As we gear up for the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) festival, it is a good time to look back and relive epic milestones and moments from the WSOP 2024. From long-awaited victories to drama, dominance and historic moments, the 2024 World Series of Poker had it all. Here is a quick nostalgic rewind into six most iconic moments that unfolded last summer.
1. Jonathan Tamayo’s $10M Main Event Win And The Controversy
Jonathan Tamayo’s Main Event victory was an epic moment from the WSOP 2024. Clinching the world’s most coveted poker title and $10 million top prize, Tamayo was a dream come true moment for him and his team, including Dominik Nitsche and Joe McKeehen. However, his historic victory was overshadowed by the controversy over his decision to consult friends and use the laptop during the final table of the Main Event. Following this controversy several big name pros including Daniel Negreanu jumped in and asked WSOP for clearer rules. The WSOP finally heard the voice of the community and tightened the rules ahead of the WSOP Paradise last year.
2. Scott Seiver’s Triple Crown Summer With WSOP POY Title
Scott Seiver did not just play the WSOP—he etched his name in history by winning three bracelets and nearly capturing fourth. While he fell short of the record-breaking fourth win, Seiver’s performance was a legendary one. His consistency and ability to win three events, post two final tables and cash events across multiple variants not only placed him among the modern greats but also won him the WSOP Player of the Year title.
3. Shiina Okamoto’s Redemption in the Ladies Event
One of the most heart-warming and memorable moments from the WSOP 2024 was Shiina Okamoto’s triumphant run in the 2024 Ladies Event. Her victory was emotionally charged. After finishing runner-up in 2023, she returned with a big vengeance and skillfully bested a massive field of 1,245 competitors, becoming the first-ever Japanese woman to win a bracelet. She overcame the WPT Global Ambassador and two-time WSOP ring winner Jamie Kerstetter in heads-up, claiming a career-best $171,732.
4. Daniel Negreanu’s Long-Awaited Seventh WSOP Bracelet
Poker legend Daniel Negreanu is one of the greatest poker players in the world. However, his name echoed through the WSOP halls without a bracelet for about 11 years. That drought finally ended in spectacular fashion in 2024 when “Kid Poker” shipped the $50K Poker Players Championship for his seventh career bracelet, highlighting the fact that legends never fade. The GGPoker Ambassador finally beat Bryce Yockey for the title and a $1.17 million payday. His emotional post-victory interview resonated with fans worldwide. After years of near-misses, the seventh bracelet felt like a rebirth and one of the most memorable moments.
5. Phil Ivey Adds No. 11 to His Legacy
The WPT Global Ambassador Phil Ivey’s return to the WSOP winner’s circle was like a scene from a movie. The GOAT outlasted a star-studded field of 149 entries in Event #29: $10,000 2-7 Triple Draw Championship, claiming his 11th bracelet and overtaking the likes of Doyle Brunson and Erik Seidel. Just six behind Phil Hellmuth after the victory, Ivey proved that his presence at the tables still sends a chill down his opponents’ spines.
6. India’s Double Delight: Suvarna and Agarwal Make History
2024 was a historic year for Indian poker with two WSOP bracelets coming home for the first time in a single season. India’s high roller sensation Santhosh Suvarna set the stage with a historic win in the $250,000 Super High Roller event, defeating an elite field of 75 entries to take home over $5.4 million and become the first Indian to win this particular event.
Days later, Aditya Agarwal, one of India’s most consistent performers, finally broke through. After over 17 years of chasing the dream, Agarwal captured his maiden WSOP bracelet in the $1,000 NLH Freezeout. It was a moment of pride not just for him, but for the entire Indian poker community.
As we gear up for WSOP 2025, these unforgettable moments from last year remind us why poker is more than just a game—it is a story of drama, thrill, dominance and epic moments.
Keep following PokerProNews for more such thrilling flashback pieces from last year’s WSOP.
