It's been almost five years since John 'World' Hennigan won his sixth WSOP bracelet and the wait for number seven is now over after a victory in the $1,500 Dealer's Choice event at the 2024 World Series of Poker.
Hennigan — who won his first bracelet in 2002 in the $2,000 H.O.R.S.E. event — took home $136,296 after he beat Robert Wells in heads-up play, in addition to a final table that included bracelet winner Peter Gelencser and online legend Viktor 'Isildir' Blom. The win also separates him from the large group of players with six bracelets and puts him in the company of just eight other players with a seventh.
"I’m very happy to win the tournament," Hennigan said in the post-win media scrum. "To me, the best thing about winning the tournament is not losing it — getting second or knowing they're still playing while you wander around after going broke. It’s very satisfying to come out on top."
Easy work
It was easy work for Hennigan — as easy as the 21-game mix of variants can be in the Dealer's Choice tournament. He had a big pile of chips for most of the tournament and he never had to give them up.
"I had a similar experience at the PokerGO Studio two months ago where I had a huge chip lead. Every hand played themselves it was very easy."
Hennigan is talking about the $5,100 8-Game Mix at PokerGO's Mixed Games series in February and March. Johnny World won the 8-Game before he went on to cash three more times in the series.
"When you have a monster chip lead it’s a pretty simple game. The math shows up, people are playing a certain way. This tournament was like this for me from start to finish."
Game preference is everything in Dealer's Choice, and your strengths are just as important as your opponent's weaknesses. Hennigan has the edge in certain variants, like stud, where age and experience can play a big role. He leaned on the seven-card game throughout the tournament.
"I just picked stud because it’s the game I'm best at. Frankly, the younger people are, the less stud they've played. I'm incredibly comfortable with that game and it’s probably lower on their list, so I picked stud and I’ve always been lucky at that game too."
'It's just poker, you know?'
So what about his legacy? Hennigan has done it all. Do big wins still matter?
"It’s just poker, you know? I’ve done pretty well and I’m pretty happy about that. I’m already in the Hall of Fame so there’s not much to shoot for."
Hennigan has played a lighter schedule over the last few years, but he still gets out of the house.
"I like tournaments. If I’m not playing big cash — I lost a lot in a cash game in the first couple of days of [of the WSOP]. I was wounded a little financially so I’m trying to grind it back."
'Get ready for the burn'
With the early win, Hennigan's series plans appear to have changed. He doesn't usually play $1,500 tournaments.
"I usually stick to the 10Ks because I don’t want to burn myself out too much. But I guess I’ll be going for Player of the Year now so get ready for the burn."
Stay tuned...the 2024 WSOP could be the Summer of Johnny.
