Thursday, November 2, 2017 8:50 PM Local Time
Matous Skorepa Wins Third Czech Bracelet at the 2017 WSOPE; Crowned THE COLOSSUS Champion (€270,015)
After ten starting days and a long Day 2, only 12 hopefuls out of a 4,115-entry strong field were left at the end of level 31 in the 2017 World Series of Poker Europe Event #5: THE COLOSSUS €550 No-Limit Hold'em the previous last night. They returned to Europe's biggest poker arena in the King's Casino in Rozvadov to determine the seventh winner of a coveted golden bracelet on Czech soil and it was Matous Skorepa who defeated Florian Fuchs in heads-up to take home the first-place payout of €270,015 and third Czech bracelet of the series with his maiden WSOP cash.
Fellow countrymen Michal Schuh and Lukas Zaskodny, who defeated Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler in heads-up in Event #6: €2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha a few days ago to join the champion's club, were the first to congratulate Skorepa. "I'd like to say it was easy but it wasn't. I needed to be lucky. I've been preparing for this tournament for almost a year," Skorepa added with a big smile on the face. "I'm pretty excited but I just called by mom and she calmed me down. I'm excited of course and pretty happy."
Up next besides work is a vacation for the Czech: "The summer was really busy so I couldn't go for a vacation so I need to disappear and just relax." Throughout the final table, Skorepa always seemed very relaxed and didn't let any setbacks get to him. The pivotal hand on his way to victory saw him all in and at risk with queen-nine against the pocket aces of eventual 4th place finisher Ivaylo Sivinov, and Skorepa rivered a straight before knocking out Sivinov soon after. Just before the hand got underway, he had jokingly predicted a double up in this very hand.
"Something strange with me, if I play small cash games or small tournaments its the same for me as if I was playing a big tournament. It was like, ok a ten, yeah perfect, lets go. Everyone on the final table was shaking but not me. If you believe it, then it will happen."
In the winner interview right after his victory, Skorepa admitted "I just played it like it's a bounty for me," with a grin on the face. When asked if he is going to play any more events and in particular the upcoming Main Event, Skorepa had a rather unusual answer. "Actually, I don't think so because I need to go to work tomorrow. "I run a restaurant and don't have a waitress, if somebody want to work at my restaurant … and I need to be there."
The best cash to date for Skorepa was for €8,000, while runner-up Fuchs also bested his previous highest score of $12,420 by taking home €166,855 for his efforts. Among the other finalists was Makarios Avramidis, who won the first-ever bracelet for his home country at the 2015 WSOPE in Berlin, and the Greek had to settle for 5th place and €68,771 this time around.
Final Result Event #5 THE COLOSSUS
Place | Winner | Country | Payout |
1 | Matous Skorepa | Czech Republic | €270,015 |
2 | Florian Fuchs | Austria | €166,855 |
3 | Jonathan Khalifa | France | €123,241 |
4 | Ivaylo Sivinov | Bulgaria | €91,711 |
5 | Makarios Avramidis | Greece | €68,771 |
6 | Roman Motovsky | Czech Republic | €51,968 |
7 | Pascal Pflock | Germany | €39,576 |
8 | Nebojsa Ankucic | Austria | €30,376 |
9 | Gaetan Cauchy | France | €23,499 |
Action of the Final Day
With two six-handed tables back in action and plenty of short stacks around, it took quite some time until the first seat open. Eventually it was Philipp Lutkemeier that ended up second-best with pocket sixes against the pocket eights of Ivaylo Sivinov, and the German was drawing dead after the turn already. Ruben Garcia Blancas check-raised all in with king-ten suited for second pair on a jack-high flop and again it was Sivinov that dealt the final blow. The Bulgarian called with queen-four suited for the flush draw and got there on the river.
Sebastien Lucina was all in and at risk with ace-king and Matous Skorepa and the Czech flopped top pair with queen-jack suited to set up the official nine-handed final table. Skorepa and start-of-the-day chip leader Jonathan Khalifa were at the top of the counts with near identical stacks.
Gaetan Cauchy became the first casualty of the final table in the fifth hand, three-bet shoving ace-eight out of the big blind. Matous Skorepa called with pocket nines and held a full house on a queen-high board to eliminate Cauchy. It was the third WSOP cash for the Frenchman, who had to settle for a payday of €23,499.
Nebojsa Ankucic reached the final table with just four big blinds and managed once before getting involved into a three-way all in showdown. Pascal Pflock was at risk with pocket threes, Ankucic held king-jack suited and Jonathan Khalifa looked up both with king-queen suited. While Ankucic flopped best with second pair and a flush draw, Khalifa got there with a broadway straight on the turn and a blank on the river reduced the field to the last six hopefuls.
Two Czech players reached the final table and they would clash when Roman Motovsky got it in with king-jack suited. Matous Skorepa called with ace-queen off suit and a king-queen high flop was followed by an ace on the turn, the river blanked and Motovsky ended up in 6th place.
Makarios Avramidis, who was the only finalist with a WSOP bracelet already, eventually bowed out in 5th place after running with ace-six into the pocket aces of Jonathan Khalifa. It was yet another deep run for the Greek, who fell just shy of becoming the first Greek to win two WSOP bracelets.
The roller coaster ride of Ivaylo Sivinov came to an end in 4th place. After topping the leader board, the Bulgarian lost a big pot with queen-ten versus pocket aces on a ten-high flop, then had his aces cracked by the queen-nine of Matous Skorepa and lost the remainder of his stack with ace-eight against the pocket tens of Skorepa.
In hand #69 of the final table, Jonathan Khalifa took a big flip with pocket nines against the ace-ten of Matous Skorepa and the latter rivered a ten to leave his opponent in shambles. Skorepa entered heads-up against Florian Fuchs with a commanding lead and steam-rolled over the Austrian in the first few hands to reduce Fuchs to fewer than ten big blinds. A shove by Skorepa with king-eight suited was called by Fuchs with king-four off suit and the Austrian found no help to crown a champion in Skorepa.
Among the big names to cash on Day 2 when all survivors of the ten starting days combined were such big names as Barny Boatman (233rd Place - €1,500), Kevin MacPhee (231st Place - €1,500), Kristen Bicknell (195th Place - €1,625), Max Pescatori (166th Place - €1,625), Mike Leah (165th Place - €1,625), John Racener (128th Place - €1,777), Marcel Luske (104th Place - €1,777), Alex Foxen (83rd Place - €2,393), Hossein Ensan (76th Place - €2,824), Kenny Hallaert (62nd Place - €4,035), Ognjen Sekularac (49th Place - €4,886) and Lukasz Wasek (14th Place - €14,404).
With seven out of eleven golden bracelets already awarded, another champion will be crowned later tonight in Event #9: €25,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller, and the PokerNews live reporting team will provide all the action from the floor until November 10th 2017.
Thursday, November 2, 2017 8:19 PM Local Time
Florian Fuchs Eliminated in 2nd Place (€166,855)
Hand #80: Matous Skorepa moved all in from the small blind and Florian Fuchs called from the big blind for his last 5,600,000.
Florian Fuchs:
Matous Skorepa:
The flop of was a bad one for Fuchs, and the turn took away any split pots to leave Fuchs with three outs only.
The on the river was a blank and Skorepa took a bow on the stage before shaking hands with Fuchs. The Austrian was eliminated in 2nd place for €166,855, while Skorepa claimed the third Czech bracelet of the 2017 World Series of Poker Europe.
A recap of today's action is to follow.
Matous Skorepa | 41,150,000 | 5,825,000 |
Florian Fuchs | 0 | -5,600,000 |
Thursday, November 2, 2017 8:15 PM Local Time
Hands #74-79: Skorepa Running Over Fuchs
Hand #74: Matous Skorepa raised to 1,400,000 on the button and Florian Fuchs shoved all in from the big blind, forcing Skopera to fold.
Hand #75: Fuchs folded the button and Skorepa politely took the walk.
hand #76: Skorepa shoved all in on the button with and Fuchs mucked his .
Hand #77: Fuchs announced all in for 7,800,000 on the button with and Skorepa was unable to make the call.
Hand #78: Skorepa raised to 1,300,000 on the button with and Fuchs called with . The flop came and Fuchs checked to Skorepa who continued for 1,100,000. Fuchs called and the landed on the turn. Fuchs checked again and Skorepa bet 1,900,000. Fuchs decided to fold and Skorepa continued to apply the pressure in this heads-up match.
Hand #79: Fuchs folded and gave Matous Skorepa a walk with .
Matous Skorepa | 35,325,000 | 7,050,000 |
Florian Fuchs | 5,600,000 | -7,250,000 |
Thursday, November 2, 2017 8:08 PM Local Time
Level 38 started
Level: 38
Blinds: 300000/600000
Ante: 100000
Thursday, November 2, 2017 8:08 PM Local Time
Hands #70-73: Skorepa Takes First Four Pots
Hand #70: Matous Skorepa raised to 1,250,000 with the and Florian Fuchs defended his . The flop fell and Skorepa bet to win the pot after a check by Fuchs,
Hand #71: Fuchs raised to 1,200,000 with the and Skorepa moved all in, forcing a quick fold.
Hand #72: Skorepa raised to 1,250,000 with and Fuchs called with the . The flop came and Fuchs checked, Skorepa bet 1,600,000 with his open-ended straight draw and scooped the third hand in a row in heads-up.
Hand #73: Fuchs limped in with the and Skorepa checked his with "let's see the flop, good trap." The flop came and Skorepa check-called a bet of 700,000 to see the on the turn. Skorepa checked, as did Fuchs with his flush draw. After the river, Skorepa moved all in and Fuchs let go.
Thursday, November 2, 2017 7:57 PM Local Time
Jonathan Khalifa Eliminated in 3rd Place (€123,241)
Hand #69: Matous Skorepa raised to 1,300,000 in the small blind with and Jonathan Khalifa shoved all in for 11,425,000 from the big blind with . The action was back on Skorepa who asked for a count before taking his decision into consideration. He eventually made the call and it was a coin flip for a massive pot.
The flop came and Khalifa was still in the lead with two pair now. He was seen on the rail, hugging his friend, not watching the cards hit the felt. The turn was the and the river brought the . Skorepa rivered a pair of tens to oust Khalifa in third place, leaving Matous to battle heads-up with Florian Fuchs.
Matous Skorepa | 28,275,000 | 11,525,000 |
Florian Fuchs | 12,850,000 | -50,000 |
Jonathan Khalifa | 0 | -11,475,000 |
Thursday, November 2, 2017 7:52 PM Local Time
Hands #66-68: Skorepa Doubles With Aces
Hand #66: Matous Skorepa moved all in with the and won the antes and big blind of Jonathan Khalifa.
Hand #67: Khalifa raised with the from the small blind and Florian Fuchs let go his big blind.
Hand #68: Fuchs limped in with the in the small blind and Skorepa in the big blind raised to 1,350,000 with . "Now I actually need to know how much you have behind," Fuchs asked and Skorepa counted his stack for 6,950,000 behind. Fuchs moved all in and Skorepa snap-called.
The board came and Skorepa doubled.
Matous Skorepa | 16,750,000 | 100,000 |
Florian Fuchs | 12,900,000 | -2,350,000 |
Jonathan Khalifa | 11,475,000 | 2,250,000 |
Thursday, November 2, 2017 7:45 PM Local Time
Hand #61-65: Fuchs Stays Aggressive to Chip Up
Hand #61: Jonathan Khalifa limped in from the small blind with and Florian Fuchs raised to 1,600,000 in the big blind with . Khalifa laid his hand down and Fuchs picked up the pot.
Hand #62: Fuchs looked down at in the small blind and just limped in. Matous Skorepa checked his option with and the flop came . Fuchs led out for 600,000 and Skorepa quickly folded.
Hand #63: Fuchs raised to 1,000,000 on the button with and took down the pot.
Hand #64: Skorepa raised to 1,000,000 on the button with and Fuchs called in the big blind with . The flop came and both players checked to the on the turn. Both players checked again and the completed the board. Two more checks and Fuchs won the hand with a pair of tens.
Hand #65: Khalifa raised to 1,300,000 on the button with and Fuchs three-bet to 4,000,000 in the small blind with . Khalifa laid his hand down and Fuchs was able to win another pot with the worst hand.
Thursday, November 2, 2017 7:38 PM Local Time
Hands #56-60: A Few Quick Hands; Fuchs Very Active
Hand #56: Jonathan Khalifa raised to 1,200,000 with the on the button and Matous Skorepa called from the big blind with the . Both checked the flop and Khalifa also checked the on the turn.
Khalifa bet 800,000 with his flush and Skorepa called with the open-ender to see the on the river and check. Khalifa bet 2,000,000 and Skorepa quickly folded.
Hand #57: A raise by Florian Fuchs with the won the blinds and antes.
Hand #58: Skorepa raised to 1,000,000 with the on the button and Fuchs defended the big blind with . On a flop of , Fuchs checked and called a bet of 900,000 before both checked the on the turn.
Fuchs bet the river for 2,600,000 and Skorepa folded.
Hand #59: Fuchs limped in with the out of the small blind and Skorepa shoved from the big blind.
Hand #60: Fuchs raised from the button with and Khalifa called with in the big blind. On the flop of , Khalifa checked his top two pair and Fuchs bet 1,100,000. Khalifa check-raised to 2,900,000 and
Thursday, November 2, 2017 7:31 PM Local Time
Level 37 started
Level: 37
Blinds: 250000/500000
Ante: 50000
Thursday, November 2, 2017 7:31 PM Local Time
Hands #50-55: Chips Being Passed Around
Hand #50: Jonathan Khalifa shoved all in on the button with and picked up the pot.
Hand #51: Due to an on-air interview, this hand was unavailable.
Hand #52: Khalifa raised to 1,200,000 from the small blind and Florian Fuchs folded his big blind.
The blinds increased to 250,000/500,000 with a 50,000 ante.
Hand #53: Matous Skorepa received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #54: Skorepa opened to 1,250,000 from the small blind with and Khalifa called from the big blind with . The flop came and Skorepa led out for 750,000. Khalifa called and the peeled off on the turn. Skorepa fired another 1,300,000 and Khalifa shoved all in for 8,075,000 with a straight and flush draw to push Skorepa off of his hand.
Hand #55: Khalifa opened to 1,250,000 from the small blind with and Fuchs called in the big blind with . The flop came giving both players a straight draw. Khalifa check-called a bet of 1,100,000 from Fuchs and the hit the turn. Fuchs bet another 2,600,000 and Khalifa mucked his cards.
Thursday, November 2, 2017 7:20 PM Local Time
Hands #45-49: A Double for Fuchs
Hand #45: Unknown action.
Hand #46: Matous Skorepa raised to 800,000 with the and won the blinds and antes.
Hand #47: Jonathan Khalifa raised to 1,000,000 on the button and Florian Fuchs moved all in from the small blind for 7.6 million. "I am gonna call," Khalifa said and Fuchs replied "let's gamble for $40,000.
Florian Fuchs:
Jonathan Khalifa:
"Five of heart is good," Khalifa said before the flop appeared with . Fuchs took the lead and Khalifa's request for a five fell on deaf ears with the turn and river.
Hand #48: Matous Skorepa raised to 800,000 with the from the small blind and Khalifa forfeited his big blind.
Hand #49: Skorepa raised to 800,000 with the and Khalifa shoved for 7,875,000 with in the small blind. Skorepa folded and the Frenchman recovered some chips.
Matous Skorepa | 16,650,000 | -150,000 |
Florian Fuchs | 15,250,000 | 7,100,000 |
Jonathan Khalifa | 9,225,000 | -6,950,000 |
Thursday, November 2, 2017 7:09 PM Local Time
Ivaylo Sivinov Eliminated in 4th Place (€91,711)
Hand #44: Matous Skorepa announced all in from the small blind with and Ivaylo Sivinov called for 6,050,000 in the big blind with .
The flop came and Skorepa was still out front with a pair of tens. The turn brought the giving Sivinov a pair of eights, although he was still behind. The river landed the and Sivinov was eliminated in 4th place.
The players will be taking a quick eight-minute break.
Matous Skorepa | 16,800,000 | 6,600,000 |
Jonathan Khalifa | 16,175,000 | -50,000 |
Florian Fuchs | 8,150,000 | -50,000 |
Ivaylo Sivinov | 0 | -6,500,000 |
Thursday, November 2, 2017 7:02 PM Local Time
Hands #41-43: Prophetic Skorepa Doubles
Hand #41: Jonathan Khalifa received a walk.
Hand #42: Ivaylo Sivinov raised to 800,000 with the on the button and won the blinds and antes.
Hand #43: "How much do you have?" Khalifa asked and and Matous Skorepa replied "Five, ten after the hand." Sivinov raised to 800,000 and Skorepa called from the big blind. The flop fell and Skorepa checked, Sivinov bet 400,000 and snap-called the check-raise all in of Skorepa for 4,500,000.
Matous Skorepa:
Ivaylo Sivinov:
The appeared on the turn and Skorepa got there on the river to double, keeping the promise he made before the hand.
Jonathan Khalifa | 16,225,000 | 800,000 |
Matous Skorepa | 10,200,000 | 5,150,000 |
Florian Fuchs | 8,200,000 | -4,700,000 |
Ivaylo Sivinov | 6,500,000 | -4,450,000 |
Thursday, November 2, 2017 6:56 PM Local Time
Hands #36-40: Sivinov Doubles from the Big Blind
Hand #36: Matous Skopera shoved all in from the small blind with and Ivaylo Sivinov folded his big blind.
Hand #37: Skorepa raised to 800,000 on the button with and both of the blinds folded.
hand #38: Jonathan Khalifa raised to 1,000,000 in the small blind with and Florian Fuchs mucked his big blind.
hand #39: Khalifa opened to 1,000,000 again on the button with and picked up another pot without any action.
Hand #40: Skorepa shoved all in from the small blind with and Sivinov called for his last 5,375,000 chips in the big blind with .
The flop came , no help to either player. The turn was the and the river landed the giving Sivinov the double up with ace-high.
Ivaylo Sivinov | 10,950,000 | 6,275,000 |
Matous Skorepa | 5,050,000 | -5,375,000 |
Thursday, November 2, 2017 6:49 PM Local Time
Makarios Avramidis Eliminated in 5th Place (€68,771)
Hand #35: Jonathan Khalifa raised to 900,000 from the cutoff and Makarios Avramidis shoved for 4,175,000 in the big blind. Khalifa snap-called.
Makarios Avramidis:
Jonathan Khalifa:
"Come on, I can't lose that one, aces versus ace six," Khalifa said in French to his rail.
The board came and Avramidis had to settle for 5th place and a payday of €68,771, ensuring that a new WSOP bracelet winner will be crowned.
Jonathan Khalifa | 15,425,000 | 7,475,000 |
Makarios Avramidis | 0 | -5,175,000 |
Thursday, November 2, 2017 6:47 PM Local Time
Hands #33-34: Raise and Take It
Hand #33: Matous Skorepa raised to 800,000 with the and scooped up the blinds and antes.
Hand #34: Jonathan Khalifa raised to 900,000 from the button without his cards being shown, and the Frenchman won the blinds and antes.
Thursday, November 2, 2017 6:44 PM Local Time
Hands #28-32: Khalifa Flops Trips
Hand #28: Jonathan Khalifa raised to 1,000,000 from the small blind with and Florian Fuchs called in the big blind with . The flop came and both players checked to the on the turn. Khalifa led out for 900,000 and Fuchs called. The completed the board and both players checked, sending the pot to Khalifa with a full house.
Hand #29: Khalifa opened to 900,000 on the button with and both of the blinds folded.
hand #30: Ivaylo Sivinov shoved all in for 4,525,000 from under the gun with and picked up the blinds and antes.
Hand #31: Sivinov received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #32: Sivinov looked down at the in the small blind and announced all in. Khalifa quickly folded hid big blind and Sivinov took another pot.
Thursday, November 2, 2017 6:34 PM Local Time
Level 36 started
Level: 36
Blinds: 200000/400000
Ante: 50000
Thursday, November 2, 2017 6:19 PM Local Time
Hands #24-27: Fuchs Doubles Into the Lead; Break
Hand #24: First to act, Ivaylo Sivinov raised to 650,000 with the and that won the blinds and antes.
Hand #25: Jonathan Khalifa opened the action with a raise to 725,000 in the cutoff, holding the , and Makarios Avramidis in the big blind gave it some thought with the before letting go. Khalifa mucked his cards high in the air.
"I saw an ace," said Matous Skorepa.
"Nice fold, Sir," quipped Khalifa, to which Avramidis just laughed.
Hand #26: Avramidis limped in with the from the small blind and Sivinov raised to 725,000 with the in the big blind. Avramidis let go and Sivinov claimed the pot.
Hand #27: Florian Fuchs raised to 600,000 first to act and Sivinov called from the small blind. The flop came and Sivinov checked. Fuchs bet 550,000 and Sivinov check-raised to 1,225,000 and Fuchs moved all in. Sivinov asked for a count and called when the shove was deemed to be 5,580,000.
Florian Fuchs:
Ivaylo Sivinov:
Neither the turn nor the river changed anything and Fuchs doubled into the chip lead.
Right after at the end of the level, the players headed into an unscheduled 15-minute break.
Florian Fuchs | 12,900,000 | 6,570,000 |
Matous Skorepa | 10,425,000 | -3,775,000 |
Jonathan Khalifa | 7,950,000 | -2,470,000 |
Makarios Avramidis | 5,175,000 | -1,565,000 |
Ivaylo Sivinov | 4,675,000 | -2,225,000 |