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• A down-on-his-luck poker pro won the 2016 WSOP $565 Colossus II and $1 million on Tuesday night

• Pro Ben Keeline was driving for Uber last month, but became a millionaire on the 2016 WSOP on Tuesday

A down-on-his-luck poker pro, who recently turned to forcing for Uber to make ends meet, won $1 million on the 2016 World Series of Poker on Tuesday night, capturing the large Colossus II crown.

Thirty-year-old Ben Keeline took down the 2016 WSOP $565 Colossus II No-Limit Hold'em, creating a unbelievable comeback to outlive in the course of the second of 2 shots he took at the event's first day flights, ultimately defeating an important field of 21,613 to capture his first WSOP gold bracelet and the $1 million first-place prize that came with it.

Originally from Oswego, Illinois, but now living near Boulder, Colorado, Keeline banked his previous biggest score of $218,762 for a runner-up finish within the January 2015 WSOP Circuit Main Event at Choctaw in Durant, Oklahoma. He had since run through his share of the cash and was dropped by a backer in January of this year. Keeline said he tried to play on his own and sell action, but that didn't go well, forcing him to begin driving for Uber to pay the bills.

"The two biggest scores in my life have come at my lowest points," he told reporters, welling up with tears after the win. "I've had a very hard time lately, and i have just tried to stick positive. I WILL NOT believe it. It's an awesome feeling. I'm elated. It's unreal.

"I play this stupid game always and get fucked. I USED TO BE able to quit. I almost didn't come to the series because I COULD NOT pay my bills if I DID NOT have a winning series."

Keeline said he was forced to take a loan from his father to come back out to the 2016 WSOP.

"I wouldn't be here if I DID NOT have lots of people behind me with faith in me," he added.

After running kings into aces and into , Keeline was right down to a single ante with blinds at 1500/3000, nearing the top of the day on his second bullet within the event. He miraculously survived that hand with rags, and an orbit an a half later, he had picked up a minimum of three big pairs and a ton of run good to come back over 100,000 in chips.

However, it wasn't then that Keeline felt he might win the tournament. He actually came in with a bit of extra confidence on his side, and always had a inclination it was possible.

In 2015, he was fascinated with a $250 Colossus last more bet that saw and amazing three out of 92 people make the overall six of a record-breaking 22,374-player event, including eventual winner Cord Garcia.

They only got 30 people for the last more this year, but amazingly had two people on the final table, including Keeling and eighth-place finisher Jonathan Borenstein. Keeline said he appears like he can win any tournament he enters, but going in the last more again made him think even the seemingly impossible task of popping out on top of 1 of the most important live tournament fields within the history of the game, might be accomplished.

"Maybe after two wins in a row everybody will want in," he said. "Maybe it is the key to winning."

Looking towards his future, Keeline said he wish to work towards marrying his current girlfriend, and hoped his newfound wealth would help bring some stability to his life.

While he "swung for the fences" after his big score at Choctaw in 2015, taking shots in bigger tournaments, he said he will take the time to regulate his bankroll better this time around. In fact, he said he might keep driving for Uber, only play poker occasionally, and look to take a position in some roughly business he can run himself.

For the immediate future, however, Keeline said he'll enjoy having reached a goal he set for himself when he was only a young boy: Winning a WSOP bracelet.

"It was my goal of mine since I USED TO BE a kid," he said. "I WILL BE ABLE TO remember vividly watching poker on TV within the basement with my Dad, explaining to him how the cards worked. We were watching the old WSOP stuff and he asked me if I ever thought I'd play someday.

"The bracelet is an ideal trophy, but I ACTUALLY can't believe I'VE one million dollars. My dad goes to be so proud. [My parents] have really been by my side my whole life, even if I DID NOT think they were."

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