Johan Guilbert Ends Heads-Up Curse to Win First WSOP Bracelet in Paradise

Johan Guilbert arrived for the finale of the $25,000 GGMillion$ Single Day Turbo at WSOP Paradise already carrying gold. Bracelets wrapped his wrist. A gold watch gleamed on the opposite arm. However the one piece of bijou that had outlined his poker ambitions for greater than a decade — a World Collection of Poker bracelet — was nonetheless lacking.

That modified by the top of an unscheduled Day 2 inside Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas.

Guilbert powered by the ultimate desk, defeating a 287-entry subject to seize his first WSOP bracelet and a career-best $1,534,645 payday. The occasion smashed its $5 million assure, producing a $7,318,500 prize pool.

For Guilbert, the timing couldn’t have been extra ironic.

“Once I was making an attempt so laborious again within the days, I might by no means get it,” Guilbert mentioned. “And now that I don’t attempt — I play like ten tournaments a yr — this occurs. It’s absurd.”

GGMillion$ Single Day Turbo Remaining Desk Outcomes

Six Returned, One Took Management

Six gamers returned for the restart, with Guilbert sitting in the midst of the pack. It took simply minutes for him to grab command.

He eradicated Andrija Robovic within the opening three minutes, instantly shifting the stability of energy. Guilbert caught a vital three-outer towards Michael Moncek to go away the American brief earlier than putting once more moments later.

Holding pocket aces in a three-way all-in, Guilbert doubled by start-of-day chip chief Iago Sturzeneker whereas additionally eliminating Moncek. His momentum continued when Sturzeneker exited in fourth place, Guilbert’s pocket nines holding in a preflop race towards jack-ten.

By the point he rivered a pair to knock out Ramiro Petrone in third place, Guilbert had constructed a commanding close to 5:1 chip lead heading into heads-up play.

But regardless of the overwhelming benefit, Guilbert’s ideas drifted to the previous.

“I Was Anticipating to End Second Once more”

This was not unfamiliar territory. Guilbert had reached heads-up in WSOP occasions thrice earlier than, and misplaced each time.

David Lambard beat him within the 2019 WSOP $3,000 Shootout. Two years later, Josef Gulas Jr. denied him within the WSOP Europe Essential Occasion. Most just lately, Antonio Galiana edged him out within the 2024 WSOP $2,500 Freezeout in Las Vegas.

“Once I received heads-up, I had 5 occasions the stack,” Guilbert admitted. “However I nonetheless didn’t assume I might win the bracelet.”

“I wasn’t anticipating something,” he continued. “I used to be simply anticipating to complete second, like I all the time did in these. So I informed myself I’m not going to be too dissatisfied if it occurs once more.”

Throughout the desk sat Eelis Parssinen, a seasoned high-stakes grinder who had even rescheduled his flights to be there for the finale. If historical past was going to repeat itself, this was the type of opponent able to doing it.

As an alternative, Guilbert rewrote the ending.

He first picked off a bluff to increase his lead, then held within the first all-in and name to lastly safe the win. Parssinen completed runner-up for $1,043,400, whereas Guilbert ultimately stood with WSOP gold in his arms.

The bracelet accomplished a journey that Guilbert by no means fairly anticipated to complete this manner. As soon as a full-time grinder, poker is now not his major focus.

“The grind is finished,” Guilbert mentioned. “Poker grew to become a interest.”

“I’m not making an attempt to lose,” he added, “however I’m enjoying streams like Hustler On line casino Reside, the Commerce, my very own stream. I play invitational occasions. I play Triton. It prices me loads, but it surely’s an incredible occasion and I’m very blissful I performed it.”

Trying again, the distinction makes the victory even sweeter.

“Ten years in the past, poker was my job,” he mentioned. “I used to stream on-line each Sunday. I used to play money video games day-after-day within the on line casino. And I by no means had massive wins when it was like that.”

“And now they provide me this massive win and this bracelet after I’m the least ready,” Guilbert mentioned, smiling. “It sounds humorous to me, and I like it”

Now based mostly in Dubai, Guilbert says life away from the tables has given him perspective.

“I stay in Dubai. I am a DJ, I see my associates. I put money into the inventory market and actual property. I simply stay,” he mentioned. “I’m 36 solely, and I’ve the chance to stay this life. I’m very blissful about it.”

Gold nonetheless adorns his wrists, however this time it means one thing completely different. After years of chasing, Guilbert lastly has WSOP gold of the sort that issues most.

Calum has been part of the PokerNews group since September 2021 after working within the UK power sector. He performed his first hand of poker in 2017 and instantly fell in love with the sport.

Calum has written for numerous poker retailers however discovered his dwelling at PokerNews, the place he has contributed to numerous articles and stay updates, offering insights and reporting on main poker occasions, together with the World Collection of Poker (WSOP).