Greg Merson Takes WSOP 2012 Main Event Crown

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The winner of this year's WSOP Main Event has finally been decided

The World Series of Poker (WSPO) Main Event started back in July, when 6,598 entrants sat down at the tables to take a shot at one of the most coveted prizes in poker - the world championship WSOP bracelet.

It took around a week and a half's worth of play back in July to whittle thousands of competitors down to the final nine, who didn't return to the felt until October 29th to decide who would be crowned the 2012 WSOP Main Event winner.

And the anxious wait to see who this year's world champion will be is finally over, with America's Greg Merson scooping the first prize of US$8,531,853 after beating his fellow finalists.

Jesse Sylvia had to settle for second place on the last day while Jacob Balsiger took third, and Merson joins the likes of Australian poker star Joe Hachem on the list of elite players to have picked up a WSOP Main Event crown.

While there were no Aussies in the final this time, David Balkin did come painfully close to earning his place when the last nine were being decided back in July, but was eventually busted in 18th.