Hossein Ensan

Hossein Ensan was born on May 22, 1964, in Ahwaz, Iran. At the age of 25, in 1989, he moved to Germany, where he studied civil engineering at the University of Münster. To support himself and his family, he worked various jobs including as a taxi driver, waiter, and painter. In 2002, he started his own taxi business with three cars, which gave him the flexibility to begin playing poker seriously. Although he learned the rules of poker as a child playing five-card draw, his professional poker career started relatively late; he was 39 years old when he began playing seriously. He is married to Alexa Greshake and has a daughter named Minusch Greshake.

Ensan first caught the poker world's attention in August 2014 at the European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona festival. He won the Seniors Event and then, just days later, finished third out of 1,496 players in the Main Event for €652,000. He made another EPT final table in Malta in March 2015, finishing sixth. Later that year, in December, he captured his first EPT title by winning the EPT Prague Main Event for €754,510. In 2017, he won a World Series of Poker Circuit ring in the Rozvadov Main Event, earning €184,812.

His crowning achievement came in 2019 when he won the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas. Entering the final table as the overwhelming chip leader with more than a third of the chips in play, he overcame a field of 8,569 players. On the 301st hand of heads-up play, he defeated Italian pro Dario Sammartino with K♥K♣ against Sammartino's 8♠4♠ on a board of 10♠2♦6♠9♣, and the river was a blank. At age 55, Ensan became the oldest Main Event champion since Noel Furlong in 1999 and the second German champion after Pius Heinz. He earned $10,000,000 for the victory.

Ensan is renowned for a disciplined, patient, and highly observant playing style that emphasizes mental stamina over raw aggression. He describes himself as a "feel" player who prioritizes psychological reads and table dynamics, though he respects modern Game Theory Optimal (GTO) study. His strategy is characterized by exceptional focus over long tournament structures, allowing him to maintain control with a chip lead. He employs a "small ball" approach, utilizing pot control and thin value bets to minimize risk while exploiting opponents' mistakes. This balanced style has proven effective not only in No-Limit Hold'em but also in Pot-Limit Omaha events, where he has recorded strong results in recent years.

Beyond his major titles, Ensan has a string of impressive results. In 2019, later in the year after his WSOP win, he made another deep run in the EPT Prague Main Event, finishing 14th. He has consistently cashed in high-stakes tournaments across the EPT, World Poker Tour (WPT), and Triton Poker Series. Notable finishes include: 3rd place in the 2026 EPT Paris €10,300 High Roller for €298,500; 12th in the 2026 EPT Monte-Carlo €25,000 High Roller; 2nd in the 2025 PLO Grand Slam Tallinn €5,200 Million for €146,000; 5th in the 2025 PLO Grand Slam Malta €10,300 Championship for €129,700; 7th in the 2023 Grand Big Wrap €10,000 Platinum High Roller; and 22nd in the 2024 Triton Montenegro $125,000 Main Event for $235,000. In 2026, he also cashed in the WSOP Main Event for the second time, finishing 13th for $510,000.

As of 2026, Ensan remains active on the tournament circuit, particularly in European events and high-roller series. He has shown versatility by excelling in Pot-Limit Omaha, a game variant that has gained prominence. his total live tournament earnings exceed $14,423,412, ranking him 95th on the all-time money list and 7th among German players. His net worth is estimated at over $15 million. Ensan continues to be a popular figure in the poker community, admired for his humble demeanor and late-career surge. He frequently participates in events from the EPT and WSOP, often drawing large rails of supporters.