Greg Merson Is WSOP Main Event Champion After 12-Hour Marathon Session

A record-breaking final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas finally came to an end this morning as 24-year-old Greg Merson put Jesse Sylvia all-in and took home the $8.53 million title.

The final table took two days to conclude and dealt a record 400 hands, with last night's three-way lasting a grueling 11 hours before college student Jake Balsiger was eliminated. By comparison, the Merson-Sylvia head's-up was relatively short.

Merson put Sylvia all in with a K-5 suited, to which Sylvia called after five minutes of deliberation. Sylvia's Q-J suited didn't find any pairs on the table, and an Orioles jersey-clad Merson seized victory. Sylvia goes home with a paltry $5.3 million for his troubles.