Lauri Sääskilahti takes historic second place in poker main event

Finnish poker player Lauri Sääskilahti finished second in the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas, Yle reported. The tournament was won by 22-year-old American Lucas Jumalon.

Sääskilahti’s result is the best ever by a Finnish player in the event and makes him the first Finn to reach its final table. He will receive 6 million dollars, or about 5.2 million euros. Jumalon won 10 million dollars, approximately 8.7 million euros.

The deciding hand was also reported on the tournament’s X account. With four spades on the table and 100 million chips in the pot, Jumalon bet 180 million. Sääskilahti suspected a bluff and called with a pair of jacks, but Jumalon held the queen of spades, giving him the best possible flush.

More than 9,000 players entered

The tournament began in early July with 9,208 players. The final table, featuring the nine remaining players, was played over three days from August 3 to 5.

The previous Finnish record was Matti Kuortti’s 25th-place finish in 1997. Before the tournament, Sääskilahti had won just over 100,000 dollars in live tournaments.