This Week's Big Winner: Qui Nguyen’s Top 10 Hands From the WSOP Main Event Final Table

The November Nine had already locked up $1 million each at the 2016 World Series of Poker main event, but all of them had their eyes locked on the $8,005,310 first-place prize reserved for the eventual winner.

In the end, the title went to Qui Nguyen, a Vietnam-born, former nail salon owner who has lived in Las Vegas for the last nine years. The 39-year-old professional gambler had previous lifetime tournament earnings of just $52,896, but after three days of ESPN televised poker action, he was crowned as this year’s world champion.

Here are the 10 biggest hands from the final table that propelled Nguyen to the win.

Tournament: WSOP Main Event
Buy-In: $10,000
No. of Entries; 6,737
Prize Pool: $63,340,268
1st Place Prize: $8,005,310

The Action

Josephy came into the final table with a comfortable lead, but was immediately tested on the very first hand of play by the second biggest stack in Nguyen. Nguyen opened with a raise to 1,250,000 from the hijack and Josephy three-bet to 3,200,000. Nguyen, not wanting to be pushed around, four-bet to 8,250,000 with just Q-9 offsuit. Josephy folded his weak ace and Nguyen temporarily seized the chip lead, while simultaneously sending a message to the rest of the table that he wasn’t afraid to put chips into the pot.

The Action

Hallaert raised to 2,300,000 from under the gun and Nguyen three-bet to 5,700,000 from the cutoff. Hallert then moved all in for 35,625,000 and Nguyen immediately called with pocket aces. Hallaert was in major trouble with A Q, but did find some hope in a flop of Q 5 4. Unfortunately for him, the turn and river were the 7 and 4, ending his tournament run in sixth place. He pocketed $1,464,258 for his effort.

The Action

Although it was Vayo who did most of the dirty work on the previous hand, it was Nguyen who got the honor of knocking Ruzicka out and securing a $640,000 pay jump. Ruzicka moved all in for 700,000 on the button and Nguyen raised to 5,000,000 to isolate from the small blind. Josephy folded his big blind and Ruzicka turned over A 7. Unfortunately for him, Nguyen held a dominating A Q. The board rolled out 6 4 2 5 4 and Nguyen’s high cards were enough to bust Ruzicka. For his fifth-place finish, Ruzicka picked up $1,935,288.

The Action

Vayo raised to 2,300,000 from under the gun and Nguyen called on the button. Ruane called from the big blind and the three players saw a flop of 10 7 3. Ruane checked and Vayo bet 2,800,000. Nguyen called and Ruane folded. The turn was the 4 and Vayo bet 7,700,000. Nguyen then raised to 24,400,000 and Vayo folded his top pair, top kicker. With that pot, Nguyen regained the chip lead.

The Action

Nguyen raised to 2,700,000 from under the gun and Michael Ruane three-bet shoved for his last 15,700,000 from the small blind. After getting a count, Nguyen made the call with A J, which was ahead of Nguyen’s K Q. The board ran out 9 9 2 J 8 and, despite turning ten outs, Ruane was eliminated in fourth place, banking $2,576,003.

The Action

Nguyen completed from the small blind and Josephy checked his option in the big blind. The flop came down A 10 3 and Nguyen bet 1,900,000. Josephy called and the turn was the 9. Nguyen bet 3,900,000 and Josephy raised to 9,000,000. Nguyen called and the 6 fell on the river. Nguyen checked and Josephy bet 16,000,000. Nguyen called and Josephy could only show down J 3 for bottom pair. Nguyen turned over A 8, however, for top pair and the pot. Josephy was left with just 12 big blinds and was eliminated in third place on the very next hand.

The Action

Vayo raised to 4,000,000 on the button and Nguyen called from the big blind. The flop was A 10 9 and Nguyen checked. Vayo bet 3,700,000 and Nguyen check-raised to 9,700,000. Vayo called and the turn was the K. Nguyen bet 27,700,000 and Vayo called. The river was the K and Nguyen moved all in. Vayo had 106,900,000 behind, but opted to save it as he mucked his hand. It was enough to give Nguyen a 2:1 chip lead.

The Action

Vayo raised to 5,000,000 on the button and Nguyen three-bet to 14,900,000 from the big blind. Vayo called and the flop fell A 8 2. Nguyen bet 17,900,000 and Vayo took a minute before making the call. The turn was the 5 and both players checked. The river was the 3, putting four spades on board, and Nguyen moved all in. Vayo had 57,600,000 behind, but after about a minute of thought, he folded his hand and Nguyen picked up the pot.

The Action

Nguyen raised to 6,700,000 on the button and Vayo called from the big blind. The flop came down 9 4 2 and Vayo checked. Nguyen bet 9,700,000 and Vayo called. The turn was the 10 and Vayo checked again. Nguyen bet 27,700,000 and Vayo tanked for a minute before making the call. The river was the 5 and Vayo checked once again. Nguyen then moved all in for Vayo’s last 73,200,000. Vayo spent a couple minutes in thought before folding and Nguyen dragged the huge pot.

The Action

Nguyen raised to 8,500,000 from the button and Gordon Vayo moved all in for 53,000,000 from the big blind. Nguyen quickly called with K 10, which had Vayo’s J 10 dominated. The flop of K 9 7 paired Nguyen, but gave Vayo eight outs with a double gutshot straight draw. The turn was the 2, leaving Vayo with just a 17 percent chance of doubling up. The river was the 3, and Vayo was eliminated in second place.

Final Table Results

1. Qui Nguyen — $8,005,310
2. Gordon Vayo — $4,661,228
3. Cliff Josephy — $3,453,035
4. Michael Ruane — $2,576,003
5. Vojtech Ruzicka — $1,935,288
6. Kenny Hallaert — $1,464,258
7. Griffin Benger — $1,250,190
8. Jerry Wong — $1,100,076
9. Fernando Pons — $1,000,000