2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Hossein Ensan
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Brought to you by the WSOP-C Playground, hosted by Playground Poker Club and partypoker LIVE. Last year's long-awaited return to Canada of the WSOP Circuit smashed attendance records. The $1,100 Main Event with a huge $2,000,000 guaranteed prize pool and the $330 Colossus with a $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool of its own are two of the seven events on tap for this year's edition, which is expected to attract even larger fields than last year's record-breaking series.
Final Table Profile Hossein Ensan
| Seat: | 1 |
| Chip Count: | 177,000,000 (1/9) |
| Big Blinds: | 177 |
| Age: | 55 |
| Hometown: | Münster, Germany |
Hossein Ensan's Main Event Story
Born in Iran, 55-year-old Hossein Ensan moved to Germany at the age of 25 and has been crushing the poker scene since 2013, although he started playing when he was just 18 years old.
Ensan started with mixed game variants when he was a kid, eventually honing his hold'em skills and going on a tear in Europe. "I love poker," smiled Ensan. He has accumulated over $2.6 million in earnings and earned a World Series of Poker Circuit ring in 2017 in Rozvadov in Event #11: €1,650 No Limit Hold'em Main Event for €184,812.
He finished in third place in the 2014 European Poker Tour (EPT) € 5,300 Main Event in Barcelona for €652,667. Since Ensan came just short of winning his first EPT title in that year, he decided to give it another shot in 2015 in the €5,300 EPT Prague Main Event and took the whole thing down for €754,510, making it his most significant career score.
"Experience is more important than books. Poker is from skill, luck, good run, and strategy. So, this is the point."
Now, Ensan is on poker's biggest stage and looks to add a WSOP bracelet to his decorated resume.
When asked if he is nervous, Ensan told PokerNews: "I am experienced since 2002 in hold'em. Experience is more important than books. Poker is from skill, luck, good run, and strategy. So, this is the point."
Winning the entire Main Event generally comes with the added pressure of being an ambassador, and Ensan is undoubtedly capable of this. The current chip leader mingling with everyone, and enjoying the short breaks is a bit of a rare sight these days.
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Play NowEnsan also mentioned that winning the Main Event would be validation for the hard work he has put in this last year. "This confirms my game, and I know I can play poker. This is nice!" exclaimed Ensan.
How Hossein Ensan Got to the Final Table
| Day | End-of-Day Chip Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1c | 180,000 | 137/3,647 |
| 2c | 209,000 | 531/1,793 |
| 3 | 336,000 | 603/1,084 |
| 4 | 3,250,000 | 14/354 |
| 5 | 7,100,000 | 24/106 |
| 6 | 34,500,000 | 2/35 |
| 7 | 177,000,000 | 1/9 |
Hossein Ensan's Key Hands
A massive hand on Day 7 went down against Nick Marchington to bring Ensan over 100 million in chips. During Level 34: 250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 big blind ante, Ensan raised to 1 million from the cutoff and Marchington defended his big blind.
The flop came A♥8♦5♠, and Marchington checked. Ensan continued with the aggression and bet 1 million again. Marchington check-raised to 4 million, and Ensan thought about it before tossing in a call. The turn was the 2♣, and Marchington led out for 9.5 million. Ensan decided to call, swelling the pot to almost 30 million in chips.
The dealer completed the board with the 6♦ and Marchington decided to fire out a bet of 25 million this time. Ensan wasted no time and snap-called, tabling A♦5♦ for aces up. Marchington mucked, but the live stream revealed he had 10♠2♠ for bottom pair.
"I have history with [Marchington]," explained Ensan. "I played two days with him, so I know how he plays - with pressure and aggressive. He just called and no three-bet. If he three-bet, maybe I fold before the flop. Eights, maybe. But fives, I have a five blocker. I am deep, and I have two pair," explained Ensan.
His gut was right, and the call put him squarely out front of the pack with the final table getting closer.
What to Watch For
Based on his intuition in the vital hand above, Ensan's experience is going to be what allows him to rise to the top in this event. Between his deep EPT runs for close to a million dollars, and the number of years he has been on the felt, it's likely Ensan will be calm and focused while playing for $10 million.
"Money is very important for everyone. My plan is to continue my game."
"Money is very important for everyone. My plan is to continue my game. After tomorrow I have to work. I have 10 million, maybe 1 million, maybe 4 million," said Ensan.
Breaking down hands is another skill of Ensan's, as he was able to correctly call against Marchington's three streets of aggression to take a massive lead on Day 7. Reading his opponents and figuring out why they are betting in certain spots will be critical skills that Ensan will put to use as he tries to navigate his way to a victory in the 2019 WSOP Main Event.
Ensan commented on his prediction for his result in this event: "My chance for top three is [good]. Ninth, never. Eighth, I think also. [I'm hoping for] five to first."
2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Seating
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hossein Ensan | Germany | 177,000,000 | 177 |
| 2 | Nick Marchington | United Kingdom | 20,100,000 | 20 |
| 3 | Dario Sammartino | Italy | 33,400,000 | 33 |
| 4 | Kevin Maahs | United States | 43,000,000 | 43 |
| 5 | Timothy Su | United States | 20,200,000 | 20 |
| 6 | Zhen Cai | United States | 60,600,000 | 61 |
| 7 | Garry Gates | United States | 99,300,000 | 99 |
| 8 | Milos Skrbic | Serbia | 23,400,000 | 23 |
| 9 | Alex Livingston | Canada | 37,800,000 | 38 |
There is 1:31:35 remaining in Level 37 (500,000/1,000,000, with a 1,000,000-big blind ante).
2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Payout
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $10,000,000 |
| 2 | $6,000,000 |
| 3 | $4,000,000 |
| 4 | $3,000,000 |
| 5 | $2,200,000 |
| 6 | $1,850,000 |
| 7 | $1,525,000 |
| 8 | $1,250,000 |
| 9 | $1,000,000 |
2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Player Stats
| Player | First Cash | WSOP Cashes | Career Earnings | Biggst Cash | GPI Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhen Cai | 2008 | 21 | $213,995 | $46,900 | 12,632 |
| Hossein Ensan | 2013 | 3 | $2,673,206 | $860,091 | 7,331 |
| Garry Gates | 2010 | 15 | $243,129 | $64,530 | 25,386 |
| Alex Livingston | 2009 | 17 | $732,874 | $451,398 | 3,866 |
| Kevin Maahs | 2016 | 1 | $61,213 | $20,625 | 7,005 |
| Nick Marchington | 2019 | 1 | $12,415 | $12,415 | 30,643 |
| Dario Sammartino | 2008 | 38 | $8,044,479 | $1,608,295 | 78 |
| Milos Skrbic | 2011 | 6 | $1,670,572 | $1,087,603 | 457 |
| Timothy Su | 2018 | 1 | $2,467 | $1,080 | 59,081 |
Stats courtesy of WSOP.com and HendonMob.com.
The 2019 World Series of Poker Main Event returns to action Sunday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m. local time. A Main Event Day 7 recap can be found here. You can follow the action via the PokerNews Live Reporting Blog where we'll detail all the hands in our exclusive WSOP Main Event Live Updates.
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Play NowIn this Series
- 1 2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Hossein Ensan
- 2 2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Nick Marchington
- 3 2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Dario Sammartino
- 4 2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Kevin Maahs
- 5 2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Timothy Su
- 6 2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Zhen Cai
- 7 2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Garry Gates
- 8 2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Milos Skrbic
- 9 2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Alex Livingston
