The World Series of Poker Europe is an annual poker event that has been around since 2007 and has taken place in Rozvadov, Czechia, since 2017. It is a popular stop for players all around Europe and even some from other areas of the globe as well.
The 2024 version of the WSOP Europe began a little earlier than usual in mid September as opposed to the usual October/November timeline. Action started on September 18 and has produced many notable results so far as I take a look at a brief summary of the action coming from the King’s Casino.
Controversial Character Wins Another Bracelet
In one of the notable highlights of the series, one of poker’s most enigmatic players took down his third-career bracelet. Martin Kabrhel won his first bracelet in six years and third overall in his home country of Czechia to extend his reputation as the most successful player from that country.
Kabrhel won the €50,000 NLH Diamond High Roller event for €529,000 and the bracelet. The tournament attracted a mere 30 entries, which raised a few eyebrows on social media and sparked some questions regarding the sheer amount of WSOP bracelets given away these days.
But those questions will certainly not bother Kabrhel as he has made his career out of being the controversial center of attention. I have had the chance to cover many events in which Kabrhel has played and he is always extremely easy to find, even amongst a huge field in some cases.
His talkative style of play at the table can be abrasive and annoying. I have seen it get under the skin of many players, from those who were not used to it to even hardened veterans who allowed it to crack their otherwise icey demeanors.
There will definitely be players who are not happy to see Kabrhel win another bracelet. But, one thing is for sure it will keep the poker world talking as much as he does at the table.
First Bracelet For Well-Liked Ambassador
Juxtaposed to the controversial character of Kabrhel was the other standout story of the WSOP Europe so far. Popular Brazilian poker pro Vivian Saliba won her first-career bracelet by winning the €2,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event.
Saliba has been a long time ambassador for 888poker and has many friends in the poker community, both from Brazil and around the globe. Her bracelet win was a long time coming as she had had many close calls before her inevitable victory. After her long-awaited title, she was given many congratulations from those in the poker community.
It was fitting that she ended her career bracelet drought with a win in PLO as she has often regarded that as her preferred game of choice. She was able to defeat the 229 player field in a 17-hour final day to win the top prize of €91,400.
Variety of Flags Hoisting Bracelets
Outside of the two big names winning their respective bracelets, the story at WSOP Europe has been the sheer variety of countries represented in the winner’s circle.
There have been a total of eight different countries represented by the bracelet winning players out of the twelve completed events. Italy leads the way with three bracelet winners.
Let’s take a look at each country that has won a bracelet in Rozvadov.
Czechia
- Martin Kabrhel – Event #12: €50,000 NLH Diamond High Roller
- Michal Schuh – Event #5: €550 NLH Colossus
Romania
- Darius Neagoe – Event #11: €1,100 NLH Turbo Bounty Hunter
France
- Patrick Bueno – Event #10: €2,000 8-Game Mix
Germany
- Amir Mozaffarian – Event #9: €1,100 NLH Mystery Bounty
- Dennis Weiss – Event #6: €5,000 Pot Limit Omaha
Italy
- Alessandri Pichierri – Event #8: €25,000 NLH GGMillion
- Ermano Di Nicola – Event #7: €1,650 NLH 6-Max
- Christopher Campisano – Event #3: €1,350 Mini Main Event
Brazil
- Vivian Saliba – Event #4: €2,000 Pot Limit Omaha
Ukraine
- Volodymyr Kokoulin – Event #2: €550 Pot Limit Omaha 8-Max
Poland
- Przemyslaw Syzmanski – Event #1: €350 NLH Opener