2023 WSOP Paradise

Event #10: $5,000 Main Event Championship
Day: 4
Event Info

2023 WSOP Paradise

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j4
Prize
$2,000,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$5,000
Prize Pool
$15,050,000
Entries
3,010
Level Info
Level
38
Blinds
600,000 / 1,200,000
Ante
1,200,000
Players Info - Day 4
Players Left
1

Event #10: $5,000 Main Event Championship

Day 4 Completed

Online Qualifier Stanislav Zegal Wins First WSOP Paradise Main Event ($2,000,000)

Level 38 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante
Winner main event Stanislav Zegal
Winner main event Stanislav Zegal

The first-ever World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise Main Event champion has been crowned as Germany's Stanislav Zegal took down the $5,000 buy-in event for $2 million and his first WSOP bracelet. The GGPoker qualifier defeated heads-up opponent Michael Sklenicka of Czechia to wrap up a final day that only lasted four hours.

The inaugural WSOP Paradise Main Event at the five-star Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas drew 3,010 players for a prize pool that just squeaked past the $15 million guarantee. The field included dozens of online qualifiers, including Zegal, who was able to parlay his online poker prowess into a life-altering seven-figure victory.

“I was so lucky, the cards just fell my way all the time," Zegal told PokerNews in a winner's interview. "I think I played well too, but obviously (there’s) tons of luck ... “This is what you call life-changing money, I guess.”

Zegal was joined at the international final table by Brazil's Gabriel Schroeder, Portugal's Rui Sousa and American Matt Glantz, who was looking to bring "TeamLucky" a second Main Event title this year after his good friend Daniel Weinman won $12.1 million earlier this summer.

2023 WSOP Paradise Main Event Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1Stanislav ZegalGermany$2,000,000
2Michael SklenickaCzechia$1,200,000
3Daniel NeilsonAustralia$900,000
4Matt GlantzUnited States$685,000
5Rui SousaPortugal$510,000
6Gabriel SchroederBrazil$400,000
7Montgomery McQuadeUnited Kingdom$300,000
8Luke GrahamUnited States$250,000

"I Felt Comfortable Here"

When asked about his poker background, Zegal told PokerNews he "started playing with friends in home games 18 years ago" for "a couple of Euros." He took a few years off from poker before he started studying and playing more in 2016, the year he started playing poker professionally.

Stanislav Zegal
Stanislav Zegal

The German was at a loss for words after winning $2 million and said "it has to settle first."

"It was somewhat exhausting and needs to settle," he said. "You always make plans for when stuff like this happens, but then when it happens it’s so overwhelming.”

How will the seven-figure score change Zegal's plans? “I guess I’m going to do something for myself, for my health more, study more poker and just enjoy the time (with) friends and family … But I won’t play higher. I felt comfortable here.”

"TeamLucky" Denied On Day 4

Day 4 got off to a quick start with seven players returning as McQuade was eliminated in just the second hand as he lost a flip to Glantz. Winning a flip was just the beginning of the run-good for Glantz, who memorably binked a $1 million bounty at the 2022 WSOP. The poker veteran was at risk of going out in fourth place when his sixes were far pipped by the aces of Neilson. That mattered little as a six on the turn gave Glantz the lead to stay alive with a major double.

As it turned out, Glantz would still go out in fourth when he got it in with king-queen against Neilson's ace-queen as Jeff Platt interviewed his good friend Shaun Deeb. Neilson had a sizable chip lead during three-handed play but lost most of his stack to Zegal as his Big Slick was out-flopped by the eventual champion's king-queen.

Matt Glantz
Matt Glantz

“That was pretty crucial," Zegal recalled about the hand.

Neilson was left short and went out soon after as he jammed the flop with a gunshot and couldn't improve against the two pair of Sklenicka. The heads-up battle was brief as Sklenicka bluffed the river with just seven-high as Zegal found a hero call with fourth pair.

It was another victory with "The Robbi" here in The Bahamas as the final hand saw Zegal's jack-four winning out right after China's Dong Chen took down Event #15: $10,000 High Roller 6-Handed with the same offsuit jack-four.

Stanislav Zegal
Stanislav Zegal and runner-up Michael Sklenicka

That wraps up the PokerNews live reporting team's coverage of an exciting WSOP Paradise Main Event here in The Bahamas. Be sure to check out the live reporting portal for coverage of other events.

Michael Sklenicka Stanislav Zegal
Michael Sklenicka Stanislav Zegal
Winner main event Stanislav Zegal
Winner main event Stanislav Zegal
Winner main event Stanislav Zegal
Winner main event Stanislav Zegal

Tags: Daniel NeilsonDaniel WeinmanDong ChenGabriel SchroederLuke GrahamMatt GlantzMichael SklenickaMontgomery McQuadeRui SousaShaun DeebStanislav Zegal

Michael Sklenicka Eliminated in 2nd Place ($1,200,000)

Level 38 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante
Michael Sklenicka
Michael Sklenicka

Michael Sklenicka raised to 2.7 million on the button with the 73 and Stanislav Zegal defended with the J4 to see a 1024 flop.

Zegal check-called a bet of 4 million and the Q appeared on the turn. Action went check-check and the 5 completed the board on the river.

Zegal checked and Sklenicka bluffed by moving all in for 16 million.

Zegal hit the tank, even removing his hat and glasses, and stayed there for several minutes. Eventually he did slide in the chips and just like that it was all over!

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stanislav Zegal de
Stanislav Zegal
150,500,000
25,100,000
25,100,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Michael Sklenicka cz
Michael Sklenicka
Busted

Tags: Stanislav ZegalMichael Sklenicka

Sklenicka Gets All of His Chips in As Heavy Favorite

Level 38 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante
Michael Sklenicka
Michael Sklenicka

Michael Sklenicka raised to 2.7 million from the button and Stanislav Zegal three-bet to 7.5 million. Sklenicka four-bet all in for 25.1 million and Zegal quickly called.

Michael Sklenicka: AJ
Stanislav Zegal: A9

Sklenicka got it in as a big favorite, and his kicker played after both players paired their ace on the K6A flop. The 4 turn changed nothing, but the 4 river did as both players made aces and fours with the king kicker on board playing.

Chop it up!

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stanislav Zegal de
Stanislav Zegal
125,400,000
-7,600,000
-7,600,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Michael Sklenicka cz
Michael Sklenicka
25,100,000
7,200,000
7,200,000

Tags: Michael SklenickaStanislav Zegal

Level: 38

Blinds: 600,000/1,200,000

Ante: 1,200,000

First Blood to Zegal, Who Extends Chip Lead

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 100,000 ante
Michael Sklenicka Stanislav Zegal
Michael Sklenicka Stanislav Zegal

Stanislav Zegal raised to 2 million from the button with the K6 and then called when Michael Sklenicka three-bet to 9 million with the 77.

The K26 flop hit Zegal hard with two pair, and he faced a bet of 8 million from Sklenicka. Zegal called and the 2 paired the board on the turn.

Sklenicka bet again, this time 4.8 million, and Zegal took his time before just calling.

The 3 river changed nothing and Sklenicka slowed down with a check. Zegal thought long and hard before he moved all in, but Sklenicka got away from it by folding his pocket pair.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stanislav Zegal de
Stanislav Zegal
133,000,000
23,200,000
23,200,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Michael Sklenicka cz
Michael Sklenicka
17,900,000
-22,800,000
-22,800,000

Tags: Michael SklenickaStanislav Zegal

Daniel Neilson Eliminated in 3rd Place ($900,000)

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 100,000 ante
Daniel Neilson
Daniel Neilson

Daniel Neilson opened to 3.3 million on the button with a fraction of that behind and Michael Sklenicka came along in the blinds with Stanislav Zegal.

Sklenicka led out for 4.2 million on the flop of 109J and Neilson called off for his last 600,000. Zegal folded and the cards were turned up.

Daniel Neilson: 74
Michael Sklenicka: 109

Neilson had run into two pair and needed to hit an eight to make a straight and stay alive.

He couldn't do it as the board ran out Q5 to mark his elimination in third place for $900,000.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stanislav Zegal de
Stanislav Zegal
94,100,000
-15,900,000
-15,900,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Michael Sklenicka cz
Michael Sklenicka
32,500,000
-1,800,000
-1,800,000
Profile photo of Daniel Neilson au
Daniel Neilson
Busted
Day 3 Chip Leader

Tags: Daniel NeilsonMichael SklenickaStanislav Zegal

Zegal Outflops Neilson For Big Double

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 100,000 ante
Stanislav Zegal
Stanislav Zegal

Stanislav Zegal opened to 2 million on the button and Daniel Neilson three-bet to 7.5 million in the small blind. Zegal called.

Neilson continued for 8.5 million on the flop of QK5 as Zegal called. Neilson then bet 38 million on the 9 turn to put Zegal all in and he quickly called.

Stanislav Zegal: KQ
Daniel Neilson: AK

Neilson had been out-flopped and couldn't improve as the 10 river bricked off to earn Zegal a major double.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stanislav Zegal de
Stanislav Zegal
110,000,000
51,200,000
51,200,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Daniel Neilson au
Daniel Neilson
15,200,000
-57,000,000
-57,000,000
Day 3 Chip Leader

Tags: Daniel NeilsonStanislav Zegal

Matt Glantz Eliminated in 4th Place ($685,000)

Level 37 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 100,000 ante
Matt Glantz
Matt Glantz

The only sweat Shaun Deeb has left is that from his daily workouts as Matt Glantz from "TeamLucky" has been eliminated.

Daniel Neilson opened to 2 million and Matt Glantz three-bet jammed in the small blind with a stack of 22 million. Neilson called with a bigger stack.

Matt Glantz: KQ
Daniel Neilson: AQ

Glantz was dominated and incredibly did not hit the three-outer as the board ran out 44263 to mark his elimination.

Many noted that Glantz busted right as "Grim Reaper" Jeff Platt grabbed Deeb for an interview.

Matt Glantz
Matt Glantz
Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Daniel Neilson au
Daniel Neilson
72,200,000
33,600,000
33,600,000
Day 3 Chip Leader
Profile photo of Matt Glantz us
Matt Glantz
Busted
Team Lucky

Tags: Daniel NeilsonMatt GlantzShaun Deeb