With the announcement that the 2021 WSOP at the Rio would be the last as the 17-year home of the tournament would be changing from 2021, it would be a bitter-sweet two weeks of play for the most prestigious Poker tournament in the world before heading to a new home on the strip – and after twelve intense days of play, a new winner has been crowned.
On the 17th it came down to just three players – Aldemir, Oliver, and Holmes, heading back to the table to fight it out for the chance at the big win, Oliver was the first to leave with Holmes and Aldemir going head-to-head in the evening leading to a six-and-a-half-hour marathon before the intense battle came to an end – on hand 223, Holmes would all in for 133,000,000 and lose out to Aldemir’s winning hand of a two pair with tens and sevens, and crowning a new champion for the WSOP. At 31 years of age, German player Koray Aldemir leaves Vegas with the $8 million prize and the main event bracelet too, a 10k yellow and white gold bracelet incrusted with 2,230 rubies, white, and black diamonds too.
The WSOP Senior Vice President, Ty Stewart, has also been very happy with the last WSOP to be played at the Rio; “This year’s main event has exceeded expectations across the board. To see five countries represented at the 2021 Final Table was amazing, and after a classic battle, we’re looking forward to raising Koray’s banner this summer at the Bally’s on the Strip.” Seemingly a great end to what has already been a difficult year for many, and a great end to a fantastic event in itself.
Information for those looking to attend next years WSOP at Paris and Bally’s will emerge in January as the target with participating hotels offering discounts and all of the information that will emerge around the change in location, the Master of Ceremonies has already been announced but there will certainly be some more reveals yet to come – the Rio has had a great period of time hosting the WSOP and fans will be hoping that the new strip location can hold the same expectations, and offer the same excitement and success that has been seen since the largest poker tournament in the world first emerged back in the 70’s with many more years of excitement still to come as World Series of Poker heads to the strip.