Nicolas Duane Manion

Nicolas Manion hails from Muskegon, Michigan, and built his poker foundation playing smaller online tournaments. Known as a small-stakes grinder, he had limited live tournament experience before 2018, with only a few minor cashes on The Hendon Mob. His approach was methodical, focusing on building a bankroll through consistent online play. Despite his lack of live exposure, Manion honed his decision-making skills in high-volume online fields, which would later prove invaluable on the biggest stage.

Manion's 2018 WSOP Main Event journey began as a freeroll. A friend offered to stake him in two $2,175 mega satellites, with Manion receiving 50% of any winnings. He qualified in both satellites, giving him a free entry into the $10,000 Main Event. On Day 1c, he survived a near-disaster when he flopped the nut straight with J-10 on a 7-8-9 flop, only to see his opponent turn a full house. He ended the day with just 11,500 chips. Over the next four days, Manion ground a small stack, never holding a large chip lead until Day 6. There, he survived a critical hand holding pocket sevens against ace-king, rivering a seven to double up. He also made a disciplined fold of pocket kings preflop when facing a four-bet shove, correctly deducing his opponent held aces. This preserved his stack, and he bagged the ninth-largest stack with 17.63 million chips heading into Day 7. On Day 7, Manion climbed to the chip lead, eventually reaching the final table with 112.775 million chips as the chip leader. He finished 9th, earning $2,825,000—his largest live cash by a wide margin.

At the final table, Manion's deep run was marked by pivotal moments. His rivered seven with pocket sevens against AK kept him alive. The fold of kings preflop demonstrated his ability to read opponents and avoid unnecessary risks. Despite entering the final table as chip leader, he was eliminated in 9th place. The 2018 Main Event had 7,874 entrants, and Manion's performance earned him a spot among the elite. His cash of $2,825,000 accounts for the vast majority of his lifetime live earnings, which total $2,910,920 according to The Hendon Mob.

Following his Main Event success, Manion continued to play live tournaments, including the 2019 WSOP, though no major cashes are documented. His 2018 run remains his defining achievement, placing him 869th on the All-Time Money List and 9th among players from Michigan. Manion's story resonates with aspiring players: a small-stakes grinder who turned a friend's satellite offer into a life-changing payday. His calm demeanor and strategic patience under pressure serve as a testament to the power of solid fundamentals even on the grandest stage.