WSOP - Past Seasons

Joe Cada crowned World Champion

Congratulations to PokerStars player Joe Cada on becoming WSOP* Main Event Champion! In the early hours of November 10, 2009, Joe beat final table chip leader Darvin Moon to become the youngest ever Main Event Champ. The 21-year old from Shelby Township, Michigan, takes home $8,547,042 in first place prize money and the coveted gold winner’s bracelet.

Joe began the final table fifth in chips and at one point his stack dwindled as low as two million. He was able to battle back in dramatic fashion however and entered the heads-up finale against Moon as chip leader. It was an epic battle and the lead exchanged hands several times, but Joe was able to stay focused, and the end came when his 9-9 held up against Moon’s Q-J suited.

PokerStars player Eric Buchman finished in fourth place for $2,502,787, and PokerStars qualifier Kevin Schaffel ended his run in eighth for $1,300,228.

For all the details check out the PokerStars Blog, and take a look at PokerStars.tv for an interview with the new World Champion.

PokerStars players dominate at the Main Event

The 2009 World Series of Poker* proved to be another huge year for PokerStars qualifiers and Team PokerStars Pro, as players descended on Las Vegas to compete in the 57 events and play for millions of dollars. Hundreds of PokerStars satellite qualifiers joined the 6,494 players that made up the Main Event field, creating a total prize pool of $61,043,600. Some 113 PokerStars qualifiers and players cashed over the course of the tournament.

Current World Series Main Event Champion and Team PokerStars Pro Peter Eastgate made a strong defence of his title, going deep and finishing in 78th place for $68,979, while another Team PokerStars Pro, Dennis Phillips and went even deeper, busting in 45th for $178,857 and almost making a fairy tale return to the final table.

In other events, there were two bracelet wins for Team Poker Stars Pro, as Jason Mercier and Angel Guillen both took down events. Mercier, the Season 4 EPT San Remo champion, added a WSOP* bracelet to his list of achievements when he won Event 5: $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha, pocketing $237,462 for the win. Guillen, one of the rising stars of Latin American poker, scooped Event 32: $2,000 No Limit Hold’em, finished second in Event 13: $2,500 No Limit Hold’em, and even cashed in the Main Event - for winnings of $846,238 – a stand-out performance from one of Team PokerStars Pro’s newest members.

As ever, the PokerStars Blog was there every step of the way. Take a look at the coverage from our expert bloggers, with details of the tournaments played at the Rio. PokerStars.tv was also there, with plenty of interviews and updates from PokerStars players, during the action-packed series.

PokerStars Player Jonathan Duhamel Wins the 2010 World Series Main Event!

After days of long and intense action, and a four month wait for the final table, the 2010 World Series of Poker* Main Event finally has a new Champion, and its PokerStars-sponsored player Jonathan Duhamel! He takes home an incredible $8,944,310 for his victory over the 7,319-strong player field. Jonathan began November’s final table as the chip leader with a huge stack of 65,975,000. After a few knocks to his stack, he still held a dominating chip lead over runner-up John Racener when heads-up play began, and managed to bust his opponent in just 43 hands. Fellow PokerStars player Jason Senti also scored big, finishing in 7th place for a huge cash of $1,356,720.

There were also significant Main Event cashes for tons of other qualifiers and players, including Brandon Steven, who just missed out on making the final table when he busted out in 10th. See the PokerStars Blog for a full round up of all the action, and PokerStars.tv for the latest interviews and videos.

It was also another great year for Team PokerStars Pro. Johnny Lodden made it to the last three tables, taking away $317,161 for eventually finishing in 27th. There were also cashes for JP Kelly (111th), Gualter Salles (117th), Andre Coimbra (311th) and Greg Debora (386th).

The team also scored some big results earlier in the series. Stand-out performances included Daniel Negreanu, who cashed five times, including two final tables, for a total of more than $150,000. There were also seven cashes for fellow Canadian Pat Pezzin, including a final table finish in a $1,500 Seven Card Stud event. Elsewhere Alex Kravchenko, Dario Minieri, Jose Barbero and George Danzer also all made final table appearances. Friend of PokerStars Bill Chen meanwhile came close to winning his third bracelet when he finished as runner-up in the $3,000 HORSE event for a cash of $203,802.

* WORLD SERIES OF POKER and WSOP are trademarks of Caesars License Company, LLC ("Caesars"). Caesars does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with PokerStars or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.

Team PokerStars Pro Pius Heinz Wins the 2011 WSOP* Main Event for $8,715,638!

Pius Heinz has been crowned new World Series Champion in Las Vegas. After starting the November Nine as one of the shortest stacks, Pius played a solid game that saw him steadily build a monster stack going into three-handed play. He was out-chipped against runner-up Martin Staszko for parts of the heads-up battle, but managed to fight back. He finally booked the win when all the chips went in with Pius’ A-K crushing Martin’s 10-7. Aged just 22, it’s a life-changing win for Pius, and one that instantly makes him one of the highest-earning poker players of all time! Check the PokerStars Blog for more on Pius’ win.

If you want to qualify for the 2012 World Series, check out the dedicated 2012 WSOP* page.

Congratulations to all PokerStars qualifiers who made it to 2012 World Series of Poker (WSOP)* at the Rio in Las Vegas. The $10,000 Main Event was won by Greg Merson who scooped the title, gold winner’s bracelet and $8,531,853 in cash from a total prize pool of $62,021,200.

Check the PokerStars Blog for full details of how the series played out.

If you have any questions about World Series qualification, contact wsop@pokerstars.eu.

* World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively Caesars). Caesars does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with, PokerStars or its products, services, promotions or tournaments. Any promotion or tournament on this site will not guarantee your seat or ability to register for any WSOP event or any WSOP affiliated event which is at the sole discretion of Caesars.

** Real money play on PokerStars is not allowed while physically located within the United States of America under any circumstances. Players who attempt to play for real money while they are physically located in the USA will lose their playing privileges and/or funds in their account. Further information is available online at http://www.pokerstars.eu/usaplayers/faq/