Germany’s Wilfried Harig was not a household name prior to the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event. He had cashed in four WSOP events during his career, including 35th in a $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha tournament for a shade under $17,000. Harig is not a stranger to the big stage either, winning a €2,000 Pot Limit Omaha side event at a European Poker Tour stop in Berlin for €34,780.

Harig began Day 7 of the 2012 WSOP Main Event in 25th place with 27 players remaining and was stacked with 2,665,000 in chips. Although he was short-stacked with about 16.5 big blinds, Harig was the last chance for Germany to have back-to-back winners in the WSOP Main Event, as two of his country-mates, Jan Heitmannand Nicco Maag, finished in 26th and 27th, respectively, on Day 7. However, he finished in 15th place for $465,000.

This member of the Germany poker community is hoping to follow the footsteps of fellow German Pius Heinz, affectionately known as MastaP89 on PocketFives, who won the Main Event in 2011 for $8.7 million. It would mark the first time that a country outside of the U.S. would have back-to-back Main Event champions.

On Day 7, with 24 players left, it seemed inevitable that Harig would hit the felt when he moved all-in from middle position for 2,915,000 in chips with 6-6. WSOP bracelet winner Greg Merson easily called about a quarter of his stack with Q-Q and must have been pleased to see he was not racing against A-K and instead heavily dominated Harig’s hand.

Unfortunately for Merson, Harig’s final table hopes stayed alive when the board ran 10-7-K-9-6. Sometimes it takes a lucky river to get a seat in the Main Event final table and although he was the short stack after the Day 7 dinner break, he had enough room to play with to chase every poker player’s dream and managed to bow out just six places short of the Octo-Nine.