WSOP 2012 – Greg Merson Comes Up Trumps

The October Nine have played, and last week or the week before, we did a little expose on the champ. Not that we knew he was going to win, after all he had a one in nine chance, it is just that his poker story was an inspiration to us, and could be an inspiration to many other people who are fighting the battle against drug addiction.

Greg Merson was the winner, and this poker pro maintains that his passion for playing poker saved his life, in his own battle against drug addiction. Winning the World Series of Poker Main Event is a very big deal indeed, and on Wednesday morning the 1st November, 2012, Merson showed us the mettle that has made him a World Champion.

This 24 year old man Maryland cleared a field of 6,598 players during the course of the series, and at the end of the game, came out $8,531,853, richer, as well as the wearer of the coveted WSOP Main Event bracelet. This year the bracelet was redesigned by Jason of Beverly Hills. It features 160 grams of 14 Karat gold, and 35 karats of flawless diamonds. The value is  priceless.

Nevertheless Greg Merson now sports the bracelet after a marathon session at the table lasting 398 hands. Apparently this the longest ever poker session in a World Series event. Merson went heads up against Jesse Sylvia (another favourite) who obviously came second, and took home a not too shabby $5,295,149! Not a bad take home pay for playing 398 hands of poker.

Greg Merson is also the first player since Chris Ferguson to win a preliminary WSOP, as well as the Main Event Bracelet in a single year. This young champion has now gone into the lead from Phil Hellmuth for the WSOP Player of the Year.