The 2021 Main Event has concluded and German pro Koray Aldermir has been crowned champion. The Final Table played out over two days with Aldermir holding the chip lead for the majority, before eventually defeating George Holmes heads up to take home first place prize money of $8 million, while Holmes took home $4.3 million.
Brits Jareth East and Jack Oliver also had huge success at the final table, with East taking home $1.1 million and Jack Oliver becoming a millionaire, winning $3 million.
East, who has won over $4 million playing online, entered the final table with just 10 big blinds remaining and quickly found himself all-in against American George Holmes. East open shoved ace-jack and was called by Holmes who showed pocket queens. An ace on the flop was not enough as Holmes flopped a set and had East drawing dead on the turn. East was eliminated in 8th but took home a very respectable $1.1 million.
An even bigger success came for amateur player Jack Oliver. Oliver, a 26 year old car salesman had recorded his total poker earnings prior to the Main Event at $117,414 with his biggest cash coming when he won the $400 buy-in NLH Double Stack Extravaganza IV for $27,947 in 2019.
Oliver entered the final table second place in chips and found himself one of only 3 remaining players on day 9. He battled with Holmes to get heads up with Aldermir, who held a huge chip lead at the time, but three hours into the final day we saw his demise when he open shoved ace-eight and was called by Holmes with queen-jack. The board ran out jack high, and Oliver was eliminated in 3rd place, taking home $4 million for his efforts and catapulting him from 19,366th on the England All Time Money List all the way up to 29th!
In an interview with Jeff Platt after his elimination, Oliver said: ’Of course it’s going to change my life in some ways – it’s a lot of money – but as much as it is about the money it’s kind of not.
‘I play poker for the love of the game and will continue to do so and hopefully play a lot more poker in the years to come.’
