Thursday, October 17, 2013 2:23 PM Local Time
France has claimed its first bracelet this WSOPE after Darko Stojanovic defeated Dan O’Brien heads-up in Event #3 €5,300 Mixed Max.
In the course of 53 hands, Stojanovic overcame a 3-to-1 chip deficit and denied O’Brien his first bracelet, again.
This is the second time in just as many years that O’Brien has made the final heads-up match of a WSOPE event and left without a victory.
Last year in Cannes, O’Brien made the final heads-up match of the €3,250 NLHE Shootout but fell to Giovanni Rosadoni when his ran into Rosadoni’s pocket queens.
O’Brien started that match with a chip deficit but came into this event with a commanding lead. That quickly changed as Stojanovic doubled up on the second hand and then hammered away at O’Brien’s stack.
O’Brien soon found himself in need of a double up and made his final move on a flop. Stojanovic bet 53,000, O’Brien raised to 130,000 and Stojanovic shoved.
O’Brien called all-in with while Stojanovic showed O’Brien needed a heart, an ace or running straight cards but got none of the above.
A came on the turn and the last card of the event was an
O’Brien was denied his first bracelet a second time in France and Stojanovic became our newest WSOPE bracelet winner.
PokerListings Video Speaks to O'Brien and Stojanvic
Thursday, October 17, 2013 1:52 PM Local Time
Hand #53
The first hand of the new level (23: 8,000/16,000-2,000) began with Darko Stojanovic having the button. He raised it up to 34,000 and Dan O’Brien leaned back in his chair for just a moment before making the call.
On the flop, O’Brien checked and Stojanovic bet 53,000. Back on O’Brien and he raised it up to 130,000. Stojanovic moved all in and O’Brien called off his remaining stack of just over 400,000.
O’Brien:
Stojanovic:
O’Brien had plenty of outs with any ace or heart putting him in front, while he also had backdoor straight draws.
The turn wasn’t what O’Brien was looking for and neither was the river and so, he was eliminated in 2nd place – the second time he has finished as the runner-up in a WSOP Europe event in just as many years.
Congratulations to the champion, Darko Stojanovic!
Thursday, October 17, 2013 1:43 PM Local Time
Hand #45
Darko Stojanovic raised to 31,000 and Dan O’Brien folded.
Hand #46
O’Brien folded from the button.
Hand #47
Stojanovic raised to 26,000 and O’Brien called.
The flop came and both players checked, bringing a on the turn. O’Brien bet 40,000 and Stojanovic folded.
Hand #48
O’Brien folded.
Hand #49
Stojanovic raised to 26,000 and O’Brien called, bringing a flop. O’Brien bet 30,000 and Stojanovic called.
The turn was a O’Brien bet 75,000 and Stojanovic raised to 250,000.
O’Brien folded and Stojanovic won the pot.
Hand #50
O’Brien raised to 34,000, Stojanovic moved all-in and O’Brien folded.
Hand #51
Stojanovic raised to 26,000 and O’Brien called.
The flop came and O’Brien checked. Stojanovic bet 30,000 and O’Brien called.
The came on the turn and both players checked. An completed the board and there was another round of checks.
O’Brien showed and won the pot with kings.
Hand #52
O’Brien folded from the button.
Thursday, October 17, 2013 1:30 PM Local Time
Hand #40
Dan O’Brien had the button and flicked his cards into the muck.
Hand #41
Darko Stojanovic started with the button and raised it up to 26,000. Dan O’Brien folded and the small pot went to Stojanovic.
Hand #42
Dan O’Brien had the button and made it 24,000 to go. Darko Stojanovic made the call and the dealer turned over a flop and both players checked.
On the turn, Stojanovic reached for chips and eventually bet 30,000. O’Brien let it go and Stojanovic raked in some chips.
Hand #43
Darko Stojanovic raised the button to 26,000 and Dan O’Brien made the call.
On the flop, O’Brien checked and Stojanovic bet 30,000. O’Brien made the call and the dealer slammed a on the felt. O’Brien checked on the turn and Stojanovic bet 70,000. O’Brien got out of the way and Stojanovic scooped up the pot.
Hand #44
Dan O’Brien flicked out a raise to 24,000 from the button. Darko Stojanovic moved all in, having 1,350,000 in chips, compared to O’Brien’s 750,000. O’Brien folded and Stojanovic claimed some more chips.
Thursday, October 17, 2013 1:25 PM Local Time
Hand #33
In the first hand of Level 22, Darko Stojanovic raised to 24,000 and Dan O’Brien took down the pot with a re-raise to 70,000.
Also, from this point on, levels will only be 30 minutes instead of 60 minutes.
Hand #34
O’Brien raised to 24,000 Stojanovic three-bet to 72,000. O’Brien folded and Stojanovic took down the pot.
Hand #35
Stojanovic raised to 24,000 and O’Brien called, bringing an flop.
It was our first flop in a few hands and O’Brien checked. Stojanovic bet 35,000, O’Brien called and a came on the turn.
O’Brien checked again and Stojanovic checked back.
The completed the board and Stojanovic bet 75,000 after O’Brien checked.
O’Brien called and mucked when Stojanovic showed for the nut flush.
Hand #36
O’Brien raised to 24,000 and Stojanovic re-raised to 87,000.
O’Brien folded.
Hand #37
Stojanovic folded from the button.
Hand #38
O’Brien raised to 24,000 and Stojanovic called, bringing a flop.
Stojanovic checked, O’Brien bet 30,000 and took down the pot.
Hand #39
Stojanovic raised from the button and O’Brien folded.
Thursday, October 17, 2013 1:14 PM Local Time
Hand #27
Darko Stojanovic had the button and raised it up to 20,000. Dan O’Brien folded and that was that.
Hand #28
Dan O’Brien raised it up to 20,000 from the button and a Darko Stojanovic let his cards fly into the muck.
Hand #29
Darko Stojanovic folded his button.
Hand #30
Dan O’Brien opened it up to 20,000 from the button and Darko Stojanovic three-bet to 70,000. O’Brien opted to let it go, sending the pot to Stojanovic.
Hand #31
Darko Stojanovic folded his button.
Hand #32
Dan O’Brien was on the button and raised it up to 20,000. Darko Stojanovic three-bet to 70,000 and that was once again enough to scoop the pot.
Thursday, October 17, 2013 1:09 PM Local Time
Hand #21
Darko Stojanovic raised to 20,000 and Dan O'Brien called, bringing a flop. O’Brien checked and Stojanovic bet 20,000.
O’Brien called and an came on the turn. O’Brien checked again and Stojanovic upped the bet to 55,000.
O’Brien called and the river brought a Both players checked and O’Brien turned over while Stojanovic showed to take down the pot.
Stojanovic took the lead with 1.1 million to O’Brien’s 1 million.
Hand #22
O’Brien raised to 20,000 and took down the pot.
Hand #23
Stojanovic folded from the button.
Hand #24
O’Brien raised to 20,000 from the button and the flop came after Stojanovic called.
Stojanovic checked and O’Brien bet 20,000. Stojanovic called and a fell on the turn. Both players checked and a completed the board.
Stojanovic bet 55,000 and O’Brien folded.
Hand #25
Dealer change.
Players got a fresh new dealer and Stojanovic raised to 20,000. O’Brien called and the flop came
There was a round of checks and a on the turn. Players checked again and a came on the river.
O’Brien bet 30,000 and Stojanovic called.
O’Brien showed and Stojanovic mucked.
Hand #26
O’Brien raised to 20,000 and Stojanovic folded. Players are back to about even again.
Dan O'Brien
Thursday, October 17, 2013 12:57 PM Local Time
Hand #16
Dan O’Brien had the button to 20,000. Darko Stojanovic called and a flop hit the flop. Stojanovic checked and O’Brien bet 25,000. That was enough to scoop up the pot.
Hand #17
Darko Stojanovic opened the button to 20,000. Dan O’Brien made the call and the dealer turned over a flop. O’Brien tapped the table and Stojanovic bet 25,000. O’Brien made the call and hit the turn.
O’Brien once again checked here and Stojanovic bet 100,000. Back on O’Brien and he let his cards go.
Hand #18
Dan O’Brien had the button and raised it up to 20,000. Darko Stojanovic didn’t take any time before three-betting to 70,000. O’Brien let it go and some chips went to Stojanovic. The players are around even in chips now.
Hand #19
Darko Stojanovic had the button and raised it up. Dan O’Brien quickly folded.
Hand #20
Dan O’Brien was first to act from the button, making it 20,000. Darko Stojanovic called and the dealer spread out a flop. Both players checked and a was flipped over on the turn.
This time when Stojanovic checked, O’Brien would bet 30,000 – enough to see Stojanovic fold.
Thursday, October 17, 2013 12:53 PM Local Time
Hand #12
Dan O’Brien raised to 20,000, Darko Stojanovic three-bet to 70,000 and O’Brien called.
The flop came and Stojanovic bet 160,000. O’Brien thought, riffled his chips for a bit and called, bringing a on the turn.
Stojanovic moved all-in for 533,000 and O’Brien tanked.
“If I fold you’re not gonna embarrass me in front of my friends right?” O’Brien asked.
Stojanovic stayed stoic and said he didn’t speak any English.
“I know you speak some English,” O’Brien said as he continued to think. O'Brien then stood up, sat back down and continued to think.
“Nine-deuce?” O’Brien thought aloud as he contemplated his next move.
His next move was a fold.
Hand #13
Stojanovic raised to 25,000 and O’Brien folded.
Hand #14
O’Brien raised to 20,000, Stojanovic re-raised to 85,000 and O’Brien folded.
Hand #15
Stojanovic raised to 20,000 and O’Brien called, bringing a flop. Both players checked and a fell on the turn.
There was another round of checks and a on the river. O’Brien bet 25,000 and Stojanovic called.
O’Brien showed a pair of queens and took down the pot.
The battle continues
Thursday, October 17, 2013 12:38 PM Local Time
Hand #7
Darko Stojanovic opened the button with a raise to 25,000. Dan O’Brien made the call and the dealer spread out a flop. O’Brien quickly checked here and Stojanovic bet 40,000. O’Brien called and an hit the turn.
O’Brien once again tapped the table and it was on Stojanovic, who bet 95,000. O’Brien took his time before check-raising to 250,000. Back on Stojanovic and he let his cards go.
With that, O’Brien is back to up to around 1,400,000 and Stojanovic is down to 704,000.
Hand #8
Dan O’Brien had the button and raised it up to 20,000. Darko Stojanovic three-bet to 67,000 and O’Brien quickly folded.
Hand #9
Darko Stojanovic opened the button to 20,000 and O’Brien folded.
Hand #10
Dan O’Brien folded the button and sent another small pot to Darko Stojanovic.
Hand #11
Darko Stojanovic had the button and opened it up to 20,000. O’Brien once again folded.
Thursday, October 17, 2013 12:32 PM Local Time
Hand #3
Darko Stojanovic raised to 15,000 from the button and Dan O’Brien folded.
Hand #4
O’Brien raised to 25,000 and Stojanovic three-bet to 70,000. O’Brien called and the flop came Stojanovic bet 100,000 and O’Brien called, bringing a on the turn.
Stojanovic slowed it down to a check and O’Brien took down the pot with a 180,000 bet.
Hand #5
Stojanovic raised to 20,000 and O’Brien called, bringing a - X flop. Both players checked and a came on the turn.
O’Brien bet 30,000 and Stojanovic folded.
Hand #6
O’Brien raised to 20,000, Stojanovic re-raised to 70,000 and O'Brien folded.
Thursday, October 17, 2013 12:25 PM Local Time
Hand #1
Darko Stojanovic started the hand with the button and raised it up to 27,000. Dan O’Brien got out of the way and with that, Stojanovic had taken down the first hand.
Hand #2
Dan O’Brien had the button and raised it up to 20,000. Darko Stojanovic made the call and we would see our first flop of the day!
The dealer spread out and Stojanovic check-raised to 90,000 after O’Brien bet 25,000.
O’Brien fiddled with his chips as he contemplated the decision. He opted to make the call and the dealer flipped over a on the turn.
Stojanovic wasted no time, moving all in for 407,000. O’Brien thought for quite some time, eventually making the call.
O’Brien:
Stojanoiv:
Stojanovic was in great shape with two pair and it only got better for him as a on the river gave him a full house and the double up.
That’s what Stojanovic needed as now him and O'Brien are pretty much even in chips!
Darko Stojanovic
Thursday, October 17, 2013 12:15 PM Local Time
After the late arrival of Dan O'Brien, the players have been introduced and the cards are in the air!
There is 54 minutes left in the current level (21: 5,000/10,000-1,000) and then the heads-up match will move to 30-minute levels as per the structure.
Let’s do it!
Thursday, October 17, 2013 12:03 PM Local Time
As is usually the case when there is video production involved, there will be a slight delay in starting the final heads-up match. Be sure to check back soon as we expect the action to get underway shortly.
Thursday, October 17, 2013 11:10 AM Local Time
Then there were two! Three days ago 140 players entered the €5,300 Mixed Max and after a day of nine-handed play, a day of six-handed action and an action packed day of four-max, only two players remain in contention for the bracelet and €188,160.
It’s the massive stack of Dan O’Brien versus the comparatively short stack of Darko Stojanovic.
Check out how they lineup below and then learn more about both of the players.
Dan O’Brien – 1,594,000
Darko Stojanovic – 507,000
Las Vegas based poker pro Dan O’Brien has more than $2 million in tournament winnings, but so far hasn’t been able to win a bracelet. He did get remarkably close right here at the WSOP Europe last year, finishing 2nd in the shootout event. With such a large chip stack, O’Brien will be looking to win the gold this time.
Hailing from right here in France, Darko Stojanovic’s first mission today will be to fix that big chip deficit he faces. Stojanovic isn’t as experienced in tournament poker as O’Brien, but has scored just over US$100,000 in results, with his biggest score being US$68,154 for winning a WPT regional event at the Aviation Club in Paris.
The action is set to kick off at 12.00pm local time, with hand-for-hand live updates provided right here and a video stream on a half hour delay can be found by clicking here.
The winner will need all the chips