Greg Mueller entered this year’s World Series of Poker Main Event with something to prove.
After years of grinding tournaments and cash games, the longtime pro burned out on poker and lost his passion to play.
”I like to be active and I don’t want to sit in a chair all day,” Mueller said. “I’ve kind of been there, done that. It just didn’t excite me anymore. So I wasn’t really playing good, and the whole combination was just not good.
“I wanted to prove to myself and some friends and some poker buddies that it’s not because I suck. It’s because I’m not into it. So you know what? I’m going to try. And play. It was kind of something I just needed to prove to myself.”
Mueller made a magical run in this year’s $10,000 buy-in No-limit Hold’em World Championship and had a big stack late on Day 8 with 10 players left at Paris Las Vegas.
The Main Event continued Monday night until nine players remained. Lucas Jumalon of Spokane, Washington, had a commanding lead at the 9 p.m. break with 155 million chips (103 big blinds). All the remaining players are guaranteed $750,000.
The tournament will pause until Aug. 3 when the three-day final table begins.
Mueller, a resident of White Rock, British Columbia, played professional hockey in Germany from 1992 to 2000 before shifting into poker. He still plays in an adult hockey league and is part of the Vancouver Canucks alumni association.
“I play hockey and golf and hang out. That’s what I enjoy doing,” Mueller said. “When I come to Vegas, I sit on my ass for 14 hours a day and play poker and gain weight. And it’s just not the life (I love). I used to love it, but I don’t love it anymore. But who knows what happens after this.”
Mueller owns three WSOP bracelets, which are awarded for tournament victories, and has more than $3.5 million in career live tournament earnings, according to the Hendon Mob Poker Database. He started Day 8 in 19th place with 21 players remaining but was able to move up the leaderboard throughout the afternoon levels.
After knocking out Romain Lewis in 17th place in a classic aces-versus-kings confrontation, Mueller later scored a big double-up against Rami Hammoud with jacks against nines with 13 players remaining.
Mueller doubled-up again on the final hand before the 9 p.m. break when his pocket queens held up against Michael Gagliano’s ace-king and was in third place with 62.5 million chips (42 big blinds).
“I’m blessed and that’s the thing I realized. No matter when I bust, I have so many friends and family. I’m so blessed in life,” Mueller said. “This is a game and I really want it so bad. But in the end, I’m very fortunate. And if I do make it, I will have a rail like no other.”
Jumalon rocketed into the chip lead after the second break, winning the biggest pot of the Main Event so far with a full house against Malcolm Trayner of Australia, who was the chip leader at the time.
The hand pushed Jumalon past 125 million in chips, and he extended his lead later in the evening when he took down another massive pot against Lauri Saaskilahti, who had one of the biggest stacks in the room.
Jumalon, 22, was supported by a vocal rail and would be the second-youngest player ever to win the Main Event behind Joe Cada, who was 21 when he claimed the title in 2009.
Hossein Ensan, the 2019 Main Event champion, saw his dream of another title end in 13th place after he was one of the big stacks during the afternoon. Ensan was seeking to become the fifth player with multiple Main Event bracelets.
Shaun Deeb, a nine-time bracelet winner, also fell short of the final table bowing out in 15th place. Deeb, who is chasing his second straight WSOP Player of the Year award, entered two more tournaments immediately after busting.
Todd Brunson was looking to join his father, Doyle, as a Main Event champion but went out in 20th place when his pocket aces were cracked by Jumalon.
Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on X.
