French Pro wins US Poker Open event for $416,500

French pro Benjamin Pollak came out on top, beating a field of 49 entries and a final table littered with big names including Jason Koon, Isaac Haxton and U.S. Poker Open Championship leader Stephen Chidwick. This result marks the biggest outright win in Pollak's decade-plus career, who finished third in the World Series of Poker Main Event this past July.

The U.S. Poker Open comprises eight high-stakes tournaments ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, including a Pot-Limit Omaha and Mixed Game event. The player who grosses the most during these eight events will be crowned U.S. Poker Open Champion, taking home an enormous one-of-a-kind trophy.

"I'm super happy,” Pollak remarked with a big smile on his face when it was all said and done. "Of course, I got some big cards, but I'm pretty with how I played. I've been on an amazing rush these last six months, and this win is proof for me that the last six months were real.

"I was about to quit poker last year; I wanted to just leave what I had done for the last ten years because I wasn't enjoying it anymore. That problem came up before the Main Event, and I worked on that with my mental coach, just trying to enjoy more what I was doing. I did that during the Main Event, and I loved that so much. It's amazing, because all the energy I have now is going towards my results. This proves to me that if you have a lot of energy and love what you're doing, and if you're committed, you can accomplish so much.

"The last six months I've had such an incredible run, but I always finished, second, third fourth or fifth. I've never won a big tournament, and this being my first one is extra special. I have a chance now if I win the Main Event, to take home the trophy, and that would be incredible."