Spokane's Lucas Jumalon Battles Finland's Lauri Saaskilahti for $10 Million WSOP Title

In Las Vegas, the World Series of Poker Main Event reaches its climax as Spokane native Lucas Jumalon faces Finland's Lauri Saaskilahti in a decisive heads-up showdown for a $10 million top prize. The final table was introduced with six men in black suits delivering the cash, which was arranged into a pyramid for the competitors to see. Jumalon arrived with a crew chanting “We Ready” and supporters wearing black, while Saaskilahti’s fans responded in white apparel with their own chants.

At the outset, Jumalon possessed 328 million chips (109 big blinds) compared with Saaskilahti’s 225 million chips (75 big blinds), with each big blind valued at 3 million chips. Former champion Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi opened the session, and early action saw both players trading pots, including a 35 million-chip pot that later grew to 57 million before Saaskilahti folded, leaving Jumalon ahead at 335 million chips to Saaskilahti’s 218 million.