Late Wednesday evening in Las Vegas, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event ended. The 22-year-old Lucas Jumalon, a Ferris High School graduate from Spokane, won it all. In the final, he defeated Finnish player Lauri Saaskilahhti at the Horseshoe casino to take home the top prize — $10 million. Jumalon needed just a little more than an hour of heads-up play to claim the title.
Before the champion appeared at the final table, six men in black suits, holding briefcases in both hands and escorted by armed security, brought $10 million in cash into the room. The money was poured onto the table and stacked into a pyramid so both finalists could see what was at stake. Jumalon himself arrived about half an hour later in a pristine white polo, ready to play.
His father, Butch, a solid player in his own right, admitted that he’s proud of his son but can’t shake the nerves. “It’s like standing at the edge of a cliff and waiting for the next gust of wind,” he said. “Because this is poker.” Jumalon’s opponent was considered unpredictable, which only added intrigue.
Fans split into two camps: Lucas’s friends and family wore black, while Saaskilahhti’s supporters wore white. Some chanted “Lucas!” others called out “Ole! Ole! Ole!” A group from Spokane shouted “Spo-Spo-Spokane!” and “Go, Spokane!” They also wished good luck to the Spokane Red Cross, as wildfires were raging in the area and more than 800 homes had burned. The news appears to refer to the devastating Grey and Oregon Road fires in August 2023. Eastern Washington, in particular, is especially vulnerable to fire: its dry climate, hot summers, strong winds, and extensive pine forests can turn any blaze into a large-scale disaster fast. The local Red Cross coordinated evacuations, opened temporary shelters, distributed food, water, hygiene supplies, and provided psychological support. Spokane residents donated money and items and signed up as volunteers to help neighbors who had lost their homes.
The finalists started the game nearly even: Jumalon had 328 million chips, while the Finn had 225 million. In an early big hand, luck favored Jumalon — he won the big pot and built his stack to 418 million, leaving his opponent with 135 million. But there was no time to relax.
Jumalon later admitted he was afraid of his opponent. “I was terrified,” he said. “I kept thinking about Mike Tyson — he said he was afraid to die on the ring before the fight. I was scared that Saaskilahhti would take me out today.” The concerns were not unfounded.
Around 7:20 p.m., the Finn went all in. On the flop, both players had an ace, and on the turn, Jumalon got a nine that gave him two pair. But on the river, a six of clubs came out — and Saaskilahhti made a flush. Jumalon’s smile vanished instantly, while the Finn clenched his fist and rallied his fans waving white flags with a blue cross. Lucas dropped to 287 million, while his opponent rose to 266 million.
In the next big hand, four cards of spades hit the board. Jumalon bet 180 million, forcing the Finn to let out a heavy sigh. “You got it?” Saaskilahhti asked. No answer came, but he still called. Jumalon had a queen of spades — a flush. The Finn’s stack crashed to 34 million, while the 22-year-old from Spokane surged to 519 million.
In the very next hand, Jumalon bet 38 million, forcing his opponent to go all in. Lucas had the king of spades and a six of clubs, while the Finn had an ace of spades and a seven of clubs. On the flop came a six, and on the turn another six, making three of a kind. It was over. Jumalon grabbed the bundles of money, pressed them to his chest, and shouted, “Let’s go, baby!” Then he shook hands with the smiling Saaskilahhti.
“Poker gave me so much,” the new champion said. “I’ve met so many people, and I’m just unbelievably grateful to everyone who’s here. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better moment.” As he spoke, his friends from Spokane chanted three numbers — “509!” — the area code of his hometown. For people in eastern Washington, it’s more than just a number: “509” has become a symbol of regional pride. Seattle and the western part of the state have their own code, “206,” while “509” brings the entire east together — underscoring that Spokane is its own hub, not a satellite of the state’s biggest city. Spokane is Washington’s second-largest city and the center of the so-called Inland Northwest, a historic and geographic region that includes eastern Washington, northern Idaho, the northeast of Oregon, and western Montana. West Washington is separated by the Cascade Mountains and lives a completely different life — climatically, economically, and politically. That’s why the story of a Spokane native became statewide news and made it into Seattle-area media.
Based on: WA’s Lucas Jumalon wins it all at World Series of Poker Main Event