John Hesp at 2017 World Series of Poker Main Event. An amateur from Bridlington, U.K., he finished 4th in a field of 7,221 players, winning $2.6 million.
One of the most charismatic and engaging players at last year’s World Series of Poker will be back for another run.
John Hesp, an instant fan favorite for his lively banter and Technicolor jacket, said in a phone interview this month that he’ll return to play in the Main Event. The 2018 WSOP kicks off Wednesday, May 30 — there will be 78 bracelet events, the most prestigious being the Main Event, which starts July 2.
An amateur poker player from England’s east coast who turns 65 years old next month, Hesp’s jaunty run last July took him all the way to the final table, far exceeding his “wildest expectations,” he said.
“My intent when I went there last year was to fulfill a bucket-list wish,” he said. “My aim was to get into the top thousand” and finish in the money.
