LAS VEGAS –The 2018 World Series of Poker champion is an Indianapolis resident and an Indiana University alum. John Cynn won the no-limit Texas Hold ’em main event Sunday at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Cynn takes home $8.8 million in grand prize money and a gold bracelet. He beat Tony Miles after playing him heads up for more than 10 hours. That made it the longest heads-up contest on record the World Series of Poker Main Event.
Cynn takes home the title two years after he finished 11th in the tournament and just missed a spot on the final table.
Miles had a significant chip lead on the final day, but Cynn took the lead early on Saturday. Then the two of them traded leads multiple times.
Cynn’s king of clubs and jack of clubs were better than Miles’ hand. Miles went all-in with the queen of clubs and the eight of hearts. The community cards were king of hearts, king of diamonds, five of hearts, eight of diamonds, and four of spades.
Cynn is from Evanston, Illinois originally, but now lives in Indianapolis.
With 7,874 total entries, the 2018 World Series of Poker main event has attracted the second largest field in the history of the tournament. Only the 2006 main event, which attracted 8,773 players, had a larger turnout.
(PHOTO:Lionel Bonaventure/AFP)
