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Lucas Jumalon captured the 2026 WSOP Main Event title and its $10 million top prize, but the outcome nearly took a different turn during a heads-up hand against Lauri Saaskilahti. With just two players remaining from a field of 9,208 entrants, the pair clashed in a hand that has since sparked widespread debate.

Jumalon, who had held the chip lead for most of the final table, limped on the button with Q♠5♦, while Saaskilahti checked his option holding J♦3♦ in the big blind. The flop of A♠K♠4♣ brought a continuation bet from Jumalon, which Saaskilahti called.

The turn card, the J♠, gave Jumalon both straight and flush possibilities. He fired a big overbet of 40,000,000 into a 20,000,000 pot, and Saaskilahti again called. The river brought the 6♠, completing Jumalon’s flush, and he shoved 180,000,000 into a 100,000,000 pot.

After a lengthy tank, Saaskilahti made the call with only third pair, saying aloud that it “could be good.” He was wrong, leaving him with just eight big blinds, though he survived a couple more hands before eventually finishing runner-up for $6 million.

While many casual observers labeled the call a costly mistake, several respected professionals defended it. Ben Lamb noted that trusting reads is part of what separates great players, while Scott Seiver and Jesse Lonis suggested the call would look brilliant had the river been different. Patrick Leonard offered a detailed range-based breakdown, arguing that Saaskilahti’s jack and blockers made the call more reasonable than it appeared.

Saaskilahti himself remained composed afterward, calling the deep run “a once-in-a-lifetime experience” despite falling short of his ultimate goal.