Daniel Weinman won the World Series of Poker’s main event world championship on Monday in Las Vegas, earning $12.1 million along the way.
Playing in the tournament for a 16th year, Weinman was tops in a deep pool of 10,043 players vying for $93.39 million. His victory came after just 164 hands at the final table.
“I was honestly on the fence about even coming back and playing this tournament,” the 35-year-old Atlanta native told reporters afterward.
Weinman’s final table featured Jan-Peter Jachtmann, who landed in fourth place and took home $3 million, as well as Toby Lewis, who finished seventh and secured $1.42 million.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the main event’s entry pool far outpaced the previous record of 8,773 set in 2006.
“I’ve always kind of felt that poker was kind of going in a dying direction, but to see the numbers at the World Series this year has been incredible,” Weinman said. “And to win this main event, it doesn’t feel real. I mean, [there’s] so much luck in a poker tournament. I thought I played very well.”
Steven Jones finished second, securing $6.5 million. And Adam Walton settled for third and a $4 million prize.