Two Little-Known Brits Win Big at World Series of Poker 2024
The world’s biggest gambling event, the World Series of Poker, is underway in Las Vegas. Last year, the annual festival attracted 214,641 entrants from more than 114 different countries, and more than $403 million in prize money was distributed. American Daniel Weinman took the largest individual prize. He won $12.1 million when landing the Main Event.
Two weeks and 25 events into the World Series of Poker, American players have secured the bulk of 2024’s competitions and cash. However, two little-known British players have landed titles, and the first $1 million series prize has fallen to an Australian.
Malcolm Traynor (right) won the first $1 million prize at the 2024 World Series of Poker. ©WorldPokerTour
Proceedings opened with a $5,000 Champions Reunion event, which gave previous Main Event winners a free seat in the tournament. Only four past champions reached a cash-paying position. Greg Merson (2012 Main Event winner) finished 67th, Daniel Weinman took 52nd, 1995 champion Dan Harrington finished 37th, and the 2016 champion, Qui Nguyen, came 21st.
First Timers Do Good in Vegas
Ultimately, only one previous World Series of Poker bracelet winner made it to the final table of the 493-player tournament – Frenchman Jonathan Pastore, who finished fourth – and it was America’s Asher Conniff who won his first bracelet and the first 2024 Series event netting a $408,464 prize.
Later the same day, overcoming a considerably bigger field of 3,485 players, a former policeman turned businessman from Swindon, Dan Willis, landed the UK its first bracelet of 2024. His prize was $175,578. It was a handsome return from a $500 investment.
Fourteen of the final 15 players in the $1,000 entry Mystery Millions tournament were from the United States. Australia’s Malcolm Traynor was the odd man out. He outlasted 18,408 rival entries to claim its $1 million first prize. The 24-year-old winner was playing in his first-ever World Series tournament!
Darius From Grimsby Crushes Six
The UK’s second 2024 World Series of Poker bracelet came courtesy of Darius Samual. According to thehendonmob poker player database, the little-known player from Grimsby had not finished better than 15th in any tournament since he took up the game in the autumn of 2023.
We have a winner in Event #6: $25,000 Heads-Up NLH Championship!
Congrats to Darius Samual on winning his first bracelet and the top $500,000 prize! #WSOP2024 pic.twitter.com/CbZTreJn75
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 2, 2024
Inexperience did Samual no harm as he won six consecutive matches in the $25,000 entry Heads-Up Hold’em event to claim its $500,000 winner’s prize. Remarkably, the newcomer had already cashed in the opening tournament of the Series, and he has cashed twice since.
A tenth-placed effort in event 23, the $1,500 Shootout, means Darius Samual is an early candidate for the Player of the Year award. Samual currently sits third on the standings, one place above Malcolm Traynor. Above him are Scott Seiver (winner of the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better contest) and Robert Mizrachi (winner of the 6-handed $10,000 Dealers Choice Championship).
The WSOP Fun Ends in July
The 2024 World Series of Poker will conclude in mid-July. Its final live tournament, event 99, is a $1,000 Super Turbo No-Limit Hold’em competition scheduled to begin on July 17th. Online poker fans are catered for during the 2024 Series, with 30 bracelet events. Its final two events, a $1,000 PKO and $888 Hold’em tournament will be played on July 20th and July 21st.
