This Week's Big Winner: Jens Kyllonen Wins $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller at 2016 WSOP

One of the biggest World Series of Poker tournaments of the summer came in pot-limit Omaha with the $25,000 buy-in championship event. A total of 184 players entered the event, creating a prize pool of more than $4.3 million.

In the end, the title went to Finnish high-stakes poker pro Jens Kyllonen. The 26-year-old earned his first bracelet, and the $1,127,035 first-place prize, which nearly doubled his live tournament earnings to $2.5 million. Kyllonen topped a tough final table and had to defeat pot-limit Omaha specialist Tommy Le heads-up. Le had already taken fifth in the $1,500 and third in the $10,000 pot-limit Omaha events this summer.

Here are the five biggest hands that propelled Kyllonen to the win.

The Action

With nine players left, Sean Winter raised to 200,000 from under the gun and Robert Mizrachi called on the button. Jens Kyllonen called from the big blind and the flop came down 10 6 4. Kyllonen led out for a pot-sized bet of 640,000 and Winter folded. Mizrachi then moved all in for 2,000,000 and Kyllonen instantly called with A J 10 2 for top pair and the nut flush draw. Mizrachi had J 10 10 9, however, for top set. According to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator, Mizrachi was a 73 percent favorite to win the hand and double up. Unfortunately for him, the turn and river fell 9 then J to give Kyllonen a flush and set up the official final table.

The Action

Early on at the final table, Jens Kyllonen raised to 200,000 on the button and Sean Winter responded by moving all in for 510,000 from the small blind. Kyllonen called with K Q 10 2, which was a 41-percent underdog to Winter’s K J J 8. The flop brought something for both players, however, when it came K J 9. Winter flopped a set of jacks, but Kyllonen flopped the nut straight. Winter was 31 percent to come from behind, but the 8 and 3 ended his tournament run in eighth place, good for $110,035.

The Action

With just three players remaining, Dan Smith raised to 1,050,000 on the button and Jens Kyllonen called from the big blind. The flop came down 10 9 2 and Kyllonen bet the pot for 2,250,000. Smith raised the pot and Kyllonen called all in with 10 8 6 4 for top pair and a gutshot-straight draw. Smith turned over A A Q J for an overpair and an open-ended straight draw for a 63 percent chance of knocking out Kyllonen. Unfortunately for Smith, the turn and river were the 3 and 6, giving Kyllonen two pair and a massive double up. Smith was left with just five big blinds, and although he fought back several times, he ultimately busted in third place, earning $487,361.

The Action

After quickly losing his chip lead by doubling up Tommy Le, Jens Kyllonen found himself down nearly 2-1. Le raised to 1,800,000 from the button and Kyllonen three-bet to 5,400,000. Le asked for a total and then reraised the pot, and Kyllonen called all-in for 7,500,000. Le showed K 9 8 3, but he was only 32 percent to win the tournament against Kyllonen’s A A 7 3. The flop ended any possible drama when it came down A A 9 and Kyllonen doubled back into the chip lead.

The Action

After stretching out his lead a bit more, Jens Kyllonen called a pot-sized raise of 1,800,000 from Tommy Le. The flop fell 10 4 2 and Kyllonen checked. Le bet 3,600,000 and Kyllonen raised. Le called all in with A 9 8 7 for the nut flush draw, but Kyllonen held Q 10 5 3 for top pair and an open-ended straight draw. The 5 and 3 failed to improve Le, and he was eliminated in second place, taking home $696,558. Kyllonen earned the title, the bracelet, and the $1,127,035 first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. Jens Kyllonen — $1,127,035
2. Tommy Le — $696,558
3. Dan Smith — $487,361
4. Ryan D’Angelo — $347,641
5. Veselin Karakitukov — $252,909
6. Dmitry Savelyev — $187,724
7. Ludovic Geilich — $142,227
8. Sean Winter — $110,035