While post-graduation summer jobs often provide a steady transition into the workforce, 22-year-old Lucas Jumalon fast-tracked his career in a single month. The Grand Canyon University alumnus walked away from Las Vegas with a $10 million payout.
The business administration major with a minor in business analytics capped off a dominant performance Wednesday night to win the World Series of Poker Main Event, securing the world championship title, its coveted gold bracelet and massive eight-figure prize. The Spokane, Washington, native defeated Finland’s Lauri Saaskilahti in a swift, 17-hand, heads-up match at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
With the victory, Jumalon etched his name into poker lore as the second-youngest Main Event champion ever at 22 years, 5 months.
“I’m so blessed. This is a dream come true. If you put the work in, and the time in, and you take your licks, you can go get (anything in life),” Jumalon said on ESPN moments after the winning hand.
“I really do believe I was built for something like this, built to be the ambassador for this sport. I am so excited.”
Jumalon entered the final-table, three-day event as the overwhelming chip leader with 194 million chips and never gave up his lead, though it was at risk on Wednesday. Saaskilahti temporarily closed the chip gap from 287 million to 266 million before a single winning hand stretched Jumalon’s lead to 469 million chips. Two hands later, he was the winner. Saaskilahti earned $6 million as the runner-up.
The tournament, which drew the fourth-largest field in WSOP history with 9,208 players each buying in for $10,000, generated a massive total prize pool of $85.6 million.
The celebration around the Horseshoe looked and sounded more like Midnight Madness inside Global Credit Union Arena. Dozens of Jumalon supporters, including more than 15 from GCU, wore “Queen-High” custom T-shirts, chanted “Lucas,” erupted in coordinated cheers and even bodysurfed Jumalon throughout the event.
Standing before a roaring rail of college friends and family displaying his new gold bracelet, the newly crowned world champion’s summer work was officially complete.
“Without my people here, I don’t know that I would have made it through,” Jumalon told poker.org.
His business-degree coursework at GCU prepared Jumalon for the possible windfall of winnings. He already has a financial plan in place and is focused on stewarding this life-changing payday well.
Jumalon admits that being a multimillionaire at age 22 can be a bit “head-spinning,” but the support he’s had around him for the past four years has kept him grounded. The months leading up the WSOP were full of “dark spots,” he said, nearly leading him to give up poker. Instead, he found new hope in his faith and community.
The combination of GCU’s community plus poker surprises his opponents. Jumalon doesn’t ignore concerns associated with sports or games, such as poker, that involve money and betting. He instead focuses on the good that comes from identifying one's purpose.
“There is a reason that guys win and continue to win in poker. There are elements of variance and analysis. But I truly think that if you put the time in, and dive into whatever it is you are pursuing, you can be successful,” Jumalon said.
“If you don’t see the results at first, don’t let it discourage you. Make sure you keep putting the work in because you never know when you’re going to need it, and you never know what God has planned for you. I am really glad that I kept working at it and kept trying to get better every day.”
GCU News senior writer Jason Gonzalez can be reached at [email protected].
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