New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Cynn claims poker title, collects $8.8 million prize in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — The
2018 World Series of Poker champion is an Indiana resident and professional player who barely missed the cut for the final table two years ago.
John Cynn won the series’ marquee no-limit Texas Hold ’em main event Sunday in Las Vegas, surrounded by a cheering crowd that included his dad. He eliminated Tony Miles on the 442th hand of the final table, after playing 199 hands just against each other with bricks of $100 bills and a gold bracelet at the table.
Cynn, 33, became $8.8 million richer after playing against Miles for more than 10 hours. He was visibly shocked, grabbed his head and momentarily crouched as the crowd roared after his win.
“Right now, I do feel pretty overwhelmed,” he said. “… The money is very significant, but I do like to think that I don’t need the money to be happy, but at the same time, practically, it’s going to make things a lot easier, things I want to do in life.”
He told reporters early Sunday that the money will be “life-changing” but does not have immediate plans to spend it.
Miles, a resident of Lake Mary, Florida, took home $5 million. He hugged many of his supporters after his defeat and shed some tears off stage.
Cynn’s final king of clubs and jack of clubs was stronger than Miles’, who went all in with queen of clubs and eight of hearts. The community cards were king of hearts, king of diamonds, five of hearts, eight of diamonds and four of spades.
Each of the nine players who made it to the final table was guaranteed at least $1 million. They represented the U.S., Australia, France and Ukraine.
The famed tournament this year drew more than 7,800 players who either risked $10,000 or earned a seat through satellite competitions with lower buyins. The series as a whole has attracted a record 123,838 entrants this year, surpassing last year’s record of 120,995 with one event still left.
Cynn, a native of Evanston, Illinois, now residing in Indianapolis, had previously cashed at various series tournaments and barely missed the main event’s final table two years ago, when he finished in 11th place and won $650,000. This year, he started play on the last night of the final table as the player with the second-most chips with 128.7 million.