Event #70: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event World Championship | 2022 World Series of Poker (2024)

Norwegian Espen Jorstad has won the 2022 World Series of Poker Main Event for $10,000,000 after an enthralling final day display at Paris & Bally's, Las Vegas. He defeated Australian Adrian Attenborough heads-up to top a field of 8,663 players, the second-largest in WSOP history.

Attenborough would have to settle for $6,000,000 while third-place finisher Michael Duek takes home $4,000,000.

Jorstad becomes the first Norwegian to win the WSOP Main Event, going one better than compatriot Felix Stephensen who finished as runner-up in 2014, overtaking Stephensen at the top of the Norwegian all-time money list in the process.

2022 WSOP Main Event Final Table Results

Winner's Reaction

Jorstad started the final day as the chip leader and watched as Attenborough sent Duek to the rail on just the tenth hand of the day. Just one hand later, the tournament could have been over only for Attenborough to tank-fold bottom pair after almost 20 minutes.

But a short while later, and after a slightly shorter tank, Attenborough did call for his tournament life only for Jorstad to turn over a rivered full house to become the latest poker world champion.

The first thing Jorstad did after clinching victory? Call his mother.

"She was crying and had trouble speaking. She's my biggest fan so it was kind of emotional," Jorstad told a crowd of reporters. "It feels really good."

Jorstad said that on Day 6 he told eventual heads-up opponent Attenborough that the Australian was the one player he didn't want to play heads-up against.

"But I did," said Jorstad. "I just got better cards than him today."

The $10,000,000 question is, what will Jorstad do now?

"My goal has been to reach into the High Roller scene and play more $25,000 tournaments and stuff like that. I've dipped my toes, but now I have a bigger bankroll to take some shots in those tournaments. I need to get in the lab and make sure I'm good enough to play them.

"And make some very sensible investments — cryptocurrencies and tech stocks, probably."

Final Day Recap

Play resumed on the final day with Jorstad in the lead. The opening exchanges saw Attenborough come out firing in an attempt to close the gap, while two early shoves from Duek showed that he wasn't ready to settle for third place.

Duek's Main Event run came to an end just ten days into the final day. He bet most of his stack with top pair, only for Attenborough to shove. Duek relucantly put the rest of his chips in, but had run into the nut straight of his opponent to finish in third for $4,000,000.

The Tank Heard Round the World

Heads-up play started with both players effectively even, albeit with Jorstad slightly ahead. The prospect of a marathon heads-up match beckoned, à la 2018 where heads-up play lasted 10 hours. However, the contest could have been over on the first hand.

Attenborough had three-bet pre-flop and bet on both flop and turn, before checking the river to Jorstad who put his opponent all in.

"How long was he tanking?" asked Jorstad. "It felt like an eternity. I was trying to focus on my breathing, did some meditation. I've been [meditating] on and off for an eternity. You focus on different body parts, focusing on each finger and just chilling in my zone."

Eventually, after almost 20 minutes, Attenborough folded only to double back instantly to prolong heads-up. However, another deep tank with the same hand saw Attenborough unavailable to lay it down again and Jorstad was the champion.

"I was curious how the match was going to go," said Jorstad. "The heads-up was almost finished in one hand which was kind of absurd. It went as expected. He's a really tough opponent, plays aggressively and finds good hero calls.

"He's a very tough opponent so it went as expected."

Runner-Up Attenborough: "I'm Super Proud

Runner-up Attenborough was left to reflect on a final hand that saw him come up just short.

"I ran really good and definitely don't deserve to win $6,000,000," Attenborough told Jeff Platt. "I was just along for the ride and it sucks. Such a big mistake at the end, but it's ok. I'm super proud."

Check out our interview table side with Sarah Herring.

Tags:Adrian AttenboroughEspen JorstadMichael Duek

Hand #215: In yet another limped pot to the flop, Adrian Attenborough check-raised from 4,000,000 to 14,000,000 and Espen Jorstad then clicked it back to 32,000,000 following one minute of consideration. Attenborough called rather quickly and the followed on the turn.

The check by Attenborough triggered Jorstad's bet worth 62,000,000 once he gave it a minute and a half to consider his options. One minute passed for Attenborough to make the call and he then checked quickly on the river with 200 million chips in the middle for yet another huge pot.

Jorstad emptied the clip with an effective shove for 131,000,000 as that's what Attenborough had behind. Yet another long tank by the Aussie followed with the same hand combination albeit off suit.

"Can I just jam for value one time and you tank? That would be nice," Attenborough joked with a smirk on the face towards his opponent after he was in the tank for a few minutes already.

"This one could be bad guys," the Aussie then remarked as he turned around to his rail. Once he focused back on the table and riffled the chips in agony. "You gonna be like why am I tanking with this hand but I really wanna call this time," the next table chatter followed.

All the while, Jorstad kept his laser-focused expression staring at the board and not giving away any emotion at all.

"What a game," Attenborough added and at some point even asked Jorstad "Do you have your eyes closed?" without receiving any reply at all.

"So many f*ckin combos," the next burst of chatter followed before Attenborough started counting his chips again and talked through a few possible hand combinations, keeping a dry smile on the face.

"I really wanna call, really badly, but I have such a bad hand," the conclusion followed before he added "I just never know what to do ... sorry guys," he even apologized.

Ultimately, more than eight minutes passed when Attenborough said "f*ck it" and finally talked himself into calling with the . Jorstad revealed the for deuces full of queens and has been crowned the 2022 WSOP Main Event champion. Another "f*ck" by the Aussie followed, who immediately told his rail it had been a "really bad call".

His run in the 2022 WSOP Main Event comes just short of the victory and Attenborough has to settle for a consolation prize of $6 million. Jorstad has won the second gold bracelet of the series and arguably the most prestigious one, which comes with a top prize of $10 million.

A recap of today's action along with the winner reaction are to follow.

Tags:Adrian AttenboroughEspen Jorstad

Hand #211: Espen Jorstad limped the small blind with the and Adrian Attenborough checked with his as both players checked through to the river. Attenborough checked once more and Jorstad took it down without

Hand #212: Attenborough raised on the button to 10,000,000 with and earned a call from Jorstad, who had the . On a flop of , Jorstad check-called for 4,000,000 and then checked the on the turn. Attenborough fired a second barrel worth 32,000,000 to earn a call from Jorstad and the river completed the board,

The third street in a row was checked by Jorstad and Attenborough bet 68,000,000 and this time, Jorstad got out of the way.

Hand #213: A limped pot led to the flop on which Attenborough check-raised from 4,000,000 to 12,000,000. Within fewer than half a minute, Jorstad called and the appeared on the turn. The check by Attenborough followed and he then called a min-bet by Jorstad.

Both headed to the river on which Attenborough checked once more and Jorstad bet 28,000,000 this time. Attenborough eventually called with the but his kicker was no good, as Jorstad held the .

Hand #214: The button raise by Attenborough to 10,000,000 with earned a call from Jorstad with and they headed to the flop. Jorstad check-called a min-bet and the turn produced a second flush draw with neither player investing any chips at this point

On the river, Jorstad bet 15,000,000 and Attenborough instantly folded.

Tags:Adrian AttenboroughEspen Jorstad

Hand #206: Adrian Attenborough limped the small blind with the and Espen Jorstad defended the big blind holding the to see a flop of . Jorstad check-called for 4,000,000 and the turn was checked by both. On the river, both checked once more and Jorstad won the pot with jacks up.

Hand #207: Jorstad limped in from the button with and Attenborough with the raised to 18,000,000 in the big blind, which won the pot right there without any resistance.

Hand #208: Attenborough raised the button to 10,000,000 with and Jorstad came over the top with a three-bet to 42,000,000 with , which earned the pot right there following an instant fold by the Aussie.

Hand #209: Jorstad made it 10,000,000 to go on the button with and Attenborough defended the big blind with the , which led to the flop. No betting action led to the turn and both players checked once more to the river. Attenborough now bet 28,000,000 and that won the pot uncontested.

Hand #210: Attenborough raised the button to 10,000,000 with and picked up a swift call by Jorstad, who had the , to see a flop of . The duo checked to the turn and Jorstad's bet of 8,000,000 was called, which led to the on the river.

Jorstad bet just 8,000,000 once more and Attenborough called for the Norwegian to reveal his trips jacks, regaining a narrow lead.

Tags:Adrian AttenboroughEspen Jorstad

Hand #202: Adrian Attenborough raised to 10,000,000 with the . Espen Jorstad three-bet to 42,000,000 with the and Attenborough folded.

Hand #203: Espen Jorstad limped the and Adrian Attenborough checked with the . The pair checked the flop and the turn.

The river was the and Attenborough checked again. Jorstad bet 6,000,000. Attenborough called and won the pot.

Hand #204: Adrian Attenborough raised to 10,000,000 with the . and Espen Jorstad called with . The flop was and Jorstad check-called 4,000,000. The turn was the and Jorstad checked. Attenborough bet 32,000,000 and Jorstad folded.

Hand #205: In a limped pot Attenborough check-folded to a bet of 4,000,000 on the flop when his missed, as Jorstad bet his for a gutshot.

Tags:Adrian AttenboroughEspen Jorstad

Hand #198: Adrian Attenborough limped the small blind with and Espen Jorstad checked in the big blind with . They checked all the way to the river on which Jorstad checked once more. Attenborough bet 8,500,000 and Jorstad folded.

Hand #199: Jorstad raised to 10,000,000 on the button with to win the pot.

Hand #200: Attenborough raised the button to 10,000,000 with and Jorstad gave up the big blind and big blind ante.

Hand #201: Jorstad opened it up to 10,000,000 on the button for Attenborough to defend the big blind. They headed to the flop on which Attenborough check-called for 16,000,000. On the turn, Attenborough checked once more and Jorstad then fired a bet worth 42,000,000.

The fell on the river and the Aussie checked the third street in a row. Jorstad tanked for nearly one and a half minutes before he jammed his and Attenborough snap-called within two seconds to double into the lead for 68,500,000 with the .

Tags:Adrian AttenboroughEspen Jorstad

Hand #197: Espen Jorstad raised to 7,500,000 with and Adrian Attenborough three-bet to 26,000,000 with .

Jorstad called and the flop came . Attenborough continued for 16,000,000 and Jorstad called.

The turn was the . Attenborough bet 58,000,000 and Jorstad called again.

The completed the board. Attenborough checked it over to Jorstad who took his time before announcing all in.

Attenborough went deep into the tank. He put his hands on his head and rubbed his eyes before counting out his stack.

"I love this hand," remarked Attenborough after two minutes, contemplating his opponent's holdings. "If you have king-queen..."

Attenborough pondered both his and his opponent's holdings, leaning on the table with his head in his hands.

"This would be pretty cool if you called time," said Attenborough as the clock ticked into nine minutes. "This is tough."

"He's going to show me..." he said, leaning back in his chair and muttering to himself. ""So many combos of value," he said after around 12 minutes.

"It's just when I get to this river it's like...," he trailed off again. "You do have some kings."

Eventually, Attenborough folded.

"You bluffed me hey? F*ck," said Attenborough. "Nice hand. Should have called that. Nine-seven suited?"

"I'm interested to see what you had," said Jorstad

"I just didn't know if you jammed queen-jack off on the river," said Attenborough.

Tags:Adrian AttenboroughEspen Jorstad

With Espen Jorstad holding a slight chip lead heads-up, the final two players of the 2022 WSOP Main Event have retaken their seats.