Hossein Ensan

Hossein Ensan
ResidenceMünster, Germany
Born (1964-05-22) 22 May 1964 (age 60)
Iran
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)1
Final table(s)1
Money finish(es)2
Highest ITM
Main Event finish		Winner, 2019
European Poker Tour
Title(s)1
Final table(s)3
Money finish(es)6
Information last updated on 23 September 2022.

Hossein Ensan (born 22 May 1964) is an Iranian-German professional poker player from Greven, Germany. In 2019, he won the Main Event at the World Series of Poker for $10,000,000.

Ensan was born in Iran and moved to Germany in 1989 at the age of 25. There, he studied civil engineering at the University of Munster. He was unable to pay his bills, especially at the time when he was beginning a family. He has a daughter named Minusch Greshake and a wife named Alexa Greshake. He started working small jobs, such as a taxi driver, waiter, and painter.[1] He then managed to start a taxi business in 2002, buying three cars, and had enough time to start his poker career. This was a late start, being 39 at that time. However, he stated that he knew the rules of poker since he played five-card draw when he was a kid.[2]

In August 2014, Ensan won the seniors event at the European Poker Tour's Barcelona festival, then a week later he finished third out of 1,496 players in the Main Event for €652,000.[3] He also made the final table at EPT Malta in March 2015, finishing in sixth. Finally, he made his third EPT final table in Prague that December and won the tournament for €754,000.[4]

Ensan won a WSOP circuit ring in Rozvadov, Czech Republic in 2017. He had just one WSOP cash prior to the 2019 Main Event, in the Colossus event at the WSOP Europe in 2017.[5]

At the 2019 Main Event in Las Vegas, Ensan entered the final table with the chip lead, having more than a third of the chips in play. On the 301st hand of the final table, he defeated Italian professional poker player Dario Sammartino heads-up, with K♥ K♣ against Sammartino's 8♠ 4♠. His opponent check-raised all in on a 10♠ 2♦ 6♠ 9♣ board and Ensan quickly called, with the river card coming up a blank. At age 55, Ensan became the oldest Main Event champion since Noel Furlong in 1999 and the second German champion after Pius Heinz in 2011.[6][7]

As of January 2020, Ensan's total live earnings exceed $13,000,000.[8]

  1. ^ Kirschen, Robert (13 July 2019). "MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE IS SET, HOSSEIN ENSAN LEADS". WSOP.com. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  2. ^ Jaudon, Gaelle (27 December 2019). "An exclusive conversation with 2019 WSOP Main Event Champion Hossein Ensan". So Much Poker. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  3. ^ Swains, Howard (27 August 2014). "EPT11 Barcelona: Hossein Ensan set to strike another blow for poker's old guard". PokerStars. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  4. ^ Willis, Brad (10 December 2015). "EPT12 Prague: Third time's a charm for champion Hossein Ensan". PokerStars. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  5. ^ Zetzsche, Christian (17 October 2017). "Hossein Ensan Wins 2017 WSOP Circuit Rozvadov Main Event (€184,812)". PokerNews.com. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  6. ^ Gleeson, Scott (17 July 2019). "Hossein Ensan wins $10 million in prize money for World Series of Poker victory". USA TODAY. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  7. ^ D'Angelo, Bob (17 July 2019). "Top card: Hossein Ensan of Germany wins $10M at World Series of Poker". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Hossein Ensan's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved 17 November 2023.