Straight Takes Poker World Series: $1.5 Million

Carlos Mortensen, who moved to the U.S. from Spain a few years ago to play poker professionally, won the World Series of Poker tournament at Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas--and a $1.5-million jackpot.

When the dealer turned over the final card in the no-limit Texas hold-em event--the nine of diamonds--Mortensen, 29, had a straight, beating Dewey Tomko’s two pair.

In Texas hold-em, each player receives two cards. All players share five community cards. Each player uses any combination of two cards and the five community cards to form a five-card poker hand.

A record 613 players entered the tournament this year, each paying a $10,000 entry fee.