Saturday, October 10, 2015 8:22 PM Local Time
Makarios Avramidis wins the opening event of the 2015 WSOPE Berlin
The third and final day of the €2,200 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em started with six hopefuls out of a 197-entry field.
Paul Michaelis, who won a bracelet earlier this year, held one third of the chips in play at one point. However, Michaelis eventually had to settle for third place, ensuring that new first-time champion would be crowned.
Makarios Avramidis began the heads-up duel with a 2:1 chip advantage against Frederic Schwarzer, and he quickly parlayed that into a massive lead. On the final hand, Schwarzer three-bet shoved with and Avramidis called with . It was all over after the turn on the board, and the meaningless river was just a formality.
In the interview after the victory, Avramidis revealed that poker was his big passion and that he prefers to listen to his gut feeling. Many previous attempts ended with "bad luck," but that all changed this evening in his first-ever WSOP event. Avramidis began playing cards for sweets as a young kid and a couple decades later, he's now the latest entry in the winners list of the most prestigious poker tournament circuit.
Marvin Rettenmaier started the final table as shortest stack, and he doubled up once before picking the wrong spot to four-bet shove, running his into the of Michaelis. The latter immediately found another ace on the flop and left "Mad Marvin" drawing dead on the turn of a board.
Stephen Chidwick fell to the bottom of the counts with five players left, but he doubled up through Michaelis twice and then sent Ricardo Alvarado to the rail in fifth place. Both he and Alvarado turned two pair, but Chidwick's got the better of Alvarado's on a board that ran out .
At that point, Chidwick was dominating the action on the table, and he seemed poised to seal the deal in short order. But the run-good suddenly went away, and Chidwick lost four all-in situations against short-stacked opponents, including two versus Michaelis. The remainder of the Brit's stack went in via three-bet shove out of the big blind with , only to see Michaelis snap him off with . The board ran out and Chidwick had to settle for fourth place.
Michaelis took over the role of dominating leader, only to experience the very same "hero to zero" storyline. Avramidis doubled up with pocket jacks versus pocket tens, and a few minutes later, Michaelis got his remainder in with . Schwarzer, however, snap-called with the and the board ran out to send Michaelis off in third place.
Avramidis needed just over an hour to grind his final opponent to the felt, claiming the title around 8:00 p.m.
The first of ten golden bracelets is awarded while Event #2, the €550 Oktoberfest, currently plays its second starting day.
Final Table Results:
1st Place: Makarios Avramidis (Greece/Germany) - €105,000
2nd Place: Frederic Schwarzer (Germany) - €64,930
3rd Place: Paul Michaelis (Germany) - €45,860
4th Place: Stephen Chidwick (United Kingdom) - €32,600
5th Place: Ricardo Alvarado (USA) - €23,310
6th Place: Marvin Rettenmaier (Germany) - €16,740
Saturday, October 10, 2015 7:35 PM Local Time
Makarios Avramidis opens to 125,000 and Frederic Schwarzer three-bet shoves for just under 350,000. Avramidis calls, looking to seal the victory right here.
Avramidis:
Schwarzer:
The flop pairs Avramidis' ace, and Schwarzer is drawing dead when the turn brings the blank . The two men are already shaking hands as the dealer completes the board with the .
Schwarzer earns the runner-up consolation prize of €64,930.
Avramidis is handed his first gold bracelet and €105,000 in cash.
Saturday, October 10, 2015 7:29 PM Local Time
Makarios Avramidis limps in for 24,000 and Frederic Schwarzer reraises to 59,000. Avramidis calls, and the flop comes . Schwarzer continues for 50,000, and Avramidis calls. On the turn, Schwarzer checks and Avramidis takes the lead with a bet of 130,000. Schwarzer spends a long while in the tank, counts out his remaining stack, then calls.
The river draws another check by Schwarzer, and Avramidis bets 225,000. Schwarzer folds.
Makarios Avramidis - 1,600,000
Frederic Schwarzer - 370,000
Saturday, October 10, 2015 7:14 PM Local Time
Level: 25
Blinds: 12000/24000
Ante: 4000
Saturday, October 10, 2015 7:06 PM Local Time
The two gentlemen are taking a short break.
Makarios Avramidis - 1,325,000
Frederic Schwarzer - 645,000
Saturday, October 10, 2015 7:01 PM Local Time
Frederic Schwarzer completes from the small blind, and Makarios Avramidis checks his option in the big.
Both players check through the flop, and the turn is the . Avramidis checks again, and Schwarzer bets 40,000. Avramidis calls. On the river, Avramidis check-calls another 90,000, immediately tabling for a pair of jacks. Schwarzer double-checks his cards, then slips them into the muck.
Makarios Avramidis - 1,350,000
Frederic Schwarzer - 620,000
Saturday, October 10, 2015 6:53 PM Local Time
Makarios Avramidis' standard open has been 4x or more recently, and Frederic Schwarzer has mostly been yielding to the pressure.
Schwarzer, on the other hand, has typically been min-raising from the button, and the most recent hand begins that way again. Avramidis calls from the big blind, and they see the flop come . Schwarzer bets 55,000, and Avramidis raises to 157,000. Schwarzer moves all in, and Avramidis folds.
Makarios Avramidis - 1,070,000
Frederic Schwarzer - 900,000
Saturday, October 10, 2015 6:32 PM Local Time
In a limped pot, Frederic Schwarzer bets 35,000 on the flop, and Makarios Avramidis calls. Both players check the turn, and Schwarzer bets 60,000 on the the river. Avramidis calls, and his earns him the pot with a pair of sixes. Schwarzer mucks.
Makarios Avramidis - 1,050,000
Frederic Schwarzer - 920,000
Saturday, October 10, 2015 6:28 PM Local Time
Preflop, both players invest 65,000 chips, and they check through the flop.
On the turn, Frederic Schwarzer leads for 75,000, and Makarios Avramidis calls. Schwarzer lead for 175,000 on the river, and Avramidis calls.
Schwarzer shows for aces and deuces, but Avramidis takes the pot with and a flush.
Frederic Schwarzer - 1,050,000
Makarios Avramidis - 920,000
Saturday, October 10, 2015 6:23 PM Local Time
Makarios Avramidis receives a walk in the first hand.
On the second, he opens to 50,000 on the button. Frederic Schwarzer calls, then checks the flop. Avramidis continues for 75,000, and Schwarzer folds.
Saturday, October 10, 2015 6:20 PM Local Time
The two contenders for the first World Series of Poker golden bracelet on German soil have returned to their seats and the action continues with 45:20 minutes left in the current level.
Saturday, October 10, 2015 6:06 PM Local Time
Frederic Schwarzer - 1,322,000 (66 bb)
Makarios Avramidis - 648,000 (32 bb)
Saturday, October 10, 2015 5:55 PM Local Time
Paul Michaelis opens to 44,000 under the gun, and Frederic Schwarzer three-bets to 105,000 in the big blind. Michaelis jams, and he can only chuckle as his opponent calls instantly and shows him some bad news:
Michaelis:
Schwarzer:
"Again," Michaelis sighs, taking a sip from his drink.
The board comes , and Michaelis can not catch up. He's eliminated in third place
A new WSOP bracelet winner will be crowned here at the Spielbank Berlin and the final two are taking a quick break while the table is prepared for the heads-up match.
Paul Michaelis - Eliminated in 3rd Place (€45,860)
Saturday, October 10, 2015 5:49 PM Local Time
Frederic Schwarzer receives a walk in the big blind on the first hand back from the break.
The second hand sees Makarios Avramidis (pictured) open to 50,000 from the button, and Paul Michaelis moves all in from the big blind. Avramidis double checks his cards again and then calls all in for 393,000, putting himself at risk.
Michaelis:
Avramidis:
There is a sweat thanks to the flop, and Avramidis walks off the stage, sits down on the stage steps, and watches the TV screen determine his fate. The turn and river are blanks, and Avramidis returns to his seat with twice as many chips as before.
The next hand, Schwarzer and Michaelis reach the river on a board, and Schwarzer leads for 80,000 from the big blind. Michaelis raises to 200,000, Schwarzer shoves, and Michaelis folds.
Avramidis is now the chip leader, but the stacks have drawn close.
Makarios Avramidis - 800,000
Frederic Schwarzer - 680,000
Paul Michaelis - 520,000
Saturday, October 10, 2015 5:41 PM Local Time
Level: 24
Blinds: 10000/20000
Ante: 3000
Saturday, October 10, 2015 5:36 PM Local Time
Seat 4: Frederic Schwarzer - 377,000
Seat 5: Paul Michaelis - 1,184,000
Seat 6: Makarios Avramidis - 409,000Saturday, October 10, 2015 5:31 PM Local Time
Frederic Schwarzer raises from the button, and Makarios Avramidis calls from the big blind.
On the flop, Avramidis checks, then folds to Schwarzer's 40,000-chip continuation bet of.
As soon as the hand is over, the players head off for a quick ten-minute break.
Saturday, October 10, 2015 5:27 PM Local Time
Paul Michaelis opens to 32,000 from the button, and he's called by Makarios Avramidis and Frederic Schwarzer in the small and big blinds, respectively.
On the flop, Avramidis and Schwarzer check, and Michealis bets 45,000. Only Avramidis calls, and they both check the on the turn.
On the river, Avramidis leads for 130,000, and Michealis quickly folds.
Saturday, October 10, 2015 5:22 PM Local Time
Paul Michaelis limps the small blind, and Makarios Avramidis checks his option from the big blind. Both players check the flop, and Michaelis leads the turn for 20,000. Avramidis folds.
Paul Michaelis - 1,270,000
Frederic Schwarzer - 370,000
Makarios Avramidis - 350,000
Saturday, October 10, 2015 5:14 PM Local Time
Within a matter of few hands, Paul Michaelis opens twice to 34,000 and then faces the 100,000-three-bet by Makarios Avramidis. He folds both times.
On the next hand, Avramidis opens the button to 36,000. Michaelis three-bets to 99,000, and Avramidis folds.