2011 WSOPE Event #3: Billirakis Wins; 10 Remain in Event #4; Bejedal Leads Event #5
The 2011 World Series of Poker Europe continued on Wednesday with a full day of three events. Event #3: €5,300 Pot-Limit Omaha returned with just a final table remaining, and the winner earned the second WSOP gold bracelet of his career. In Event #4: €3,200 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout, the final table was set, and it's as stacked as can be with notable players. On top of that, the creatively new Event #5: €10,400 No-Limit Hold'em (Split Format) kicked off and provided one of the most elite fields of the year.
Event #3: €5,300 Pot-Limit Omaha — Steve Billirakis Wins
The Event #3 €5,300 Pot-Limit Omaha final table at the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe had quality written all over it. It was one of those mouth-watering sporting prospects that fans hope does not end up in bitter disappointment. The final table was stacked with one of the hottest poker players, Sam Trickett, 2011 WSOP Main Event Final Table November Niner Eoghan O’Dea, WSOP Circuit champion Sam Chartier, WSOP bracelet owner Steve Billirakis, and one of the best supporting casts you will find at a poker table.
When the final table began, Trickett was leading the way and by the first break had grown stronger after dispatching Eoghan O’Dea to the sidelines. Sam Chartier was the next player to leave after being eliminated in eighth place just before Ramzi Jelassi began exerting his influence on the remaining players. Jelassi eliminated Erich Kollmann in seventh place and replaced Trickett as chip leader. Jelassi continued to impress and added Konstantin Uspenskiy to his executed list when he eliminated him in sixth place.
Steve Billirakis found a double-up against Jerome Bradpiece and started to make his assault at the top but it was Michele Di Lauro who became the third chip leader of the day after winning a big chunk of Jelassi’s stack; Trickett just couldn’t get into the game. Jerome Bradpiece was eliminated in fifth place, his conqueror was Billirakis and it also installed the American as the fourth chip leader of the day. Billirakis hung on to that lead until the very last card was dealt.
Michele Di Lauro eventually ended the WSOP bracelet hopes of Trickett in fourth place, then Billirakis blew Jelassi away in third. After the smoke cleared, the final two gunslingers in town were Steve Billirakis and Michele Di Lauro. Billirakis had a 4:1 chip lead and won every pot of note in the heads-up encounter to be crowned a WSOP champion. It was the second of his career.
Event #3: €5,300 Pot-Limit Omaha Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Billirakis | €238,140 |
| 2 | Michele Di Lauro | €147,171 |
| 3 | Ramzi Jelassi | €105,937 |
| 4 | Sam Trickett | €77,642 |
| 5 | Jerome Bradpiece | €57,912 |
| 6 | Konstantin Uspenskiy | €43,950 |
| 7 | Erich Kollmann | €33,922 |
| 8 | Sam Chartier | €26,610 |
For a play-by-play of the action, check out the PokerNews Live Reporting Blog.
Event #4: €3,200 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout — Final Table Set
It took less than four hours of play for all ten Day 2 tables of the the €3,200 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout to be completed. They were all three-max but action was still rapid. The fact that it took Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier the longest to complete his win, tells you all you need to know. He completes a stellar lineup for the fourth final table of this series.
Here's the seat draw for the final ten players:
| Position | Name | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Dempsey | 230,000 |
| 2 | Richard Toth | 231,000 |
| 3 | Taylor Paur | 233,000 |
| 4 | Tristan Wade | 238,000 |
| 5 | Max Silver | 246,000 |
| 6 | John Armbrust | 232,000 |
| 7 | Emil Patel | 237,000 |
| 8 | Steve O'Dwyer | 231,000 |
| 9 | Michael Watson | 245,000 |
| 10 | Bertrand Grospellier | 235,000 |
There were many notable players who had their hopes dashed on Wednesday. Freddy Deeb was first out when his nut-straight lost out to Steve O'Dwyer's set when the latter filled up on the river. It wasn't too long before Vanessa Selbst was out in the sun, too. Her pocket kings were beaten by Max Silver's quad sixes. Silver then went on to beat Terrance Chan heads-up.
Chad Brown, James Mitchell, Anton Makiievskyi, Tommy Vedes, Tobias Reinkemeier and Ryan D'Angelo were all among the 20 players who will have to be satisfied with the €6,913 they received for winning their first table. D'Angelo will feel the most unhappy, though, because he had O'Dwyer all-in twice as an 80 percent favorite but lost both times.
The final table is due to start at 1500 CET (0600 PDT) and all the action will be covered in the PokerNews Live Reporting Blog.
Event #5: €10,400 No-Limit Hold'em (Split Format) — Bejedal Leads Into Day 2
Day 1 of Event #5 wrapped up on Wednesday in a new event unique to the WSOP Europe. The "Split Format" event began as nine-handed on Day 1, will continue with six-handed play on Day 2, and then move to heads-up play on Day 3 and after.
Dennis Bejedal was leading the way at the end of the night with 153,700 in chips. Seventy-two players are advancing to Day 2 on Thursday and will be spread across 12 tables.
Plenty of poker superstars were in action for this event, including Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Jason Mercier, Jeff Lisandro, Michael Mizrachi, Tom Dwan and Erik Seidel. If that's not enough of a who's who list for you, how about adding Freddy Deeb, Viktor Blom, Tony G, Sam Trickett, Carlos Mortensen and Ben Lamb? If that doesn't satisfy your poker appetite, you should see a doctor soon. They'll all be moving on to Day 2.
Phil Collins, McLean Karr, Chris Moorman, Fabrice Soulier, Eugene Katchalov, Barry Greenstein, James Bord and Joao Barbosa were all eliminated during the day.
Bejedal took the chip lead after beating fellow Swede Joel Nordkvist in a big pot with a full house over full house. Steve Billirakis bet 4,600 on the 10♦2♥2♦ flop, Nordkvist made the call and then Bejedal also called. The three players witnessed the K♦ land on the turn and Billirakis checked. Nordkvist fired 12,500 and Bejedal called. Billirakis folded. After the river completed the board with the 2♣, Nordkvist bet 17,000. Bejedal made the call.
Nordkvist showed the A♠A♣ for a full house, deuces full of aces. Bejedal revealed the 10♥10♠ for a better full house, tens full of deuces, and moved to over 150,000 and into the number one spot.
Other notable big stacks include Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi with 140,300, Tom Dwan with 127,400 and Freddy Deeb with 121,000.
Day 2 will commence on Thursday at 1500 CET (0600 PDT) over at the Le Cannes Croisette Casino just a short walk down the road.
