Greg Merson won the World Series of Poker Main Event early Wednesday morning after playing with three hands for 11 hours. Sylvia earned $5.29 million in second place, while Jake Balsiger earned $3.79 million in third place.

With this win, Merson won the 2012 WSOP Player of the Year award over Phil Hellmuth, who won the WSOP European Main Event this fall.

All three players retained their chip leads at some point during the Samson play.

Merson started the game on Tuesday with 88.35 million chips. Merson started the third game on Monday with 28.725 million chips

In terms of hands, this was the longest main event finals table in WSOP history. It took more than 13 hours with 399 hands to win the Merson Champion.

Merson eliminated Balciger just 11 hours into Tuesday evening's game. And about an hour later, he removed Sylvia from the tournament.

"I just had to keep grinding it," Merson said after winning the championship. "People play too tight or too loose a half-suit. But for the most part, these three-handed races were pretty solid."

"You can't let fatigue get in your way," Merson added. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I pushed myself in the past playing poker for hundreds of hours (for this reason). And you probably never get that opportunity again."

Merson also noted that his experience gave him an edge over Balciger. "There was a place where his handwriting was cut off and he probably called from where I thought Jesse or I wouldn't have done that."

Merson said his next goal in poker is to "play the biggest cash game in the world."

Merson beat Sylvia in the 17th minute when his kd-5d caught Sylvia's Qs-Js. Merson had 117.6 million chips when the head-up play began. Sylvia had 80.6 million.

"I'm just happy, man," Sylvia said. "If you had said earlier in the tournament that I was in second place, I would have said, 'OK, deal.'

Merson Wins WSOP Main Event

 Greg Merson won the World Series of Poker Main Event early Wednesday morning after playing with three hands for 11 hours. Sylvia earned $5.29 million in second place, while Jake Balsiger earned $3.79 million in third place.

With this win, Merson won the 2012 WSOP Player of the Year award over Phil Hellmuth, who won the WSOP European Main Event this fall.

All three players retained their chip leads at some point during the Samson play.

Merson started the game on Tuesday with 88.35 million chips. Merson started the third game on Monday with 28.725 million chips

In terms of hands, this was the longest main event finals table in WSOP history. It took more than 13 hours with 399 hands to win the Merson Champion.

Merson eliminated Balciger just 11 hours into Tuesday evening's game. And about an hour later, he removed Sylvia from the tournament. 바카라사이트 추천

"I just had to keep grinding it," Merson said after winning the championship. "People play too tight or too loose a half-suit. But for the most part, these three-handed races were pretty solid."

"You can't let fatigue get in your way," Merson added. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I pushed myself in the past playing poker for hundreds of hours (for this reason). And you probably never get that opportunity again."

Merson also noted that his experience gave him an edge over Balciger. "There was a place where his handwriting was cut off and he probably called from where I thought Jesse or I wouldn't have done that."

Merson said his next goal in poker is to "play the biggest cash game in the world."

Merson beat Sylvia in the 17th minute when his kd-5d caught Sylvia's Qs-Js. Merson had 117.6 million chips when the head-up play began. Sylvia had 80.6 million.

"I'm just happy, man," Sylvia said. "If you had said earlier in the tournament that I was in second place, I would have said, 'OK, deal.'