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It happened in the early hours of this morning, or the late hours of last night, or sometime around lunch depending on where in the world you were watching when Martin Jacobson won the WSOP Main Event. For the entire poker world was tuned into the final stages where, despite what were once overwhelming odds, Jacobson triumphed with a performance that will be remembered for generations, and using nothing more than a pair of tens turned his string of near misses into ancient history.

It may have surprised some watching on television, or in the Rio Hotel itself, that this young Swede had turned a short stack into ten million dollars, but not so much to those who follow the European Poker Tour. Even as the stacks surrounded him cast shadows on his own, they suspected that Jacobson was hardly the type of player to settle for whatever the poker Gods had intended to come his way. Indeed he didn't, and there was something marvelous about that as the sun came up this morning.

First he outlasted others, each of whom may have thought they were guaranteed a bigger payday once Jacobson's luck ran out. Then a crucial hand, a double up, that seemed to catapult him into a higher orbit and into a trajectory headed directly towards the final day and three-handed play.

And so it goes that Jacobson is the newest WSOP champion.

It's the new high point of a career that began back in 2008 when Jacobson reached his first final table at EPT Budapest. There he would finish in third place, turning heads as a young Swede on the cusp of that feared generation of Scandinavian players.

What followed was that famous string of near misses, a perennial bridesmaid as EPT Live commentator James Hartigan put it with a runner-up finish at WPT Venice in 2009; a fourth place in a WSOP event in 2010; another second place finish at EPT Vilamoura that same year, and the same again at EPT Deauville less than six months later. By this point Jacobson could perhaps have been forgiven for thinking that titles and trophies would remain forever out of reach, perhaps even as he reached the November Nine, with the difficult and usually short-lived task of playing the second short-stack waiting for him.

But then Jacobson has never been about sitting back at the poker table. If anything the near misses proved that. Never once has he been seem to lose that steely composure that is often the unravelling of a player. Al Alvarez once said that when you let your ego into the game you're done for. Well, Jacobson appears to remain oblivious to ego.

He now enters a new phase of his career, one of adulation and spent telling his story again and again. He'll now know the first question of every interview he does for the rest of his life. But then you wonder if any WSOP Main Event ever cared about having such a problem.

And while his win takes him to the pinnacle of the game there is a guilty pleasure for the rest of us, particularly those who a work on the European Poker Tour, knowing we'll be watching him play again close up before long. In that regard it's a win for anyone who follows the tour.

It's there we hope he seeks out that other title, the one that he has come so close to winning but which has proved so elusive. At least now he knows there is no phantom barrier preventing him from achieving it, nothing to stop him achieving continued success. The rather conspicuous "1st" on his resume, followed by all of those zeroes, serve as the incontrovertible proof.

Poker has its newest WSOP Champion in Martin Jacobson. The sun is shining, and all feels well in the world.

Stephen Bartley is a staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.

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Watch cards-up coverage of the FPS Monaco Main Event final table on EPT Live by clicking here. Time stamps of the updates below reflect the one-hour delay.

Click here for live updates from Levels 29-32, during which they played down from seven players to three.

9:58pm: Sebastian Supper wins (€177,000); Manuel Martinez runner-up (€107,500)

The third hand of heads-up play saw Manuel Martinez toss away [8s][4h] from the button. Then on the next one Supper once more announced he was pushing all in, with only the [4s] tantalizing showing on the card graphics.

Again Martinez looked at his cards, and without much hesitation called the shove.

Martinez: [Ac][9h]
Supper: [4s][4d]

Supper had a made hand this time, but after the [7d][9c][2d] came on the flop Martinez had made a better one for the moment with a pair of nines.

The [Qd] then came on the turn, causing both players to grin -- for different reasons -- as Supper had picked up the diamond flush draw and many more outs.

Then came the river... the [Jd]!

Just like that it was over! Martinez finished second for a nice prize of €107,500, while Supper wins the €177,000 first prize and FPS Monaco Main Event trophy.

Manuel Martinez - 2nd place

Back shortly to recap today's exciting final day.

9:52pm: Martinez earns a quick double-up

Manuel Martinez folded the first heads-up hand from the button after picking up [8h][7d]. On the next Sebastian Supper announced he was raising all in, and Martinez called.

Supper: [6s][4s]
Martinez: [Kd][Qs]

The flop came [3s][3h][9s], giving Supper a flush draw, then the turn brought the [Jd]. With a ton of outs still available for Supper, the [Kc] wasn't one of them and Martinez doubled up to 5.89 million. Supper still has 18.335 million.

Heads-up play

9:48pm: Play resumes

The winner's trophy has been brought out and placed between Sebastian Supper and Manuel Martinez, and their heads-up battle has commenced.

9:42 pm: Updated chip counts to start heads-up play

Players are taking a short break before heads-up play will begin. Sebastian Supper will have about a 7-to-1 chip advantage when play resumes.

Sebastian Supper (Germany) -- 21,090,000
Manuel Martinez (Spain) -- 3,135,000

9:40 pm: Gilles Silbernagel eliminated in 3rd place (€75,400)

Gilles Silbernagel had the button, and after checking his cards -- [As][Kc] -- paused a couple of beats before moving all in for 1,895,000. It folded to Sebastian Supper in the big blind who had [Qc][9c], and after thinking a moment he made the call.

The flop came [2c][2s][Qd] to hit Supper's hand, and Silbernagel immediately stood from his chair. The turn was the [5s] and Silbernagel hung his head for a moment before looking up to see the river -- the [9s].

Silbernagel shook the other two players' hands and departed with a third-place finish.

Gilles Silbernagel - 3rd place

9:33pm: Supper draws better straight, takes lead

Sebastian Supper raised to 750,000 from the small blind holding [9d][5h], and Gilles Silbernagel -- his hole cards unknown -- called from the big blind.

The flop came [3c][6h][4s], and Supper fired a continuation bet of 1 million. Silbernagel thought a moment, then called the bet. The turn then brought the [7c], making a straight for Supper. Supper again acted quickly, betting 2 million. Silbernagel suddenly announced he was all in, and Supper called immediately.

Silbernagel: [Ks][5s]
Supper: [9d][5h]

Both players had turned straights, as it turned out. The dealer then produced the river...

The [8h]!

"I didn't even know...!" said Supper with a big smile, noting he hadn't even realized he was freerolling to the better straight. Meanwhile Silbernagel looked somewhat shaken, having suddenly gone from the leader to the short stack.

Supper is now the overwhelming chip leader.

Sebastian Supper (Germany) -- 18,260,000
Manuel Martinez (Spain) -- 4,240,000
Gilles Silbernagel (France) -- 2,125,000

Sebastian Supper

9:27pm: A few small ones

After Sebastian Supper won another couple of small pots, a hand arose that saw Manuel Martinez limp in from the small blind with [Kc][7d] and Supper check from the big blind with a [3s] and an obscured second card.

The flop came [Qd][Kh][7h] and both checked, then after the [3c] turn Supper checked, Martinez bet 400,000, and Supper folded.

9:21pm: Supper shoves, collects

In the first hand back, Gilles Silbernagel raised to 625,000 from the button with a [Ks] and one unknown hole card, and it folded to Sebastian Supper who shoved all in from the big blind with [6h][6c], earning a fold from Silbernagel and the first post-dinner pot.

9:20pm: Level 35 begins (150,000/300,000/40,000)

Players are back in their seats and play has resumed with yet another hefty increase of both the blinds and the antes. Leader Gilles Silbernagel begins this level with almost 42 big blinds, Sebastian Supper has just under 23 big blinds, and Manuel Martinez has just under 15 big blinds.

8:29pm: Dinner break

They've reached the end of Level 34, and the three remaining players are now taking a 45-minute dinner break. Or Supper break, if you prefer.

Here are the current counts, with Silbernagel having gone from being down to a half-dozen big blinds to the leader after that sequence of big hands:

Gilles Silbernagel (France) -- 12,470,000
Sebastian Supper (Germany) -- 6,865,000
Manuel Martinez (Spain) -- 4,470,000

8:16pm: Silbernagel increases lead

Following a Manuel Martinez raise from the button with a [6h] and an unknown second card, Silbernagel called from the big blind with [5h][4d].

The flop came [4h][4s][Ad] and Silbernagel checked. Martinez fired 400,000, and Silbernagel quickly check-raised to 1 million. Martinez called. The turn was the [3c] and within an instant Silbernagel said he was all in.

Martinez -- his stack of about 5.4 million about half what Silbernagel had -- thought a beat then let his hand go.

8:10pm: Updated chip counts

Gilles Silbernagel (France) -- 12,200,000
Manuel Martinez (Spain) -- 7,225,000
Sebastian Supper (Germany) -- 5,200,000

8:08pm: Silbernagel doubles through Martinez

Gilles Silbernagel raised to 620,000 from the small blind with [Jh][Jd], and Manuel Martinez looked down to see [4h][4s] in the big blind. He thought a moment, then announced he was reraising all in, and Silbernagel called instantly.

Silbernagel was the one at risk for 6,055,000 total, but after the [2d][Td][5h][Qd][Ts] board he was the new leader with about 12.2 million while Martinez slipped back to about 7.2 million.

8:02pm: Limp-shove from Silbernagel

Gilles Silbernagel limped in from the small blind with [7h][7d], and Manuel Martinez raised to 600,000 with [Ad][6d] from the big blind. Silbernagel then instantly shoved all in for 5,095,000 total, and Martinez thought about a half-minute before folding.

7:46pm: Supper triples up with pocket tens

Manuel Martinez limped in from the button with [Ah][5h], and Sebastian Supper raised all in for his last 1.12 million from the small blind with [Th][Tc]. Gilles Silbernagel then just called the reraise from the big blind with [6d][6c].

Martinez and Silbernagel checked down the [4c][Ks][7d][5s][Jd] board, and that meant a triple-up for Supper.

Manuel Martinez (Spain) -- 14,715,000
Gilles Silbernagel (France) -- 6,460,000
Sebastian Supper (Germany) -- 3,450,000

Sebastian Supper

7:32pm: Level 34 begins (120,000/240,000/30,000)

7:28pm: Another straight sends Silbernagel near lead

Manuel Martinez raised to 400,000 from the button with [9c][5c] and Gilles Silbernagel called with [8h][7h] from the big blind.

The flop came [9d][Tc][5d], giving Silbernagel a straight draw and Martinez two pair, and after checking Silbernagel quickly called a bet of 500,000 from Martinez.

The turn was the [Jh], giving Silbernagel his straight, and he checked once more. Martinez bet 1.3 million this time, and Silbernagel check-raised all in for 4.475 million total. Martinez got a count, and thought for a while as Silbernagel held his scarf up over his mouth.

Finally Martinez called, and wasn't pleased when the cards were revealed. The river was the [Kc], and Silbernagel won the hand.

Gilbernagel is nearly even with Martinez for the chip lead:

Manuel Martinez (Spain) -- 11,785,000
Gilles Silbernagel (France) -- 10,940,000
Sebastian Supper (Germany) -- 1,900,000

Gilles Silbernagel wins a big one

7:14pm: Straight for Silbernagel pays off versus Supper

Sebastian Supper limped in from the small blind with [Ts][6s] and Gilles Silbernagel checked from the big blind with [4c][3h], then the [6d][7d][5c] flop hit the latter's hand hard, giving Silbernagel a straght. When checked to Silbernagel chose to bet 400,000, and Supper called. The turn was the [Jc] and Supper checked again. Silbernagel bet all in this time -- for 2.36 million -- and Supper called immediately.

The river [Kd] was no matter as Silbernagel already had the hand locked up, and he's suddenly up to 6 million while Supper is down to about 2.7 million.

7:00pm: Silbernagel doubles

Gilles Silbernagel open-raised all in for 1,265,000 -- just over six big blinds -- from the small blind with [Ks][9h] and Manuel Martinez called from the big blind with [Jh][5h].

The board came okay for Silbernagel -- [7d][Qd][Ts][Kh][3d] -- and he doubled through.

Martinez still leads comfortably with 15.6 million, while Silbernagel is up to 2.6 million and Supper is in between with about 6.4 million.

Gilles Silbernagel

6:57pm: Updated chip counts

Manuel Martinez (Spain) -- 16,680,000
Sebastian Supper (Germany) -- 6,390,000
Gilles Silbernagel (France) -- 1,555,000

6:56pm: Martinez three-bets, collects

Sebastian Supper raised to 400,000 from the button with [Kc][8c], Gilles Silbernagel called from the small blind with [Jc][9d], then Manuel Martinez three-bet to 1.5 million with [Ah][6h]. Both of the others folded.

6:54pm: Silbernagel treads softly with treys

Manuel Martinez raised to 400,000 with [Qd][6s] from the button and Gilles Silbernagel just called with [3c][3d] in the big blind, leaving himself just 2 million behind. The pair then checked down the [Jh][Ac][Qs] flop and [9h] turn. The river was the [7d], Silbernagel checked, Martinez tossed out 300,000, and Silbernagel folded his pair.

6:49pm: Silbernagel stops and goes

From the big blind Gilles Silbernagel just called a preflop open by Sebastian Supper from the small blind, with Supper's cards unknown and Silbernagel holding [8s][6s]. The flop came [Tc][Jh][9d], and when checked to Silbernagel shoved and Supper stepped aside.

Gilles Silbernagel

6:45pm: Kings versus kings

Sebastian Supper picked up [Kd][Kc] on the button and raised to 400,000, then it folded to Manuel Martinez in the big blind who looked down to see... [Kh][Ks]! He three-bet to 1.1 million, then Supper pushed all in for just over 7 million and Martinez called.

The short-stacked Gilles Silbernagel had to like the situation a lot before the cards were tabled, and he was surely still hoping for something unusual to happen after they were. But the board came [9h][9s][Ac][Ts][Td], and the pot was split.

6:35pm: Silbernagel in shove-mode

Not long after play resumed, Gilles Silbernagel open-raised all in for 2,075,000 from the button with [Ac][Jd], and after thinking a short while Sebastian Supper folded from the big blind with [Ad][5h].

Just a few hands later, Silbernagel picked up [8s][8c] in the small blind and pushed in again, and got no action.

6:29pm: Level 33 begins (100,000/200,000/30,000)

Players are back and Level 33 is underway, with both the blinds and antes increasing once again. Here are the stacks to begin the level:

Manuel Martinez (Spain) -- 14,645,000
Sebastian Supper (Germany) -- 7,875,000
Gilles Silbernagel (France) -- 2,105,000

And here's what's left up top for these three:

1st: €177,000
2nd: €107,500
3rd: €75,400

The FPS Monaco Main Event has reached three-handed

To get all the latest news, chip counts and payouts, don't forget to download the EPT App on both Android or IOS.

Martin Harris is Freelance Contributor to the PokerStars Blog.

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