Event #14: $25,000 GGMillion$ Single Day Turbo
Day 2 Completed
Event #14: $25,000 GGMillion$ Single Day Turbo
Day 2 Completed
Johan Guilbert arrived for the finale of the $25,000 GGMillion$ Single Day Turbo at WSOP Paradise already wearing gold. Bracelets wrapped his wrist. A gold watch gleamed on the other arm. But the one piece of jewelry that had defined his poker ambitions for more than a decade — a World Series of Poker bracelet — was still missing.
That changed by the end of an unscheduled Day 2 inside Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas.
Guilbert powered through the final table, defeating a 287-entry field to capture his first WSOP bracelet and a career-best $1,534,645 payday. The event smashed its $5 million guarantee, generating a $7,318,500 prize pool.
For Guilbert, the timing could not have been more ironic.
“When I was trying so hard back in the days, I would never get it,” Guilbert said. “And now that I don’t try — I play like ten tournaments a year — this happens. It’s absurd.”
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johan Guilbert | France | $1,534,645 |
| 2 | Eelis Parssinen | Finland | $1,043,400 |
| 3 | Ramiro Petrone | Argentina | $724,500 |
| 4 | Iago Sturzeneker | Brazil | $512,800 |
| 5 | Michael Moncek | United States | $370,200 |
| 6 | Andrija Robovic | Serbia | $272,600 |
| 7 | David Chen | United States | $205,000 |
| 8 | Eric Yanovsky | United States | $157,300 |
| 9 | Denys Chufarin | Ukraine | $123,400 |
Six players returned for the restart, with Guilbert sitting in the middle of the pack. It took just minutes for him to seize command.
He eliminated Andrija Robovic in the opening three minutes, immediately shifting the balance of power. Guilbert caught a crucial three-outer against Michael Moncek to leave the American short before striking again moments later.
Holding pocket aces in a three-way all-in, Guilbert doubled through start-of-day chip leader Iago Sturzeneker while also eliminating Moncek. His momentum continued when Sturzeneker exited in fourth place, Guilbert’s pocket nines holding in a preflop race against jack-ten.
By the time he rivered a pair to knock out Ramiro Petrone in third place, Guilbert had built a commanding near 5:1 chip lead heading into heads-up play.
Yet despite the overwhelming advantage, Guilbert’s thoughts drifted to the past.
This was not unfamiliar territory. Guilbert had reached heads-up in WSOP events three times before, and lost every time.
David Lambard beat him in the 2019 WSOP $3,000 Shootout. Two years later, Josef Gulas Jr. denied him in the WSOP Europe Main Event. Most recently, Antonio Galiana edged him out in the 2024 WSOP $2,500 Freezeout in Las Vegas.
“When I got heads-up, I had five times the stack,” Guilbert admitted. “But I still didn’t think I would win the bracelet.”
“I wasn’t expecting anything,” he continued. “I was just expecting to finish second, like I always did in those. So I told myself I’m not going to be too disappointed if it happens again.”
Across the table sat Eelis Parssinen, a seasoned high-stakes grinder who had even rescheduled his flights to be there for the finale. If history was going to repeat itself, this was the kind of opponent capable of doing it.
Instead, Guilbert rewrote the ending.
He first picked off a bluff to extend his lead, then held in the first all-in and call to finally secure the win. Parssinen finished runner-up for $1,043,400, while Guilbert at last stood with WSOP gold in his hands.
The bracelet completed a journey that Guilbert never quite expected to finish this way. Once a full-time grinder, poker is no longer his primary focus.
“The grind is done,” Guilbert said. “Poker became a hobby.”
“I’m not trying to lose,” he added, “but I’m playing streams like Hustler Casino Live, the Commerce, my own stream. I play invitational events. I play Triton. It costs me a lot, but it’s a great event and I’m very happy I played it.”
Looking back, the contrast makes the victory even sweeter.
“Ten years ago, poker was my job,” he said. “I used to stream online every Sunday. I used to play cash games every day in the casino. And I never had big wins when it was like that.”
“And now they give me this big win and this bracelet when I’m the least prepared,” Guilbert said, smiling. “It sounds funny to me, and I love it"
Now based in Dubai, Guilbert says life away from the tables has given him perspective.
“I live in Dubai. I'm a DJ, I see my friends. I invest in the stock market and real estate. I just live,” he said. “I’m 36 only, and I have the opportunity to live this life. I’m very happy about it.”
Gold still adorns his wrists, but this time it means something different. After years of chasing, Guilbert finally has WSOP gold of the kind that matters most.
On the first hand of heads-up, Johan Guilbert called from the small blind and Eelis Parssinen checked his option. It checked through to the river for the board to read 10♠6♥5♥3♦9♦. Parssinen bet 1,300,000 and Guilbert called.
Parssinen was caught speeding with 8♣2♥ and Guilbert's J♣3♣ took the pot with bottom pair.
On the next deal, Parssinen shoved and Guilbert snap-called.
Eelis Parssinen: K♥9♣
Johan Guilbert: A♦10♣
Parssinen failed to connect on the J♥7♥6♠2♠7♣ runout and Guilbert was confirmed as the winner.
It was the fourth time the Frenchman has reached heads-up in a bracelet event, with the three prior occasions seeing him walk away with the silver medal.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
71,750,000
13,150,000
|
13,150,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
Busted | |
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Heads-up action is now underway between Eelis Parssinen and Johan Guilbert.
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Johan Guilbert and Eelis Parssinen are on a quick break while the table gets prepared for heads-up play.
Ramiro Petrone shoved from the button for 3,800,000. Eelis Parssinen folded the small blind, to put the action on Johan Guilbert.
"That's four big blinds. I have no f****** clue," commented Guilbert as he mulled over his options. In the end, he ditched his hand and Petrone scooped the blinds.
On the next deal, Guilbert shoved from the small blind and Petrone called off the 5,300,000 he had behind.
Ramiro Petrone: K♥6♥
Johan Guilbert: J♦8♦
Petrone got in his chips with the best hand, and he looked poised to double after the 3♥3♠2♣ flop and 9♣ turn failed to improve Guilbert. However, the J♥ river appeared on the felt and the GGs were extended to the Argentinian, who was eliminated in third place for $724,500, which was a career best live cash.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
58,600,000
6,100,000
|
6,100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
13,200,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
Busted | |
Johan Guilbert opened to 2,000,000 on the button, which was called by the big blind Eelis Parssinen.
The players checked to the river on the J♠4♦5♦Q♠6♦ board. Parssinen checked again to Guilbert, who fired out a big bet of 7,400,000. Parssinen thought for a moment before mucking to give the pot to Guilbert.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
52,500,000
2,500,000
|
2,500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
13,500,000
900,000
|
900,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,000,000
4,400,000
|
4,400,000 |
Level: 28
Blinds: 500,000/1,000,000
Ante: 1,000,000
Iago Sturzeneker jammed for 10,900,000 from the button. After using a time bank, Johan Guilbert reshoved from the small blind, forcing out Ramiro Petrone in the big blind.
Iago Sturzeneker: J♣10♠
Johan Guilbert: 9♠9♣
The fate of Sturzeneker would come down to a coin flip, and the 6♠6♣2♣ flop would take him out of his seat. The 4♠ turn kept Guilbert ahead, with the A♦ river putting the Frenchman in pole position with three players remaining.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
50,000,000
13,000,000
|
13,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
12,600,000
2,000,000
|
2,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
9,400,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
|
Busted | |
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