Hossein Ensan

Hossein Ensan (born May 22, 1964) is an Iranian-German professional poker player from Münster, Germany. In 2019, he won the Main Event at the World Series of Poker for $10,000,000.

Hossein Ensan
ResidenceMünster, Germany
Born (1964-05-22) May 22, 1964
Iran
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)1
Final table(s)1
Money finish(es)2
Highest ITM
Main Event finish		Winner, 2019
European Poker Tour
Title(s)1
Final table(s)3
Money finish(es)6

Ensan was born in Iran and moved to Germany at the age of 25, in 1989. There, he studied civil engineering at the University of Munster. But being unable to pay his bills, especially at the time he was founding a family, he could not go all the way to obtain his diploma. He started working small jobs, such as a taxi driver, waiter, and painter.[1] He then managed to start a taxi business in 2002, buying three cars, and had enough time to start his poker career. This was quite a late start, Ensan being 39 at that time. However he declared that he knew the rules of poker since he played five-card draw when he was a kid.[2]

In August 2014, Ensan won the seniors event at the European Poker Tour's Barcelona festival, then a week later he finished third out of 1,496 players in the Main Event for €652,000.[3] He also made the final table at EPT Malta in March 2015, finishing in sixth. Finally, he made his third EPT final table in Prague that December and won the tournament for €754,000.[4]

Ensan won a WSOP circuit ring in Rozvadov, Czech Republic in 2017. He had just one WSOP cash prior to the 2019 Main Event, in the Colossus event at the WSOP Europe in 2017.[5]

At the 2019 Main Event, Ensan entered the final table with the chip lead at 177,000,000, more than a third of the chips in play. On the 301st hand of the final table, he defeated Dario Sammartino heads-up with K♥ K♣ against the 8♠ 4♠ of Sammartino. His opponent check-raised all in on a 10♠ 2♦ 6♠ 9♣ board and Ensan quickly called. Sammartino, a high roller regular and one of the best poker players in the world, said that Ensan played better during the heads-up. At age 55, Ensan became the oldest Main Event champion since Noel Furlong in 1999 and the second German champion after Pius Heinz in 2011.[6][7]

As of January 2020, Ensan's total live earnings exceed $13,000,000.

World Series of Poker bracelets
Year Tournament Prize (US$)
2019 $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event $10,000,000

Biggest scores
Date Tournament Buy in Ranking Prize
03-07-2019 WSOP Main Event $10,000 1/8,569   $10,000,000
16-12-2017 PokerStars Championship Prague HR €10,300 3/256 €242,000
13-10-2017 WSOP Circuit Rozvadov Main Event €1,650 1/672 €184,812
10-12-2015 EPT Prague Main Event €5,300 1/1,044 €754,510
12-09-2015 Rotterdam Series €550 Deep Stack    €550 1/ ? €12,057   
06-05-2015 EPT Monte Carlo €330 Turbo €330 1/93 €3,650
04-05-2015 EPT Monte Carlo €2,200 NLHE €2,200 1/263 €87,043
22-03-2015   EPT Malta Main Event    €5,300 6/895 €153,700  
21-02-2015 Eureka Rozvadov Main Event €1,100 8/664    €12,770
21-08-2014 EPT Barcelona Main Event      €5,300 3/1,496 €652,667   
16-08-2014 ESPT Barcelona Seniors Event €220 1/85 €4,535
19-04-2013 EPT Berlin €330 NLHE    €330 8/555 €3,500

References
  1. Kirschen, Robert (July 13, 2019). "MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE IS SET, HOSSEIN ENSAN LEADS". WSOP.com. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  2. SomuchpokerNews (December 27, 2019). "An exclusive conversation with 2019 WSOP Main Event Champion Hossein Ensan". Somuchpoker. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  3. Swains, Howard (August 27, 2014). "EPT11 Barcelona: Hossein Ensan set to strike another blow for poker's old guard". PokerStars Blog. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  4. Willis, Brad (December 10, 2015). "EPT12 Prague: Third time's a charm for champion Hossein Ensan". PokerStars Blog. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  5. "Hossein Ensan Wins 2017 WSOP Circuit Rozvadov Main Event (€184,812)". www.pokernews.com. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  6. "Hossein Ensan wins $10 million in prize money for World Series of Poker victory". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  7. D'Angelo, Bob. "Top card: Hossein Ensan of Germany wins $10M at World Series of Poker". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
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