Ensan Celebrates Crazy Poker Coup

For the first time since 2011, Germany has a poker world champion again: Hossein Ensan wins the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. The 55-year-old wins a dramatic duel against Italian pro Dario Sammartino. The decision brings the last card.

In one hand the lucky cards, in the other the famous golden bracelet and in front of him a huge stack of bundled banknotes: After the coup of his life, Hossein Ensan stood happily at the Casino of the Rio All-Suite Hotel in Las Vegas. The 55-year-old man from Münster had just won the poker world championship and won the jackpot. 10 million US dollars!

“It’s incredible, I can’t understand this moment,” Ensan said at ESPN. The US television transmitted the 50th Main event of the World Series OF Poker (WSOP) live. “It’s the best feeling of my life. I have to go to sleep and wake up. Maybe then I’ll know I have the bracelet.” The prestigious trophy is given to every winner of a WSOP event in addition to the prize money. “Maybe it’s just a dream, I don’t know,” Ensan said.

Ensan, who was born in Tehran and came to Germany in 1990, won the final duel against Italian Dario Sammartino with strong nerves and is the second World Champion from Germany after Pius Heinz, who will collect 8.7 million US dollars in 2011. Heinz is now an entrepreneur and only plays poker as a hobby. “This is a great achievement. I am also happy for German poker that someone won after me”, he said to the “Bild”.

“One needs ability and a good run”

Ensan has been competing in major tournaments since 2013. Before his appearance in Las Vegas, he had reportedly raised $2.6 million in prize money. Ensan earned his big coup with a lot of stamina and strong nerves. “It went up and down. You need luck, you need skill and a good run. Everything worked,” said Ensan. 8567 gamblers were eliminated before the Texas Hold’Em variant was decided well after 2 am local time.

In the final duel with Sammartino Ensan received a pair of kings at the 301st hand of the final table. Ensan increased the stakes again and again, but his opponent didn’t let up and finally went all-in hoping for a straight or a flush (five cards of one suit). The last card revealed was a queen – she made Ensan 8.9 million euros richer.