John Cynn defeats Tony Miles for 2018 WSOP Main Event win
The 2018 World Series of Poker’s most anticipated event has come to an end. With 7,874 players competing, the Main Event at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino generated $74,015,600 in total prize money with the first-place winner taking home $8.8 million. In the end, it was John Cynn and Tony Miles competing in heads-up play, for more than 10 hours, before Cynn was named the champion.
Cynn is no stranger to the Main Event, having made it to the bubble in 2016, just missing his shot at sitting in the November Nine that year. For 2018, Cynn went all-in with his game play and was able to earn the win after a grueling heads-up match.
Lasting over 10 hours, the heads-up round served as a test for both poker players as they had to endure a long period of time at the table and remain on top of their game. It took 199 hands before the winner was named.
While the matchup lasted for what seemed like forever, it finally ended when Cynn flopped trip kings and called a bet from Miles. Miles eventually shoved when he paired his eight but drew dead, giving Cynn the win.
In speaking with the WSOP, Cynn commented on how he finished 11th two years ago then won this year, stating that he ‘felt different’ and that neither is supposed to happen. “To make 11th is insane on its own. And then to win, that’s literally something that you dream of, but just never expect to happen. Right now, I do feel pretty overwhelmed. All the emotions times 10.”
Final Results:
| First | John Cynn | $8,800,000 |
| Second | Tony Miles | $5,000,000 |
| Third | Michael Dyer | $3,750,000 |
| Fourth | Nicolas Manion | $2,825,000 |
| Fifth | Joe Cada | $2,150,000 |
| Sixth | Aram Zobian | $1,800,000 |
| Seventh | Alex Lynskey | $1,500,000 |
| Eighth | Artem Metalidi | $1,250,000 |
| Ninth | Antoine Labat | $1,000,000 |