Lucas Jumalon Becomes 22-year-old WSOP Main Event Winner in Las Vegas

Before Wednesday night, the 22-year-old Lucas Jumalon’s biggest tournament win was a Daily Deepstack event in Las Vegas for $22,495. Today, he is the latest champion of the world and one of the youngest ever to win the WSOP Main Event. On Day 6 of the 2026 WSOP Main Event, he had shared a joke with the Finnish player Lauri Saaskilahti that they might end the event heads-up for the title. That prophecy came true and both men produced a classic on ESPN on Wednesday night.

Two Early Hands Define the Day

“I only have the jack… but I think the jack might be good.”

Heading into the final table with a little under 60% of the chips in play, Lucas Jumalon was a slight favorite to claim the title against his 40-year-old poker professional opponent Lauri Saaskilahti. The Finnish player, who currently lives in Spain, came into the action with all the momentum, having taken out Greg Mueller in third place on the previous night to bump his stack to 225 million chips. Jumalon, however, still had the lead and eventually used it to devastating effect.

Coached by Patrick ‘Pads’ Leonard among others, the 22-year-old very nearly had the title in the bag after getting lucky. Having established a near 3:1 chip lead, Jumalon was all-in with ace-nine, putting the pressure on Saaskilahti who called with ace-ten with a diamond. A two-diamond flop was followed by another on the turn, but it was a nine, meaning Jumalon was one card away from the trophy, only needing to fade a fourth diamond on the board or a ten that would give the Finn the winning hand. The six of diamonds on the river gave Saaskilahti a way back into the match as he doubled his stack.

The pivotal hand was right around the corner, as the very next deal that was produced denied Saaskilahti any momentum at all and sent him plummeting to just ten big blinds. On a board with four spades, including the ace and king, Jumalon moved all-in with the absolute nuts, his hand containing the queen of spades for the nut flush.

“I only have the jack… but I think the jack might be good.” Saaskilahti said, convincing himself that his offsuit third pair might be the best hand. Taking a long time, the Finn eventually called, and Jumalon turned over the winner knowing he was tantalizingly close to achieving his dream.

The Final Hand Produces a Champion

With just 10 big blinds, Saaskilahti needed to find a spot to get the chips in… and quick. He found it with ace-seven and when the chips were in the middle, he was ahead, but not by much. Jumalon’s king-six was live, and he flopped a six, moving into the lead and putting himself just two cards from the title.

As it happened, it was only one.

A six landed on the turn and with it, Lucas Jumalon became the second-youngest world champion in poker history, eclipsing all except the 21-year-old Joe Cada who won the title in 2009 when he beat the late, legendary logger Darvin Moon. Taking home $10,000,000, the humble hero explained that he wouldn’t go crazy but also that he didn’t even know what he would do with the money when it was in his account. What 22-year-old would?

As he was overcome by the emotion of his achievement, Jumalon was at turns embraced by his family and friends and congratulated by his opponent. By winning the World Championship at the age of just 22, Jumalon put his name forever in the history books, winning the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event in style.

Young Winner Congratulated by Cada

“Youth is served at one of the most spirited final tables of all time.”

The second-youngest winner of the Main Event so far, Lucas Jumalon takes over the role of world champion and the game’s unofficial ambassador from a man twice his age. GGPoker Global Ambassador and 10-time WSOP bracelet winner Michael Mizrachi is old enough to be Jumalon’s father, but in announcing “Shuffle Up and Deal” on the final day, ‘Grinder’ passed the torch.

Negotiating a vast field of 9,208 players, Jumalon’s win was one for the ages. World Series of Poker Chief Executive Officer Ty Stewart credited the power of youth in his statement following the Main Event.

“Youth is served at one of the most spirited final tables of all time,” he said. “The 2026 Main Event and its live television coverage reminded us why we love this game and the people who play it.”

The 2009 champion Joe Cada – the only man younger than Jumalon to win the Main Event – wrote on X about his satisfaction in seeing the younger man win the final.

“I’m so happy for Lucas, [he] seems like a great kid, very well deserved.” Cada said.

After three weeks of waiting for the final table to play out, the action more than justified the pause and it seems likely that the WSOP will replicate the structuring of the Main Event in 2027, albeit possibly without the shot clock.

The latest world champion has been confirmed and the 2026 WSOP Main Event winner is Lucas Jumalon, a hero for the younger poker players to emulate in the future.