand #210: Griff raised the button to 12,000,000 with    and won the big blind as well as the big blind ante, as Tamayo folded the   .

Hand #211: Tamayo's button raise to 10,000,000 with    went through uncontested, as Griff laid down the   .

Hand #212: Griff limped in with    and Tamayo raised the    up to 20,000,000 for Griff to fold.

Jonathan Tamayo	396,000,000	60,000,000
Jordan Griff	211,000,000	-60,000,000

Hand #199- Jonathan Tamayo raised to 10,000,000 with    and Jordan Griff called with the   .

The flop came     and Griff led out for 6,000,000. Tamayo called and the   fell on the turn.

Griff slowed down and checked as Tamayo bet 12,000,000. Griff folded.

Hand #200- Jordan Griff with the    raised to 12,000,000 and Jonathan Tamayo called with   .

Griff continued for 10,000,000 on the     flop and Tamayo called. The turn was the   and Griff won the pot with another bet of 30,000,000.

Hand #201- Jonathan Tamayo raised to 10,000,000 before Jordan Griff three-bet to 35,000,000. Tamayo then moved all in for 155,000,000.

Griff shot out of his seat and asked for a count before calling.

Jonathan Tamayo:   
Jordan Griff:   

Griff was racing for the Main Event title, but Tamayo smacked the     flop with a straight. The   turn left Griff drawing dead and Tamayo secured the double up once the   completed the board.

Jonathan Tamayo	314,000,000	153,000,000
Jordan Griff	293,000,000	-153,000,000

Hand #192- Jordan Griff limped in with    and Jonathan Tamayo checked   .

Tamayo led out for 4,000,000 on the     flop and Griff called. Tamayo then bet 10,000,000 on the   turn and Griff folded.

Hand #193- Jonathan Tamayo raised to 10,000,000 with    and Jordan Griff folded   .

Hand #194- Jordan Griff raised to 10,000,000, Jonathan Tamayo three-bet to 36,000,000, and Griff called.

The flop came     and Tamayo continued for 26,000,000. Griff called to see the   turn and Tamayo checked.

Griff then moved all in for 97,500,000. Tamayo slammed his chips down and agonized over the decision for around two minutes before calling.

Griff showed    for two pair, while Tamayo had   . Tamayo needed an ace or queen on the river to win the Main Event, but he missed the   as Griff doubled up back into the chip lead.

Jordan Griff	323,000,000	147,000,000
Jonathan Tamayo	284,000,000	-148,000,000

Hand #183- Jonathan Tamayo raised to 10,000,000 on the button with   , Jordan Griff three-bet to 35,000,000 with the   , and Tamayo folded.

Hand #184- Jordan Griff raised to 10,000,000 on the button holding the    and Jonathan Tamayo called with the   .

The flop came     and Griff bet 16,000,000. Tamayo then raised to 52,000,000 and Griff folded.

Hand #185- Jonathan Tamayo raised to 10,000,000 with    and Jordan Griff called holding the   .

Tamayo bet 8,000,000 on the     flop and Griff gave up his hand.

Hand #186- Jordan Griff raised to 10,000,000 with his   , Jonathan Tamayo three-bet the    to 36,000,000, and Griff folded.

Hand #187- Jonathan Tamayo raised to 10,000,000 on the button with    and Jordan Griff called with the   .

The flop came     and Griff quickly check-folded to a bet of 8,000,000 from Tamayo.

Jonathan Tamayo	441,000,000	54,000,000
Jordan Griff	167,000,000	-54,000,000

Hand #175- Jonathan Tamayo raised to 10,000,000 on the button with    and Jordan Griff called with   

The flop came     and Tamayo bet 8,000,000. Griff called to the   turn, where Tamayo bet another 18,000,000. Griff folded this time

Hand #176- Jordan Griff raised to 10,000,000 on the button with    and Jonathan Tamayo folded an identical   .

Hand #177- Jonathan Tamayo raised to 10,000,000 on the button with    and Jordan Griff gave up    in the big blind.

Hand #178- Jordan Griff raised to 10,000,000 again and Jonathan Tamayo called this time.

Griff continued for 10,000,000 on the     flop and Tamayo called. The turn was the   and Griff bet another 20,000,000.

Tamayo again called and both players checked the   river. Tamayo showed    for two pair and Griff mucked   .

Jonathan Tamayo	399,000,000	62,000,000
Jordan Griff	209,000,000	-62,000,000