American Lucas Jumalon came into the final table with the chip lead and has emerged US$10 million richer after defeating Finland’s Lauri Saaskilahti heads-up to win the 2026 WSOP Main Event.
The 22-year-old, from Washington, topped another massive field of 9,208 starters to take down poker’s ultimate prize and by far the biggest result of his young career.
Jumalon will be remembered in Australia as the man who ended Malcolm Trayner’s Main Event charge just short of the final table. As PokerMedia Australia previously reported, Trayner had looked like taking the chip lead into the final table before losing a massive pot to Jumalon when his Q♦Q♥ was out-flopped by Jumalon’s J♥J♣ – a hand that cost half his stack.
Trayner was also eliminated by Jumalon when he put his remaining chips in the middle holding J♣4♣ against K♣Q♦ on a 4♥8♥8♠ flop and could only watch on as his hand was counterfeited by the 9♠ turn and 9♣ river. Trayner finished 10th.
Jumalon becomes one of the youngest WSOP Main Event champions in history, just behind record holder Joe Cada who won the 2009 WSOP Main Event at the age of 21.
In comments to PokerNews after his victory, Jumalon said, “It’s a pure feeling of euphoria. (I feel like) I’m going to wake up tomorrow and be like ‘Are we playing again today?’
“I kind of take that mentality with everything. I love this game so much and it’s given me so much and given me so many great people. I just can’t be more thankful.”
WSOP CEO Ty Stewart said, “Youth is served at one of the most spirited final tables of all time. The 2026 Main Event and its live television coverage reminded us why we love this game and the people who play it.”
| Place | Player | Prize (US$) |
| 1 | Lucas Jumalon | $10,000,000 |
| 2 | Lauri Saaskilahti | $6,000,000 |
| 3 | Greg Mueller | $3,750,000 |
| 4 | Michael Gagliano | $2,750,000 |
| 5 | Han Feng | $2,250,000 |
| 6 | Rami Hammoud | $1,750,000 |
| 7 | Jamie Shaevel | $1,500,000 |
| 8 | Mario Boos | $1,250,000 |
| 9 | Evagoras Evagorou | $1,000,000 |
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