Event #67: MAIN EVENT No-Limit Hold'em World Championship

Koray Aldemir, 31, took the reins from defending champ Damian Salas Wednesday night as he became the 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion, topping a 6,550-player field to win $8 million and the coveted gold bracelet.

On the 223rd hand of the final table, Aldemir finished off his unrelenting heads-up opponent — George Holmes — and now sits atop the poker mountain until July 2022.

Aldemir's victory propelled him to fourth all-time among Germany's winningest live tournament players with just north of $20 million in cashes, $12 million shy of Fedor Holz. More importantly, he's the champion of the world and joins an exclusive club that includes legends of the game such as Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar, and Johnny Chan.

"It's the one tournament family and friends know of basically. It does mean a lot to me to win it," Aldemir told media moments after shipping the bracelet.

2021 WSOP Main Event Final Table Results

Aldemir, Holmes, and Jack Oliver were the lone remaining players with dreams of becoming poker's 2021 World Champion entering Wednesday's session. Clearly, Aldemir was the favorite entering Day 9, not only due to having a massive chip lead but also because he's more experienced in tournaments than his opponents.

But he'd quickly discover that his opposition was ready for battle. Holmes played masterfully all evening and pulled off a number of impressive bluffs that even shocked the PokerGO commentators. The gap in experience between Aldemir and the competition wasn't evident much on this day.

Holmes Shows Oliver the Lights

Three players returned to the Amazon room Wednesday for the ninth and final day of the tournament. Aldemir, who played big stack poker throughout the final table, returned with a massive chip lead over Oliver and Holmes but had to grind for every chip during the final session.

Early on, Holmes and Oliver battled each other to face Aldemir for the bracelet, but neither was willing to give in. Holmes would land a small jab, and then Oliver would punch back. In doing so, both struggled for quite some time to make up any ground on the chip leader.

Three hours into Day 9 and Holmes finally landed a haymaker. Or, as his rowdy fans in the attendance repeatedly shouted, he "showed him the lights" on Oliver. But it required a bit luck when he called a 35.7 million chip all-in bet preflop with queen-jack and was up against ace-eight.

The board would run out jack-high, giving Holmes top pair for the win while eliminating Oliver, who received $3 million for third place, in the process.

Underdog Here to Win It

Holmes finished 213th in the 2019 WSOP Main Event for $50,855, his only prior recorded live tournament cash. But if you thought the poker player from the "Dirty South" was satisfied just to make it heads-up in poker's most prestigious event, you'd be mistaken.

When the final two players returned to action following a brief break, Holmes sat down ready to tangle with the German poker superstar. Despite trailing by more than 2-1 in chips at the start of heads-up play, he battled his way back, pot by pot, and eventually grabbed a small lead.

"I was pretty stressed to be honest," Aldemir said of losing the chip lead during heads-up play. "After 10 days of poker, especially the last five or six days were all super stressful. Not a lot of sleep, like five hours a day. All those people watching me play. It's not easy. Respect to all the other players too who all played great. Crazy experience."

For the first time at the final table in two days, Aldemir wasn't well ahead of the competition. Would the setback cause the high-stakes pro to crumble? Not hardly. He's too experienced and composed to wilt under pressure. When the going got tough, the experienced player got going.

Aldemir jumped right back into the chip lead after winning a series of consecutive hands. That didn't deter Holmes from continuing to play solid poker. The inexperienced tournament player forced his seasoned opponent to earn every chip and kept the score close for a lengthy period of time.

In the end, however, overplaying top pair doomed the Atlanta resident. On the 223rd and final hand, with the blinds at 1,200,000/2,400,000 with a 2,400,000 big blind ante, Holmes raised to 6,000,000 with king-queen and his opponent, who held a slight chip lead, made the call with ten-seven suited.

The flop came out ten-seven-deuce and the preflop raiser made a continuation bet of 6,000,000. Aldemir, with top two, check-raised to 19,000,000, which didn't convince the underdog to dump king-high, and he made the call.

When a king hit on the turn, Aldemir led out big for 36,500,000 and when Holmes called, those watching began anticipating the end of the Main Event nearing. The river nine of clubs changed nothing and Aldemir decided on a check. Holmes paused for a bit before moving all in for 133,000,000.

With action back on the German poker great, he had a difficult decision to make given the circumstances. After much thought, he opted to call, then showed his winning hand, which put an end to the 2021 WSOP Main Event. Holmes walked away with $4.3 million and put on an overall impressive performance.

"On the flop, I kind of have the nuts almost all the time," the champ said of the final hand. "On the turn still happy. My plan was to check-call on the river because he showed he was capable, but I had to think about it because it's a big moment obviously. If I lose the hand I don't have much left. I'm glad I made the call."

Congratulations to Koray Aldemir, the 2021 WSOP Main Event champion!

Hand #219: George Holmes raised to 5,200,000 from the button and Koray Aldemir defended. They both checked through the     flop to the   on the turn. Aldemir bet 4,400,000 which Holmes called. The river completed the board with the  , Aldemir barreled a bet of 15,800,000 over the line to get the fold.

Hand #220: Aldemir limped in on the button and Holmes raised to 6,000,000 which was called. The flop came    , they both checked to the   on the turn. Holmes bet 8,000,000 for the fold.

Hand #221: Holmes limped in and Aldemir opted to check. The flop came    , no action ensued and the turn was the  . Aldemir bet 4,100,000 and Holmes called to see the   complete the board. Aldemir fired a bet of 15,500,000 out and Holmes folded.

Hand #222: Koray Aldemir raised to 6,000,000 and George Holmes called. The flop was     and Holmes checked. Aldemir bet 4,800,000 and Holmes folded.

Koray Aldemir	205,100,000	18,500,000
George Holmes	194,200,000	-18,500,000

Ozgur Secilmis has taken pride representing his home country of Turkey in the Main Event. The 5th place finisher said he wasn't paying attention to the final table payouts and was elated to realize he earned himself a $1,800,000 payday. What's up next for Ozgur? Cash games, high stakes and winning next year's Main Event.

Hand #210: Koray Aldemir raised to 6,000,000 from the button and George Holmes defended. The flop came    , Holmes check-folded to Aldermir's 4,800,000 bet.

Hand #211: Holmes raised to 4,800,000 from the button and Aldemir called.

The flop came    , Aldemir check-called the 5,400,000 continuation-bet of Holmes. The turn was the   and Aldemir checked again. This time, Holmes checked too.

The river completed the board with the  . Aldemir took some time and then opted to take over the initiative. He bet 7,800,000 for Holmes to consider his options. In the end, he decided to raise it up to 38,000,000. Aldemir jumped into the tank and called.

Holmes tabled the    for the bluff for Aldemir's rail to cheer as he held the    for two pair and the pot. Aldemir turned around for a fist pump celebration

Koray Aldemir	211,800,000	56,600,000
George Holmes	187,500,000	-56,600,000

Hand #203: Koray Aldemir defended against a button min-raise by George Holmes and checked the     flop, which Holmes checked back. On the   turn, both players checked and the   fell on the river. Both checked once more and Holmes won the pot with the    for a pair of fives.

Hand #204: Aldemir made it 4,600,000 to go and Holmes filled up to the     flop, on which Holmes opted to check. Aldemir continued for 2,700,000 and Holmes sent the cards into the muck.

Hand #205: Holmes raised it up to 4,000,000 and Aldemir defended the big blind. On a flop of    , Aldemir's check triggered a bet worth 5,800,000 by Holmes and a call by Aldemir. The   turn was checked around and the   river completed the board. Aldemir checked once more and Holmes made it 25,000 to go, which won the pot without showdown.

Hand #206: Aldemir limped in and Holmes checked to the     flop, on which the latter checked. The check back by Aldemir led them to the   turn and both checked it down once more. On the   river, Holmes eventually bet 4,000,000 and Aldemir folded.

George Holmes	205,100,000	13,200,000
Koray Aldemir	194,200,000	-13,200,000

Hand #199: George Holmes raised to 4,000,000 from the button and Koray Aldemir defended. The flop came    , they both checked to the   on the turn. Aldemir check-called the 3,000,000 bet of Holmes. The river completed the board with the   and they both checked. Holmes tabled the    for ace-high but Aldemir showed the    for the rivered straight and the pot.

Hand #200: Aldemir raised to 4,600,000 and Holmes called. The flop came    , they checked to the   on the turn. It went check-check again for them to see the   complete the board. Holmes bet 4,000,000 and Aldemir called but mucked when Holmes flipped over the    for two pair.

Hand #201: Holmes min-raised and that did not scare Aldemir away. The flop came    , Aldemir quickly checked but Holmes bet 3,500,000 which was enough to get Aldemir out of the hand.

Hand #202: Aldemir limped on the button and Holmes opted to check. The     flopped over and Holmes check-called the min-bet of Aldemir. The turn was the  , Holmes checked again. Aldemir bet 10,000,000 to get the fold.

Koray Aldemir	207,400,000	-1,600,000
George Holmes	191,900,000	1,600,000

Hand #193: George Holmes limped in on the button but Koray Aldemir raised it up to 8,500,000 to get the fold.

Hand #194: Aldemir raised to 4,600,000 from the button and Holmes defended. The flop came down with the    , Holmes checked and so did Aldemir. The   on the turn didn't bring any betting action either so the   completed the board. They both checked again. Aldemir showed the    for the ace-kicker to claim the pot.

Hand #195: Holmes raised to 4,000,000 and Aldemir three-bet to 17,000,000. Holmes called.

The flop came    , Aldemir took a minute and barreled a bet of 10,000,000 out, Holmes raised it up to 28,000,000 after thinking about it for 44 seconds. Aldemir called after 47 seconds.

The turn was the   and Aldemir checked. Holmes did the same for the   to complete the board. Aldemir tanked for 74 seconds and then bet 9,000,000. Holmes raised to 24,000,000 after considering it for a minute. Aldemir called but Holmes held the    for two pair and the big pot.

George Holmes	230,700,000	62,400,000
Koray Aldemir	168,600,000	-62,400,000

Hand #186: Koray Aldemir completed his small blind and George Holmes opted to check. The flop came    , they both checked to the  . it was checked again to see the   complete the board. Holmes checked for the final time. Aldemir bet 3,000,000 for Holmes to fold.

Hand #187: Holmes raised to 4,000,000 and Aldemir defended. The flop came    , Aldemir check-called the 5,000,000 continuation-bet of Holmes.

The turn was the  , Aldemir quickly checked again. This time, Holmes decided to bet 7,000,000 for Aldemir to call. The   completed the board and Aldemir checked for the final time. Holmes did the same.

Aldemir tabled the    for the flopped pair of nines but Holmes held the    the higher pair he had rivered.

Hand #188: Aldemir raised to 4,600,000 and Holmes came along to the     flop. Holmes check-folded to the 3,700,000 continuation-bet of Aldemir.

Koray Aldemir	231,000,000	-7,400,000
George Holmes	168,300,000	7,400,000

Hollywood actor Vince Vaughn, the star of Swingers, Old School, Wedding Crashers, and Dodgeball, was recently announced as the "Master of Ceremonies" for the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Yesterday, he gave the traditional "shuffle up and deal" announcement at the final table of the WSOP Main Event, and on Wednesday he returned for several other promotional endeavors. Once finished, he took the opportunity to enter his first-ever WSOP gold bracelet tournament, Event #79: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty where every Poker Hall of Famer had a bounty on their head.

While not a member of the PHoF, Vaughn, too, had a target on his back as Jack Effel revealed the WSOP was putting a $10,000 bounty on the actor, much to the delight of players sat with him at Table 2 in the Brasilia Room.

How did he do? Find out here!