Jean "Prince" Gaspard Wins World Series of Poker $10,000 Dealer's Choice Event

If you’ve spent any time in the poker world, you’ve undoubtedly run across Jean Gaspard. The 44-year-old poker pro and gambler is better known as Prince by his opponents and has been a regular face on the tournament circuit despite some up and down years.

Gaspard, a native of Haiti, was the last man standing in the 2016 World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in dealer’s choice event. For his efforts over three days, he earned his first career bracelet and $306,621, the largest score of his career. He now has more than $2.2 million in live tournament earnings.

Once a professional basketball player overseas and a prospect for the Chicago Bulls, Gaspard turned to poker in 2003. His previous biggest score came when he won the WSOP Circuit main event in New Orleans back in 2009 for $211,722.

“I only play for first place,” said Gaspard. “When I walk into the tournament, I just see what first place pays. I don’t even look at anything else. I reach for the sky. I’ve done a lot of things in poker. I’ve gone deep many times. But in the past I have been my own enemy. This time, my mind is where it needs to be. It’s almost like I am seeing through their hands. I was in the zone this entire three days.”

The event drew a field of 118, creating a total prize pool of $1,109,200. The final table featured a number of accomplished players including Viacheslav Zhukov (6th), Randy Ohel (4th) and John Monnette (3rd). Monnette was making his second appearance at a WSOP final table this summer, after previously finishing second in the $1,500 no-limit 2-7 event.

Other notable players to make the money included James Obst (7th), Andrew Brown (8th), Dan Smith (9th), Alex Kostritsyn (10th), Richard Ashby (11th), Adam Owen (12th), Jennifer Harman (13th), Eric Wasserson (15th), Brian Hastings (16th) and David Chiu (17th).

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:

For more coverage from the summer series, visit the 2016 WSOP landing page complete with a full schedule, news, player interviews and event recaps.

*Winner photo courtesy of the World Series of Poker

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