Hossein Ensan

Childhood

Born on May 22, 1964, in Iran, Hossein Ensan was introduced to poker at a young age, playing five-card draw during his childhood. At 25, in 1989, he moved to Germany to pursue higher education and new opportunities. He studied civil engineering at the University of Münster but faced financial difficulties, especially as he started a family.

Career

Early Career and Transition to Poker

Initially, Ensan worked various small jobs, including taxi driving, waiting tables, and painting, to support his family. In 2002, he established a taxi business, which allowed him to pursue poker seriously, albeit starting at the relatively late age of 39. Despite the late start, he had a foundational knowledge of poker rules from his youth.

Breakthrough in Poker

Ensan's professional poker career gained momentum in 2013 with consistent performances in major tournaments. In August 2014, he won the Seniors Event at the European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona festival and shortly after finished third in the EPT Barcelona Main Event, earning €652,000. His success continued with final table appearances at EPT Malta in March 2015 (sixth place) and a victory at the EPT Prague Main Event in December 2015, where he won €754,510.

2017 Ensan secured a WSOP Circuit ring at the Rozvadov Main Event, adding €184,812 to his earnings. Before his 2019 WSOP Main Event win, he had only one WSOP cash, demonstrating a rapid rise in the poker world.

2019 WSOP Main Event Victory.

The pinnacle of Ensan's career came at the 2019 WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas. Entering the final table as the chip leader with over a third of the chips in play, he dominated the competition. The final hand against Italian professional Dario Sammartino featured Ensan holding pocket Kings (K♥ K♣), which held up against Sammartino's 8♠ 4♠ after a tense check-raise all-in on the turn. At 55 years old, Ensan became the oldest WSOP Main Event champion since 1999 and the second German to win the title after Pius Heinz in 2011.

Personal life

Hossein Ensan is married to Alexa Greshake, and they have a daughter named Minusch Greshake. He resides in Münster, Germany. Ensan is a practicing Muslim, balancing his personal beliefs with his professional life.

Revenue

As of January 2020, Hossein Ensan's total live tournament earnings exceed $13,000,000. His notable winnings include:

• 2019 WSOP Main Event: $10,000,000
• 2015 EPT Prague Main Event: €754,510
• 2014 EPT Barcelona Main Event (3rd place): €652,667
• 2017 WSOP Circuit Rozvadov Main Event: €184,812

These earnings place him among the top German poker players and highlight his status as a major figure in international poker.

Interesting facts

Ensan started playing poker seriously at age 39, which is considered late for professional poker players.

He is the oldest WSOP Main Event champion since 1999.

He is the third Iranian-born player to win the WSOP Main Event title.

Before his poker career, he worked as a painter and ran a taxi business.

His 2019 WSOP Main Event win made him the second German player to claim the title.

Legacy

Hossein Ensan's story is inspirational for aspiring poker players. It demonstrates that success can come regardless of age or early career path. His analytical and disciplined approach to poker, combined with his late start, challenges conventional notions about the timeline for achieving professional success in gambling.