Wednesday, July 17, 2019 2:42 AM Local Time
Hossein Ensan Wins the 2019 WSOP Main Event ($10,000,000)
His railbirds' shirts, black with conjoining colors of German and Iranian flags, called Hossein Ensan a "sure bet."
For most of the 2019 World Series of Poker Main Event final table, he looked like just that. Ensan entered with a massive lead and only strengthened his grip on things over the course of the first two days, toting 63 percent of the chips into three-handed play.
It took him about nine hours and things got a little rocky at times, but Ensan closed the deal. He eliminated both Alex Livingston and then Dario Sammartino across a little under 200 hands of play, securing the historic bracelet for the 50th running of the WSOP, as well as $10 million and poker immortality as the next world champion.
He called the moment, the culmination of getting through a field of 8,569, "unbelievable."
"It is the best feeling I have in all my life," he said, grinning the smile that seems eternally etched on his features.
Final Result: 2019 WSOP Main Event
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Hossein Ensan | Germany | $10,000,000 |
| 2 | Dario Sammartino | Italy | $6,000,000 |
| 3 | Alex Livingston | Canada | $4,000,000 |
| 4 | Garry Gates | United States | $3,000,000 |
| 5 | Kevin Maahs | United States | $2,200,000 |
| 6 | Zhen Cai | United States | $1,850,000 |
| 7 | Nick Marchington | United Kingdom | $1,525,000 |
| 8 | Timothy Su | United States | $1,250,000 |
| 9 | Milos Skrbic | Serbia | $1,000,000 |
Ensan said his plan for the tournament was just to bag up every day and get to the money. When he got a big stack starting on Day 4, he began to dream bigger and the cards kept cooperating.
Still, despite Ensan's stack and credentials that included numerous excellent results, including a European Poker Tour title and over $2.6 million in tournament cashes, many observers tabbed Sammartino as the man to beat at the final table.
Ensan had a chance to make short work of him and take an overwhelming lead against Livingston as the two Europeans flipped for Sammartino's stack early on the final day. The board ran out a straight for the Italian and it was game on with everyone having a very playable stack over 50 big blinds.
In what would be a theme throughout the final table, the railbirds for Sammartino went absolutely bananas. Fans of each player seemed determined to outdo the others, chanting louder and stomping harder, creating a raucous atmosphere that never really slowed down.
The slide continued for Ensan as he ceded the lead to Livingston for one hand before Sammartino doubled through the Canadian, turning two pair against pocket kings.
Sammartino and Ensan then traded the lead for a bit before Ensan woke up with ace-queen against Livingston, who shoved with ace-jack on the button.
Alex Livingston watches the last of hopes die in the Main Event.
Sammartino grabbed an early lead heads up when he hit a three-outer after calling a check-raise on the turn then got big value on a river bet with aces up against jacks up.
No longer did Ensan seem a sure bet. The Italian, widely considered the best player at the final table and certainly the most accomplished with millions in cashes against no-limit hold'em's most elite, had the chips and the chops. It seemed his title to lose.
His rail knew it too, as the chants only grew in force, drowning out Ensan's rail's responses.
"He's a super Dario! He's a super Dario! He's a super Dario!"
Ensan turned things around, though. Over the course of the next roughly 100 hands, he methodically reduced Sammartino to about 40 big blinds and a 2-to-1 deficit. Sammartino tried slowing the slide by limping some buttons, but the big pots all seemed to go Ensan's way.
"He's a big name and he's a very good player," Ensan said. "But, short-handed you need cards. You need hands and for sure luck. Luck and hands [were] on my side."
Finally, things ended in a hand eerily similar to Sammartino's double against Livingston. The Italian again check-raised all in on the turn and again was up against two kings. This time, however, he only had a combo draw and needed to improve on the river. A brick river fell and Sammartino had to console himself with $6 million and another close call in a marquee bracelet event — he previously finished third in the $100K High Roller for One Drop in 2017.
Sammartino fell just short of being world champion.
Ensan, meanwhile, drank it in. He raised the bejeweled bracelet to the heavens, kissed it, and spread his arms to soak in the adulation of his supporters. He said he'd have to go to sleep and wake up to make sure it wasn't a dream.
"I am so happy I am here with bracelet in hand," he said. "What can I say?"
While he may not have had much to say, his railbirds somehow still had voice.
"Ensan! Ensan! Hosseiiiin Ensan!"
This time, the chants rang alone in the quickly emptying Amazon Room as media filtered out to write their final words and production crews broke down the set. Nobody could respond. Ensan had all of the chips and the $10 million, and the next banner to drop from the ceiling at the WSOP will bear his face.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 1:29 AM Local Time
Dario Sammartino Eliminated in 2nd Place ($6,000,000)
Hand #301: Hossein Ensan raised to 11,000,000 on the button and Dario Sammartino came along out of the big blind.
The flop came and Sammartino check-called a bet of 15,000,000.
Both rails fell silent on the turn and Sammartino checked once more. Ensan now fired a second barrel of 33,000,000 and Sammartino pushed all in for 140,000,000 and Ensan snap-called.
Dario Sammartino:
Hossein Ensan:
The combo draw of Sammartino had plenty of outs to turn around the 2-1 chip deficit, however, the on the river was not what he was looking for. Sammartino's Main Event run came to an end in second place and missed out on the maiden bracelet but takes home $6,000,000 for his efforts.
| Hossein Ensan | 515,000,000 | 169,500,000  |
| Dario Sammartino | 0 | -169,500,000  |
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 1:25 AM Local Time
Hand #300: Ensan Wins With Eight-High
Hand #300: Dario Sammartino limped in and Hossein Ensan checked. On the flop, Ensan checked and faced a bet of 4,000,000. Ensan made the call and checked again the turn, Sammartino then made it 13,000,000 to go. Ensan called and the river was checked down.
Ensan turned over the for a busted open-ended straight draw and eight-high, which still ended up winning the pot after a muck by Sammartino.
| Hossein Ensan | 345,500,000 | 21,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 169,500,000 | -21,000,000 |
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 1:17 AM Local Time
Hands #296-299: Sammartino Gets a Double Check-Raise Out
Hand #296: Dario Sammartino completed the small blind and Hossein Ensan checked. No money went in on the board until Ensan bet 4 million on the river and Sammartino called. Ensan had but his kicker didn't play against . Chop it up.
Hand #297: Ensan completed and Sammartino checked. On the flop, Ensan bet 4 million and Sammartino check-raised to 14 million. Ensan called and the turn was a . Sammartino slowed down with a check and Ensan bet 18 million. Sammartino raised again to 45 million and that got it done.
Hand #298: Sammartino completed and Ensan checked. Ensan check-folded to 4 million on a board of after both players checked the flop.
Hand #299: Ensan called and Sammartino checked. Sammartino check-folded to 4 million on the flop.
| Hossein Ensan | 324,500,000 | -38,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 190,500,000 | 38,000,000 |
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 1:09 AM Local Time
Hands #292-295: Not Much Change
Hand #292: Dario Sammartino limped his button and Hossein Ensan checked his option.
They checked to the turn of a where Ensan bet 4,000,000. Sammartino called.
The river was the and both checked.
Sammartino showed , Ensan tabled and the chopped it up.
Hand #293: Dario Sammartino received a walk.
Hand #294: Dario Sammartino limped his button and Hossein Ensan checked his option.
The flop was and Ensan check-called 4,000,000 from Sammartino.
The turn was the , both checked, the river was the and Ensan bet 4,000,000. Sammartino raised to 22,000,000 and Ensan folded.
Hand #295: Hossein Ensan raised to 11,000,000 from the button and Dario Sammartino called from the big blind.
They checked to the turn of an board where Ensan bet 8,000,000. Sammartino folded.
| Hossein Ensan | 362,500,000 | -5,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 152,500,000 | 5,000,000 |
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 1:04 AM Local Time
Hands #287-291: Lots of Limping
Hand #287: Hossein Ensan raised to 10,000,000 and Dario Sammartino came along to see the flop. Sammartino's check was followed by a bet of 5,000,000 by Ensan and he raised to 17,000,000, which Ensan called. The came on the turn and Sammartino checked again, Ensan bet 23,000,000 and Sammartino folded.
Hand #288: Sammartino limped and Ensan checked to the flop, which was checked through. On the turn, Ensan checked and so did Sammartino. The appeared on the river and Ensan check-folded to a bet of 10,000,000.
Hand #289: Ensan limped the button and Sammartino checked. The flop brought and both checked to see the on the turn. Sammartino bet 6,000,000 and Ensan tossed in calling chips. On the river, Sammartino now opted to check and a bet of 8,000,000 by Ensan was called. No cards were shown as the pot was pushed to Sammartino.
Hand #290: Sammartino limped and Ensan raised to 19,000,000, which Sammartino called. On the flop, Ensan bet 12,000,000 and Sammartino sent his cards into the muck.
Hand #291: Ensan limped in and a raise to 16,000,000 by Sammartino instantly ended the hand.
| Hossein Ensan | 367,500,000 | 20,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 147,500,000 | -20,000,000 |
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 12:54 AM Local Time
Hands #283-286: No Movement
Hand #283: Hossein Ensan raised to 8 million and Dario Sammartino called. They saw a board of for that price and checked to showdown. Sammartino won with for a flopped pair.
Hand #284: The two players saw a board of for the minimum and Ensan bet out 7 million and won.
Hand #285: Again, a slow pot developed as they saw for the minimum. Another free showdown saw of Sammartino take it, with Ensan tossing in the .
Hand #286: Sammartino completed and Ensan checked. Ensan checked the flop and called 4 million. They checked the and Ensan bet 6 million on the . Sammartino immediately folded.
| Hossein Ensan | 347,500,000 | 0 |
| Dario Sammartino | 167,500,000 | 0 |
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 12:49 AM Local Time
Hands #279-282: Minimal Change
Hand #279: Hossein Ensan raised to 8,000,000 from the button and Dario Sammartino called from the big blind.
They checked to the river of a board where Ensan bet 8,000,000. Sammartino folded.
Hand #280: Dario Sammartino limped his button and Hossein Ensan checked his option.
The flop was , Ensan checked Sammartino bet 4,000,000 and Ensan folded.
Hand #281: Hossein Ensan limped his button and Dario Sammartino checked his option.
The flop was and Sammartino check-called 4,000,000 from Ensan.
The turn was the and Sammartino check-called, 9,000 from Ensan.
The river was the and both checked.
Sammartino tabled for a pair of jacks, Ensan mucked and Sammartino collected the pot.
Hand #282: Dario Sammartino limped his button and Hossein Ensan checked his option.
They checked to the turn of a board where Ensan check-called called 6,000,000 from Sammartino.
The river was the and both checked.
Ensan showed for a king-high straight and won the pot.
| Hossein Ensan | 347,500,000 | -3,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 167,500,000 | 3,000,000 |
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 12:40 AM Local Time
Level 43 started
Level: 43
Blinds: 2,000,000/4,000,000
Ante: 4,000,000
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 12:17 AM Local Time
Hands #276-278: King-High Works for Ensan
Hand #276: Dario Sammartino limped in and Hossein Ensan checked. On the flop, Ensan checked and a bet of 4,000,000 by Sammartino won the pot.
Hand #277: Up next it was Ensan that limped and Sammartino checked. The flop brought and Sammartino checked, Ensan checked back. The came on the turn and Sammartino led for 4,000,000, which prompted a raise to 14,000,000 by Ensan. That ended up winning the pot, as Sammartino quickly folded.
Hand #278: The third limped pot in a row saw a flop of and Ensan checked, A bet of 3,000,000 by Sammartino followed and Ensan made the call. After the turn, Ensan now bet 9,000,000 and Sammartino called.
The river was checked by Ensan and Sammartino checked behind. Ensan tabled and that won the pot.
The players were sent on a 20-minute break following the hand.
Heads Up Dario Sammartino| Hossein Ensan | 350,500,000 | 19,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 164,500,000 | -19,000,000 |
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 12:11 AM Local Time
Hands #272-275: Ensan Check-Raises a Turn
Hand #272: Dario Sammartino completed and Hossein Ensan checked. They saw a board for free and then Ensan bet 3 million. Sammartino thought about a minute and made it 8 million. Ensan thought around a minute himself then folded.
Hand #273: Ensan raised to 6.5 million and Sammartino called. Sammartino check-folded to 7 million on the flop.
Hand #274: The two players saw a flop for the minimum and Ensan check-called 3 million. Ensan checked again on the turn and faced 10 million. He put in a raise to 37 million and won the pot right away.
Hand #275: Ensan called and Sammartino checked. Sammartino check-called 3.5 million on the flop, bringing a turn. They each checked, and a completed the board. Sammartino bet 15 million and Ensan folded right away.
| Hossein Ensan | 331,500,000 | 10,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 183,500,000 | -10,000,000 |
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 12:02 AM Local Time
Hands #268-271: Sammartino on the Rebound
Hand #268: Dario Sammartino raised to 6,500,000 from the button and Hossein Ensan called from the big blind.
The flop was and Ensan check-folded to Sammartino's bet of 8,000,000.
Hand #269: Hossein Ensan raised to 6,500,000 from the button and Dario Sammartino called from the big blind.
The flop was , Sammartino checked, Ensan bet 7,000,000 and Sammartino folded.
Hand #270: Dario Sammartino limped from the button and Hossein Ensan checked his option.
They checked to the turn of a board where Ensan bet 8,500,000. Sammartino called.
The river was the and both checked.
Sammartino showed for a pair of sixes, Ensan mucked and Sammartino won the pot.
Hand #271: Hossein Ensan limped his button and Dario Sammartino checked his option.
The flop was and Sammartino check-called 3,000,000 from Ensan.
The turn was the , both checked, the river was the and Sammartino bet 9,000,000. Ensan folded.
| Hossein Ensan | 321,500,000 | -20,500,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 193,500,000 | 20,500,000 |
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 11:54 PM Local Time
Hands #263-267: Sammartino Goes Runner Runner Full
Hand #263: A walk for Dario Sammartino.
Hand #264: Sammartino limped in and Hossein Ensan checked to see the flop emerge. Both checked and the turn resulted in a bet of 3,000,000 by Ensan, Sammartino made the call. On the river, they checked again and Ensan tabled , which Sammartino had beat with .
Hand #265: Another walk for Sammartino.
Hand #266: Sammartino limped in, Ensan raised to 11,000,000 and Sammartino folded after brief consideration.
Hand #267: Ensan raised to 7,000,000 and Sammartino called. The flop fell and Sammartino check-called a first barrel for 5,000. On the turn, both players checked and the followed on the river. Sammartino bet 18,000,000 and received a call to table the for a back door full house to win the pot, Ensan mucked face up.
| Hossein Ensan | 342,000,000 | -39,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 173,000,000 | 39,000,000 |
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 11:47 PM Local Time
Hands #259-262: Ensan's Triple Barrel Gets Through
Hand #259: Hossein Ensan raised to 6.5 million and Dario Sammartino called. Sammartino check-called 5 million on the flop and 17 million more on the turn. The river was an and Sammartino checked a final time. The final barrel came: 47 million. Sammartino needed about 30 seconds before he let it go.
Hand #260: The two players saw a flop for the minimum and Ensan check-folded to 3 million.
Hand #261: Ensan raised to 6 million and then won with a bet of 8 million on the flop.
Hand #262: Sammartino raised to 6.5 million and Ensan called. The board read after four checks and Sammartino finally won with a bet of 10 million after another check from Ensan.
| Hossein Ensan | 381,000,000 | 25,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 134,000,000 | -25,000,000 |
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 11:38 PM Local Time
Hands #255-258: Four Hands; No Change
Hand #255: Hossein Ensan limped from the button and Dario Sammartino checked his option.
The flop was and Sammartino check-folded to Ensan's bet of 5,000,000.
Hand #256: Dario Sammartino limped from the button and Hossein Ensan checked his option.
The flop came down and Ensan check-folded to Sammartino's bet of 3,000,000.
Hand #257: Hossein Ensan raised to 6,500,000 from the button and Dario Sammartino called from the big blind.
The flop was , Sammartino checked, Ensan bet 8,500,000 and Sammartino folded.
Hand #258: Dario Sammartino raised to 6,500,000 from the button and Hossein Ensan called from the big blind.
They checked to the turn of an board where Sammartino won the pot with a bet of 6,000,000.
| Hossein Ensan | 356,000,000 | 0 |
| Dario Sammartino | 159,000,000 | 0 |
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 11:32 PM Local Time
Hands #251-254: Small Pots Only
Hand #251: Hossein Ensan limped in and Dario Sammartino checked his option to the flop. Sammartino checked and Ensan bet 3,000,000 to pick up a call by the Italian. On the turn, Sammartino checked again and Ensan now fired a bet of 9,000,000 to claim the pot.
Hand #252: A limp by Sammartino was followed by the check of Ensan and they saw a flop. Ensan check-folded when facing a bet of 3,000,000.
Hand #253: Ensan limped in and folded to a large raise by Sammartino.
Hand #254: Sammartino limped, Ensan checked and the flop fell . Ensan bet 3,000,000 and Sammartino conceded the pot.
| Hossein Ensan | 356,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 159,000,000 | -3,000,000 |
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 11:27 PM Local Time
Hands #248-250: Ensan Gets River Value With Third Pair
Hand #248: Dario Sammartino completed the blind and Hossein Ensan checked. Ensan checked the flop and then called 3 million. Sammartino kept barreling on the , for 9 million. Both players checked the river and was a winner for Sammartino, as Ensan had .
Hand #249: Ensan raised to 6 million and Sammartino called. On the flop, Sammartino check-called a small bet of 4 million. Ensan bet bigger on the with 12.5 million and Sammartino stuck around for the river. They both checked and gave Sammartino his second straight showdown.
Hand #250: Sammartino made it 7 million and Ensan called. They checked to the river on and Ensan broke the ice with 7.5 million. Sammartino tanked for about a minute and called but couldn't beat .
| Hossein Ensan | 353,000,000 | -26,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 162,000,000 | 26,000,000 |
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 11:15 PM Local Time
Hands #246-247: Top Two Pair for Ensan
Hand #246: Dario Sammartino raised to 7,000,000 from the button and Hossein Ensan called from the big blind
The flop was and Ensan check-called 6,500,000 from Sammartino.
The turn was the , both checked, the river was the , and Ensan checked to Sammartino who bet 35,000,000. Ensan folded.
Hand #247: Hossein Ensan raised to 6,500,000 from the button and Dario Sammartino called from the big blind.
The flop was and Sammartino check-called 6,500,000 from Ensan.
The turn was the and Sammartino check-called 13,500,000 from Ensan.
The river was the , Sammanrtino checked, Ensan bet 35,000,000 and Sammartino tanked for about two minutes before he called.
Ensan tabled for queens and tens, Sammartino mucked and Ensan won the pot to take his biggest lead of the heads-up match.
Heads Up Hossein Ensan| Hossein Ensan | 379,000,000 | 48,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 136,000,000 | -48,000,000 |
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 11:04 PM Local Time
Hands #242-245: The Back And Forth Continues
Hand #242: Dario Sammartino raised to 7,000,000 and Hossein Ensan called. The flop brought and Ensan checked over to Sammartino, who made it 7,000,000 to go. Ensan folded and Sammartino claimed the pot.
Hand #243: Ensan min-raised to 6,000,000 and Sammartino called while the Italian chants reached their peak once more. On the flop, Sammartino checked and Ensan bet 3,000,000 to pick up a call. After the turn, a second check of Sammartino followed and Ensan checked back to the river.
Sammartino checked and so did Ensan, claiming the pot with for sevens and fives.
Hand #244: A raise to 7,000,000 by Sammartino was called by Ensan and the flop came . Ensan's check resulted in a bet of 7,000,000 by Sammartino and that won the pot right there.
Hand #245: Ensan raised to 6,000,000 once more and Sammartino three-bet to 24,000,000, which ended the hand.
| Hossein Ensan | 331,000,000 | -14,000,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 184,000,000 | 14,000,000 |
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 10:58 PM Local Time
Hands #238-241: Three Straight for Sammartino
Hand #238: Dario Sammartino raised to 7 million and Hossein Ensan called. Ensan check-called 6 million on the flop. Each player checked the . Ensan bet 8 million on the river and Sammartino conceded.
Hand #239: Sammartino got a walk.
Hand #240: Sammartino raised to 7 million and won.
Hand #241: Ensan raised to 7 million but Sammartino won it with a three-bet to 29 million.
| Hossein Ensan | 345,000,000 | -1,500,000 |
| Dario Sammartino | 170,000,000 | 1,500,000 |