GCU grad Lucas Jumalon, 22, wins World Series of Poker Main Event and $10M prize

Grand Canyon University graduate Lucas Jumalon won the World Series of Poker Main Event on Wednesday night, claiming the $10 million grand prize and becoming the second-youngest champion in the tournament’s history.

Jumalon, 22, defeated Finland’s Lauri Saaskilahti in a 17-hand heads-up match at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas to take the title, the coveted gold bracelet and the biggest payday in the business administration and analytics major’s young career.

“I’m so blessed. This is a dream come true,” Jumalon said on ESPN after the winning hand. “If you put the work in, and the time in, and you take your licks, you can go get anything in life.”

Jumalon’s king and six of diamonds held up when two more sixes appeared on the board, giving him three of a kind to clinch the title.

The Spokane, Washington, native entered the three-day final table as the commanding chip leader with 194 million chips and never relinquished the top spot.

Watch the winning moment, via PokerNews:

Saaskilahti earned $6 million as the runner-up.

The tournament drew 9,208 players, the fourth-largest field in WSOP history, each paying a $10,000 buy-in to generate an $85 million prize pool.

Jumalon’s previous career earnings totaled less than $200,000. He said his GCU coursework helped prepare him to manage the sudden windfall and that he already has a financial plan in place.

More than 15 GCU supporters were on hand, wearing custom T-shirts and chanting his name in a celebration Jumalon said carried him through the final table.

“Without my people here, I don’t know that I would have made it through,” he said.

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