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Lauri Saaskilahti is a Finnish poker player who finished as runner-up in the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table.
Saaskilahti entered the final day heads-up with Lucas Jumalon, but would have to settle for second place and $6,000,000 instead after a hero call gone wrong doomed his chances of victory.
Lauri Saaskilahti Poker Background
While Saaskilahti originally hails from Finland, he has spent significant time building his poker resume while calling Spain his home. According to The Hendon Mob, Saaskilahti has been grinding live tournaments for nearly a decade, accumulating over $138,400 in career earnings prior to his historic 2026 summer run.
He is particularly well-known for his strong performances on the European poker circuit, with a distinct affinity for Barcelona. His previous career-best live score came in August 2025 at the iconic European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona €5,300 Main Event, where he put together a deep run to finish in 14th place, taking home €70,900 ($83,116).
Lauri Saaskilahti 2026 WSOP Main Event
Saaskilahti's journey to the 2026 final table has been a masterclass in survival, highlighted by an extraordinary moment on Day 7 that he feels fundamentally changed his destiny in the tournament. In an all-in showdown against Brock Wilson, Saaskilahti committed his chips with just ace-high against Wilson's flopped top pair of kings.
Facing imminent elimination, Saaskilahti managed to spike a miraculous ace on the river to score a massive double-up.
“When that Barry Greenstein hit [...] on the river, the ace on the river, that was like a pretty, pretty big moment. And I felt like, yeah, maybe it’s meant to be.”
Saaskilahti successfully navigated the first two days of the 2026 WSOP Main Event final table to ensure he was heads-up for the world championship title with American player Lucas Jumalon.
2026 WSOP Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucas Jumalon | $10,000,000 | United States |
| 2 | Lauri Saaskilahti | $6,000,000 | Finland |
| 3 | Greg Mueller | $3,750,000 | Canada |
| 4 | Michael Gagliano | $2,750,000 | United States |
| 5 | Han Feng | $2,250,000 | United States |
| 6 | Rami Hammoud | $1,750,000 | Canada |
| 7 | Jamie Shaevel | $1,500,000 | United States |
| 8 | Mario Boos | $1,250,000 | France |
| 9 | Evagoras Evagorou | $1,000,000 | Cyprus |
