Simone Andrian was crowned European Poker Champion this evening in Rozvadov. The Italian pro won the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event and the top prize of €1.3million after a tough heads-up battle with Estonia’s Urmo Velvelt.
The €10,300 buy-in flagship tournament of the WSOPE once again produced a €7million+ prizepool, for the 3rd year running. However, it could only claim its second-biggest turnout in its 15-year history – the 768 entries some 49 shy of last year’s total.
Two starting flights and four more full sessions at Leon Tsoukernik’s “poker island” – King’s Casino in Rozvadov – were required to separate the field.
On the Bubble
With 116 players set to cash, the money bubble broke on day 3, and it was “retired pro” Michael Schuh, still fresh from his €171,350 WSOPE Colossus bracelet win, who came up short…
Dmytro Stetsiura: A♣ 3♦
Gaspare Sposato: J♣ 7♠
Schuh: 2♥ A♠
Stetsiura and Sposato both limped in and then checked down every street…
Flop: J♥ 4♦ 2♣
Turn: K♥
River: 9♥
…and that meant the remaining players were all guaranteed a €20,900 payday.
Those that cashed included €25k bracelet winner, Alessandro Pichierri (113th for €20,900), Niklas Astedt (98th for €20,900), Viktor Blom (48th for €27,100), six-time bracelet winner Shaun Deeb (34th for €34,700), and 3-time WSOP bracelet winner Anson Tsang (10th for €74,000).
The Final Six
By the time day 5 dawned, six players remained, all having € 217,000 locked up, and all with eyes on the €1,300,000 up top.
Short-stacked Enrico Camosci fell on only the second hand of play, his A♦ J♦ racing with Urmo Velvelt’s 8♥ 8♦ but failing to catch up despite flopping the flush draw.
Although play was relatively deepstacked, David Hochheim’s blind-on-blind defensive jam saw him run into the top of Andrian’s range…
David Hochheim: A♦ 4♣
Simone Andrian: Q♠ Q♣
The board ran dry for the German…
Flop: 8♦ K♠ 2♣
Turn: K♦
River: 9♥
Mariusz Golinski’s tilt at the title came up short, his A♥ J♠ outkicked and outflopped by Andrian, whose A♣ Q♦ paired the queen, and when the backdoor failed to materialise, the Polish player was out in 4th for an excellent $454,545 cash.
Three-handed play saw Israel’s Ran Ilani trying to climb his way back up the chip standings, but when push came to shove, Velvelt’s ladies proved a step too far…
Ran Ilani: A♦ K♠
Urmo Velvelt: Q♦ Q♣
Flop: J♥ 4♦ 4♠
Turn: 10♣
River: 3♥
Heads-up for the Bracelet
Heads-up for the title was a prolonged affair, Andrian and Velvelt trading blows and swapping stacks several times. When the end came, it was still perhaps unexpected, both players relatively deep-stacked.
Urmo Velvelt: A♥ 10♠
Simone Andrian: 10♥ 10♣
A pre-flop raising war saw Velvelt’s 5-bet was called and the bracelet was suddenly within Andrian’s grasp…
Flop: 6♦ 2♠ 9♠
Turn: 7♣
River: K♥
…and with that, Simone Andrian – and his rail – went wild in song (after a fashion) and dance! You can replay the entire final table here.
WSOPE Main Event Final results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (EUR) | |
| 1 | Simone Andrian | Italy | € 1,300,000 | |
| 2 | Urmo Velvelt | Estonia | € 854,000 | |
| 3 | Ran Ilani | Israel | € 590,000 | |
| 4 | Mariusz Golinski | Poland | € 415,000 | |
| 5 | David Hochheim | Germany | € 297,000 | |
| 6 | Enrico Camosci | Italy | € 217,000 | |
| 7 | Robin Berggren | Sweden | € 161,000 | |
| 8 | Luka Bojovic | Serbia | € 122,000 |
“It’s amazing. By far the biggest score of my career. I couldn’t be more happy,” Andrian told reporters following his victory.
His victory instantly doubled his lifetime earnings, which had previously seen him pick up WSOP gold, again in Rozvadov, back in 2021.
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