| 2002 WSOP Main Event Winner | Robert Varkonyi |
|---|---|
| Runner Up | Julian Gardner |
| Winning Hand | Q 10 |
| Losing Hand | J 8 |
| 1st Place Prize | $2,000,000 |
| Number of Main Event Entrants | 631 |
Robert Varkonyi won the 2002 WSOP Main Event and by doing so made the “Poker Brat” Phil Hellmuth eat his words and lose his hair. Varkonyi was new to the WSOP and Hellmuth had said that if Varkonyi won the event he would shave his hair. After Varkonyi won the title Hellmuth had to lose the hair, and even had Varkonyi shave some of it off.
Varkonyi faced up against Julian Gardner in heads-up play and after winning big several times throughout the tournament with Q-10, Varkonyi picked up Q-10 for what would be the final hand. After a flop of Q-4-4 with two clubs, Gardner and his Jc-8c moved all-in on the flush draw. The 10d fell on the river, and Gardner needed a club that was not the 10c to survive. Gardner made his flush, but it was the 10c, giving Varkonyi the full house for the victory.
Phil hellmuth would lose his hair, and Varkonyi would pick up $2 million for his victory.