{"id":5081,"date":"2026-07-27T11:04:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T15:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokertraining.com\/poker\/blog\/?p=5081"},"modified":"2026-07-27T11:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T15:04:11","slug":"have-we-saved-the-next-wsop-main-event-champion-for-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokertraining.com\/poker\/blog\/have-we-saved-the-next-wsop-main-event-champion-for-last\/","title":{"rendered":"Have we saved the next WSOP Main Event champion for last?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our WSOP Main Event<\/a> champion simulations are underway. As our look at the Final Nine comes to a close, we\u2019re turning to the last three players competing for the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet Lauri Saaskilahti, Han Feng and Evagoras Evagorou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Lauri Saaskilahti<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chip Count: 37.5M \u00b7 7th of 9<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Age: <\/strong>39<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residence:<\/strong> Barcelona, Spain \u2014 originally from Finland<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Live Tournament Winnings Before the Final Table:<\/strong> $138,453<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous Largest Cash:<\/strong> $83,116 \u2014 14th place in the 2025 EPT Barcelona Main Event<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WSOP Experience:<\/strong> One small WSOP Circuit cash in 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Notable Results: <\/strong>Two deep runs in the EPT Barcelona Main Event<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BACKGROUND<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lauri Saaskilahti is a 39-year-old amateur player from Finland who now lives in Barcelona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His recorded live tournament results date back to 2017, although he has only nine cashes. Nearly all of his most significant tournament experience has come in Barcelona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His largest previous score was $83,116 for finishing 14th in the 2025 European Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event. He also placed 133rd in the same event in 2023 for $33,357.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saaskilahti has very limited WSOP experience. His only previous recorded WSOP result was a small cash in a $400 Circuit event in Hollywood, Florida, in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the pivotal moments in his Main Event run came on Day 7, when he was all in with ace-high against Brock Wilson\u2019s flopped top pair. Saaskilahti found an ace on the river to survive and double up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Day 8, he eliminated Daniel Savas over the course of two hands, first doubling with pocket jacks against pocket tens and then calling Savas\u2019s final shove with ace-nine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the pressure, Saaskilahti described himself as surprisingly relaxed during the closing stages of the tournament, without the overwhelming wave of emotion he might have expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KEY HAND \u2014 PROTECTING TOP SET<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Level 38 \u2014 Blinds 600,000\/1,200,000 with a 1,200,000 ante<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Gagliano opened to 2,500,000 with Q\u2663J\u2660, and Saaskilahti called from the big blind with 9\u26609\u2666<\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flop came 8\u26607\u26634\u2663.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saaskilahti checked and called Gagliano\u2019s 2,500,000 continuation bet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 9\u2665<\/mark> landed on the turn, giving Saaskilahti top set. He checked again, and Gagliano bet 7,000,000 into a pot of 11,800,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the 30-second shot clock, Saaskilahti check-shoved for 24,900,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gagliano folded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What this hand shows: <\/strong>Saaskilahti is capable of disguising a strong hand before responding with major aggression. His turn shove may have been larger than necessary, but with several possible draws on the board, he chose the safer route rather than risk a difficult river decision.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

STRENGTHS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Saaskilahti has some tournament experience, although most of his significant results have come in Barcelona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He described himself as relaxed during the late stages of the Main Event and appeared able to remain composed despite playing for stakes far beyond anything he had previously experienced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His play suggests that he is willing to apply strong pressure when he has a premium hand rather than allowing opponents to realize their equity cheaply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WEAKNESSES<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Saaskilahti has only nine recorded tournament cashes, with most of them coming in Barcelona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is also a relative novice at the WSOP and has little experience playing this deep in a tournament of this magnitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He appears likely to play more straightforwardly than most of the other finalists\u2014playing his strong hands aggressively while exercising more caution with marginal holdings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will that approach make him too predictable or exploitable against the more experienced players at the table?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Han Feng<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chip Count: 25M \u00b7 8th of 9<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Age:<\/strong> 42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residence:<\/strong> Texas, USA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Live Tournament Winnings Before the Final Table:<\/strong> $1,993,830<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous Largest Cash:<\/strong> $159,805 \u2014 1st place in the 2024 Champions Club Poker Open $1,500 Main Event<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WSOP Experience: <\/strong>WSOP Circuit victories in 2024, along with numerous online and live WSOP cashes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Notable Results:<\/strong> 2024 GPI Mid-Major Player of the Year<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BACKGROUND<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Han Feng has built an impressive tournament r\u00e9sum\u00e9 in a relatively short professional career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 42-year-old Texas player\u2019s recorded live results date back only to 2021, but he had already accumulated nearly $2 million in tournament winnings before reaching this final table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feng has recorded approximately eight or nine first- or second-place finishes in larger tournaments, with individual scores ranging from around $30,000 to $144,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His largest previous cash was $159,805 for winning the 2024 Champions Club Poker Open $1,500 Main Event in Houston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also won a $1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event in Tulsa in 2024 for $144,413, a $600 Pot-Limit Omaha Circuit event in Cherokee for approximately $33,000, and a Moneymaker Tour Main Event in Houston for $54,100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other significant results include approximately $123,000 for finishing 14th in a 2025 Wynn no-limit hold\u2019em event and $119,000 for placing second in a 2023 Venetian event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His consistent success earned him recognition as the 2024 GPI Mid-Major Player of the Year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feng entered the closing stages of the Main Event as the shortest stack remaining and had come to terms with the possibility of falling just short of the final table. After finding a crucial double-up, however, he rebuilt his stack and regained his confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reaching the Final Nine also disrupted his plans to spend the rest of the year traveling and playing poker throughout Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KEY HAND \u2014 APPLYING MAXIMUM PRESSURE WITH TOP PAIR<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Feng limped from the small blind with 9\u2666<\/mark>8\u2666<\/mark> before Malcolm Trayner raised to 3,500,000 from the big blind with 9\u2665<\/mark>2\u2666<\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feng called, and the flop came 8\u26606\u2665<\/mark>5\u2666<\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feng led for 2,500,000 with top pair and a gutshot straight draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trayner raised to 7,000,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feng responded by moving all in for 25,400,000, and Trayner quickly folded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What this hand shows: <\/strong>Feng is unafraid to limp-call out of position and then respond with major aggression after the flop. Here, he three-bet shoved with top pair, a weak kicker, and a gutshot straight draw.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

STRENGTHS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Feng has been very successful during a relatively short professional career. He appears skilled, unafraid, and capable of shifting gears when the situation requires it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also showed that he can recover from being short-stacked, rebuilding his stack to reach the final table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite his relatively short professional career, he is not young. At 42, he may be better prepared for the pressure of becoming the next WSOP Main Event Champion than a younger player with a similar tournament r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WEAKNESSES<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Feng enters the final table with the second-smallest stack. He will likely need to win some flips to make a serious run at the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has shown that he is willing to take those risks, although he is also capable of laying down a hand when he believes an opponent is particularly strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will he make the correct reads about when to take his shot and when to back off? With one of the shortest stacks at the table, he may not have much margin for error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Evagoras Evagorou<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chip Count: 22.5M \u00b7 9th of 9<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Age:<\/strong> 48<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residence:<\/strong> Cyprus<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Live Tournament Winnings Before the Final Table:<\/strong> $133,689<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous Largest Cash:<\/strong> $45,490<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WSOP Experience:<\/strong> Three cashes in 2026, including a 15th-place finish in a $600 Deepstack event<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Notable Results: <\/strong>Several five-figure tournament cashes in Europe and the Middle East<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BACKGROUND<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Evagoras Evagorou is a 48-year-old amateur player from Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Away from poker, he has worked as an optician for 24 years and operates his own practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evagorou entered 2026 with limited experience at major international events, but he had already recorded several five-figure cashes in tournaments across Europe and the Middle East. His live tournament earnings totaled $133,689 before reaching this final table, with a previous largest cash of $45,490.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This appears to be his first year competing in WSOP events. Before his Main Event run, he finished 15th in a $600 Deepstack event for $13,848, 374th in the $1,000 Mini Main Event for $4,650, and 480th in the $1,000 Mystery Millions for $3,650.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evagorou entered Day 8 short-stacked and acknowledged that some of the moves he attempted did not work. He remained patient, however, and survived three separate all-ins to reach the final table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is his first WSOP Main Event, and he enters the Final Nine as the shortest stack. He has also received significant support from friends and poker fans back home in Cyprus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KEY HAND \u2014 A BIG RIVER BLUFF WITH A MISSED DRAW<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Level 38 \u2014 Blinds 600,000\/1,200,000 with a 1,200,000 ante<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jamie Shaevel raised to 2,500,000 from under the gun, and Evagorou called from the big blind with 9\u26638\u2663.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evagorou checked the 2\u266010\u2666<\/mark>7\u2663 flop. Shaevel bet 2,000,000, and Evagorou called with an open-ended straight draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both players checked the 7\u2666<\/mark> turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 7\u2665<\/mark> river completed a triple-paired board but missed Evagorou\u2019s straight draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evagorou bet 13,500,000, enough to put Shaevel all in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shaevel called with K\u2666<\/mark>10\u2660 and won the pot with sevens full of tens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What this hand shows:<\/strong> Evagorou is capable of applying significant pressure with a bluff, even when his tournament life may be at risk. However, the hand also raises questions about whether his betting line told a convincing enough story.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

STRENGTHS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Evagorou has limited experience in major events, but he has recorded several five-figure cashes in Europe and the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although he tends to play more conservatively, he has shown that he is capable of making aggressive moves in his hunt to be the WSOP Main Event champion. In one hand, he shoved the river with a missed straight draw. In another, he defended his big blind loosely with 9-3 suited and check-raised a flop he had missed apart from backdoor draws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These hands show that he is not purely a passive or predictable player, even if some of his bluffs may be questionable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WEAKNESSES<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Evagorou may play too conservatively and allow his stack to dwindle until he reaches a point where he is forced to move all in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was short-stacked on Day 8 and needed to survive three all-ins to reach the final table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he does choose to bluff, his timing and execution may not always be convincing. His large river bet with a missed straight draw was called by a smaller stack holding a full house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evagorou is an older amateur player with a full-time career as an optician. He will also need to return to Cyprus before the final table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much preparation time will he be able to devote while balancing his career and travel? And does he have the skill and experience required to compete against the more experienced and aggressive players at the table?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That completes our look at all nine finalists to be the next WSOP Main Event Champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, we\u2019ll bring the analysis together and reveal what the APT simulations predict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hand histories based on live reporting from PokerNews. APT assessments and player analysis are original.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read our assessment of the other finalists here<\/a>, and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our WSOP Main Event champion simulations are underway. As our look at the Final Nine comes to a close, we\u2019re turning to the last three players competing for the title. Meet Lauri Saaskilahti, Han Feng and Evagoras Evagorou. Lauri Saaskilahti Chip Count: 37.5M \u00b7 7th of 9 Age: 39 Residence: Barcelona, Spain \u2014 originally from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nHave we saved the next WSOP Main Event champion for last? - Advanced Poker Training Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Our WSOP Main Event champion simulations are underway. We\u2019re turning to the last three players competing for the title.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pokertraining.com\/poker\/blog\/have-we-saved-the-next-wsop-main-event-champion-for-last\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Have we saved the next WSOP Main Event champion for last? - Advanced Poker Training Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Our WSOP Main Event champion simulations are underway. 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