Friday, November 1, 2019 12:30 AM Local Time
Alexandros Kolonias Wins the 2019 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event (€1,133,678)
A champion has been crowned in the 2019 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) €10,350 Main Event and it was Alexandros Kolonias who lifted the coveted gold bracelet for the winner shots after defeating Claas Segebrecht in heads-up to claim his maiden bracelet and a payday of €1,133,678.
Kolonias came out on top of a 541-entry strong field in the second-biggest WSOPE Main Event to date in the third edition of the festival in Europe's biggest poker arena at the King's Resort in Rozvadov, which created a prize pool of €5,139,500.
"I still haven't figured it out in my mind what actually happened. I am really happy about the way I played in the beginning, One level was not so good when we had four left, but things worked out for me," Kolonias said in the interview after his victory.
Never known to play many live events per year, Kolonias earned his first seven-figure score and he plans to keep the usual routine of five to six festivals per year going forward. He had arrived just one day prior to the start of the €10,350 Main Event and participated in one event only.
"I never played many live events per year, and it was, of course, great to make this one count. I think I will do the same and play online, and do five or six live tournaments a year."
Whether or not a trip to Las Vegas for the 2020 WSOP to chase further WSOP bracelets is up in the air for now, but the year of the Greek continues. It was the third bracelet in 2019 and sixth overall for his home country, and the victory also vaults Kolonias into the top spot of the Greek all-time money list with more than $3.7 million in recorded cashes on the live circuit.
The 32-year-old was born in Volos but calls London his home these days where he mainly focuses on the online grind. He is known under the moniker "mexican222" and has already earned more than $3.1 million in cashes.
Kolonias also emphasized that the final table draw was one of the key reasons for his success.
"I had a very good position, I was second in chips with position on the chip leader and on my left the short stack. If I had to choose positions for every player where we'd start for the final table, I would pick it exactly like this. This was very important"
The nine-handed final table featured players from nine different countries and among the six hopefuls that returned to their seats for the final showdown were also the two 2019 WSOP Player of the Year contenders Dario Sammartino and Anthony Zinno. The former had to settle for 4th place while Zinno ended up in 3rd place after a roller coaster ride.
WSOP bracelet winner Rifat Palevic was the first to depart and local player Anh "David" Do, who won his Main Event entry in a King's promotion as part of their ongoing live event schedule in 2019, finished 5th for a payday of €244,653.
Leon Tsoukernik and Jack Effel with 2019 WSOPE Main Event Champion Alexandros Kolonias
Final Result 2019 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (in EUR) | Prize (in USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Alexandros Kolonias | Greece | €1,133,678 | $1,258,383 |
| 2 | Claas Segebrecht | Germany | €700,639 | $777,709 |
| 3 | Anthony Zinno | United States | €485,291 | $538,673 |
| 4 | Dario Sammartino | Italy | €341,702 | $379,289 |
| 5 | Anh Do | Czech Republic | €244,653 | $271,565 |
| 6 | Rifat Palevic | Sweden | €178,171 | $197,770 |
| 7 | Julien Martini | France | €132,017 | $146,539 |
| 8 | Jakob Madsen | Denmark | €99,555 | $110,506 |
Palevic and Do First Two to Fall
The cinderella story of the final day was certainly 26-year-old businessman Do from Prague, who won his entry for the €10,350 flagship event of the festival thanks to a deep run in the €230 German Poker Masters at King's in which he finished 8th out of nearly 7,000 entries.
After ensuring one pay jump once short stack Rifat Palevic ran with king-deuce into his pocket queens in a battle of the blinds, Do opened up his game and was involved in a lot of hands. He escaped from elimination once when he cracked the kings of Anthony Zinno with ace-jack.
However, his fate was all but sealed when Dario Sammartino hit a two-outer with jacks versus queens to leave Do on a nub. Soon after it was all over when he could not find a miracle himself with king-nine suited against the pocket kings of Claas Segebrecht.
That left the final four with two big stacks and Sammartino as well as Zinno as the short stacks.
Sammartino's Deep Run Ends Shy of a Bracelet Once Again
For the Italian it was quite a remarkable year. Sammartino had eight cashes during the summer in Las Vegas including three final table appearances and his memorable second place finish in the Main Event before heading to King's Resort. After an 8th place in Event #6: €25,500 Short Deck High Roller, he became the fourth player to reach the WSOP and WSOPE Main Event final table in the same year.
Destined to finally shake the monkey off his back, the Italian experienced a roller coaster day. Sammartino quickly dropped to a short stack and carefully waited for a spot to double. In dramatic fashion he got there against Do but his own fortune ran out with four players remaining.
Zinno put a major dent into Sammartino's stack when his king-ten suited flopped top pair against ace-jack. One double up of Sammartino brought back memories from Las Vegas as the Italian rail started chanting once more but their voices fell silent when ace-king ended up second-best to jack-ten.
Dario Sammartino: 2nd in Las Vegas; 4th in Rozvadov
Zinno Misses Out on Third Bracelet; remains with slim Chances in 2019 POY race
Down to the final three players, pocket treys would play a crucial role. Zinno was seeking his third bracelet and a victory would have also given him a serious chance to topple Daniel Negreanu in the 2019 WSOP Player of the Year ace.
A big jam with pocket treys against eventual champion Kolonias, who called with ace-jack suited and flopped an ace, left Zinno with just over three big blinds. He would triple up and double up after but Kolonias finished the job he had started when jack-ten beat ace-nine in a preflop all-in.
In order to win the prestigious WSOP POY title, Zinno and Sammartino will have to win The COLOSSUS and depend on the results of Daniel Negreanu, Shaun Deeb and Robert Campbell.
Anthony Zinno Eliminated in 3rd Place
Kolonias Dominates Heads-Up short-lived action
Heads-up started with a 3-2 advantage for Kolonias and he quickly pulled into a commanding lead when he turned a set and jammed into Segebrecht. The stacks were getting closer again after Segebrecht flopped a set of aces and improved to a full house on the river as Kolonias made trips tens.
Not even half an hour after the battle one-versus-one had started, it was all over already. Segebrecht three-bet shoved with pocket treys and Kolonias snap-called with ace-king suited. A king on the flop let the Greek rail celebrate and spades on turn and river even gave Kolonias the nut flush to seal the victory.
While the €10,350 Main Event is over, the final event of the festival at the King's Resort offers a last chance to secure a gold bracelet and provides a guaranteed prize pool of €1,000,000 in The COLOSSUS. Stay tuned for more as the PokerNews team will be on the floor to provide all the action until November 4th, 2019.
Friday, November 1, 2019 12:19 AM Local Time
Claas Segebrecht Eliminated in 2nd Place (€700,639)
Alexandros Kolonias raised to 1,200,000 from the small blind and Claas Segebrecht three-bet shoved for 23,200,000 from the big blind. Kolonias made the call.
Claas Segebrecht:
Alexandros Kolonias:
The flop fell giving Kolonias the lead with a pair of kings. The turn and river filled up the board and Kolonias improved his hand to a flush, winning the 2019 WSOPE Main Event and eliminating Segebrecht in 2nd place for €700,639.
Claas Segebrecht Eliminated in 2nd Place| Alexandros Kolonias | 54,100,000 | 24,400,000  |
| Claas Segebrecht | 0 | -24,400,000  |
Friday, November 1, 2019 12:13 AM Local Time
Segebrecht Doubles Through Kolonias
Alexandros Kolonias raised from the small blind and Claas Segebrecht called from the big blind.
A flop reading was dealt and Segebrecht checked. Kolonias bet 1,000,000 and Segebrecht check-called.
The turn was the and was checked through to the river. Segebrecht checked again but Kolonias bet 3,000,000. Segebrecht check-raised all in for 9,700,000 and Kolonias took a few seconds of reflection, then made the call. Kolonias tabled for trip tens but that wasn't good enough as Segebrecht revealed for aces full of tens to win the pot.
Claas Segebrecht Doubles Through Alexandros Kolonias| Alexandros Kolonias | 29,700,000 | -8,900,000 |
| Claas Segebrecht | 24,400,000 | 8,900,000 |
Friday, November 1, 2019 12:02 AM Local Time
Kolonias Shoves on the River
Alexandros Kolonias raised to 1,200,000 from the small blind with and Claas Segebrecht defended from the big blind with .
The flop was and Segebrecht check-called a bet of 1,000,000 from Kolonias.
The turn brought the and Segebrecht check-called another bet of 3,800,000 from Kolonias.
The completed the board and Segebrecht checked for a third time. Kolonias moved all in for about 26,000,000 and Segebrecht snap-folded.
Heads-Up| Alexandros Kolonias | 38,600,000 | 7,500,000 |
| Claas Segebrecht | 15,500,000 | -7,500,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 11:55 PM Local Time
Heads-Up Play Underway
| Alexandros Kolonias | 31,100,000 | -1,000,000 |
| Claas Segebrecht | 23,000,000 | 750,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 11:51 PM Local Time
Anthony Zinno Eliminated in 3rd Place (€485,291)
Alexandros Kolonias raised to 1,300,000 from the button and Anthony Zinno three-bet shoved from the big blind for 7,650,000. Kolonias made the call.
Anthony Zinno:
Alexandros Kolonias:
Zinno was ahead but Kolonias hit a pretty favorable flop of . The turn and river completed the board and Kolonias took down the pot with his pair of jacks, eliminating Zinno in 3rd place for €485,291.
Anthony Zinno Eliminated in 3rd Place| Alexandros Kolonias | 32,100,000 | 8,500,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | 0 | -8,250,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 11:48 PM Local Time
Level 34 started
Level: 34
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 600,000
Thursday, October 31, 2019 11:29 PM Local Time
Turn Bet Takes It for Segebrecht
Alexandros Kolonias limped from the small blind with and Claas Segebrecht called from the big blind with .
A flop reading was dealt and checked around to the turn. Kolonias checked once more but Segebrecht bet 750,000. Kolonias folded.
The remaining three players are on a 15-minute break.
| Alexandros Kolonias | 23,600,000 | 1,400,000 |
| Claas Segebrecht | 22,250,000 | 5,050,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | 8,250,000 | 150,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 11:26 PM Local Time
Segebrecht Takes From Zinno
Claas Segebrecht limped from the small blind with and Anthony Zinno checked from the big blind with .
Players saw a flop of and Segebrecht checked. Zinno bet 700,000 and Segebrecht check-raised to 2,300,000. Zinno took a few seconds of reflection, then added the remainder to call.
The turn was the and Segebrecht fired a bet of 1,900,000. Zinno went deep into the tank, then called.
The completed the board and Segebrecht moved all in for 11,850,000. Zinno let it go.
| Claas Segebrecht | 17,200,000 | -4,500,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | 8,100,000 | -2,600,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 11:09 PM Local Time
Kolonias Rivers a Straight Against Zinno
Alexandros Kolonias limped the small blind with and Claas Segebrecht checked his option with the . On the flop, Kolonias checked his open-ended straight draw and called a min-bet worth 500,000 by Segebrecht.
The on the turn brought no betting action and the on the river resulted in a bet of 1,200,000 by Kolonias, Segebrecht folded.
Soon after another limped pot in a battle of the blinds led to the flop which gave Anthony Zinno with two pair while Kolonias had for a straight draw. Both checked and Zinno bet the turn for 1,500,000 and Kolonias called.
On the river Kolonias improved to a straight and Zinno checked to him. Kolonias made it 5,000,000 to go for nearly half of Zinno's remaining stack, no call followed.
| Alexandros Kolonias | 22,200,000 | 3,400,000 |
| Claas Segebrecht | 21,700,000 | 100,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | 10,700,000 | -3,000,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 11:01 PM Local Time
Zinno Doubles Through Kolonias
Anthony Zinno moved all in from the small blind for 6,600,000 and Alexandros Kolonias went deep into the tank, then called from the big blind.
Anthony Zinno:
Alexandros Kolonias:
The flop came giving Kolonias a pair of sixes but Zinno an open-ended straight draw. The turn was the and the river filled up the board giving Zinno a queen-high straight to double up.
Anthony Zinno Doubles Through Alexandros Kolonias| Claas Segebrecht | 21,600,000 | -1,500,000 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | 18,800,000 | -6,100,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | 13,700,000 | 8,100,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 10:55 PM Local Time
Zinno Triples Up With King-High
Anthony Zinno moved all in from the button for 1,700,000 and Alexandros Kolonias called from the small blind along with Claas Segebrecht in the big blind.
The flop was and was checked through to the turn and to the river. Kolonias and Segebrecht checked again. Kolonias tabled , Segebrecht showed and Zinno revealed to triple up with king-high.
| Alexandros Kolonias | 24,900,000 | -2,700,000 |
| Claas Segebrecht | 23,100,000 | -1,700,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | 5,600,000 | 3,900,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 10:49 PM Local Time
Kolonias Doubles Into the Lead
Anthony Zinno open-shoved the small blind for 15,250,000 and Alexandros Kolonias in the big blind tank-called for 13,550,000.
Alexandros Kolonias:
Anthony Zinno:
The flop gave Kolonias top pair and the turn reduced the outs of Zinno to just the three of spades. A blank followed on the river and Kolonias left Zinno with just over three big blinds.
Alexandros Kolonias Doubles Through Anthony Zinno| Alexandros Kolonias | 27,600,000 | 13,550,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | 1,700,000 | -13,550,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 10:46 PM Local Time
Back and Forth Three-Handed
Out of the small blind, Alexandros Kolonias pushed with the for 12,950,000 and Claas Segebrecht in the big blind asked for a count with the but ended up folding.
Anthony Zinno claimed the next pot on the flop to pulle a bit closer to the German.
Kolonias then raised the button to 1,100,000 with and Zinno called with in the big blind. The flop brought and Zinno checked to Kolonias, who tossed in a continuation bet worth 1,200,000. Zinno gave it some thought and folded.
| Claas Segebrecht | 24,800,000 | -700,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | 15,250,000 | -1,150,000 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | 14,050,000 | 1,250,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 10:36 PM Local Time
Zinno's Shove Gets Through
Alexandros Kolonias raised to 1,100,000 from the button with and Anthony Zinno defended from the big blind with .
The flop was and Zinno check-called a bet of 900,000 from Kolonias. The dealer burned and turned the and Zinno moved all in for 11,650,000. Kolonias hit the tank for about a minute, then opted to fold.
| Anthony Zinno | 16,400,000 | 2,250,000 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | 12,800,000 | -1,900,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 10:31 PM Local Time
Segebrecht Gets a Fold
Anthony Zinno raised to 1,200,000 from the button with and Claas Segebrecht called from the big blind with .
The flop came and Segebrecht checked. Zinno bet 700,000 and Segebrecht check-raised to 2,300,000. Zinno added the remainder to call.
The turn brought the and Claas Segebrecht bet 1,800,000. Zinno let it go.
| Claas Segebrecht | 25,500,000 | 2,750,000 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | 14,700,000 | -1,250,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | 14,150,000 | -1,250,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 10:27 PM Local Time
Kolonias Doubles Through Segebrecht
Alexandros Kolonias moved all in from the small blind for 7,725,000 and Claas Segebrecht snap-called from the big blind.
Alexandros Kolonias:
Claas Segebrecht:
Segebrecht was ahead, however the board ran out and Kolonias counterfeited Segebrecht's two pair and won the pot with kings and queens and his ace kicker.
| Claas Segebrecht | 22,750,000 | -7,100,000 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | 15,950,000 | 7,450,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | 15,400,000 | 600,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 10:18 PM Local Time
Segebrecht Folds to Kolonias's Shove
Claas Segebrecht raised to 1,000,000 from the button with and Alexandros Kolonias defended from the big bind with .
The dealer fanned a flop of that was checked through to the turn. Kolonias bet 1,200,000 and Segebrecht called.
The filled up the river and Kolonias moved all in for 3,825,000. Segebrecht snap-folded.
| Claas Segebrecht | 29,850,000 | -1,750,000 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | 8,500,000 | 1,050,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 10:12 PM Local Time
Segebrecht Shoves on the Turn
Claas Segebrecht raised from the button to 1,000,000 with and Alexandros Kolonias called from the big blind with .
The dealer fanned a flop of and Kolonias check-called a bet of 1,375,000 from Segebrecht. The turn fell the and Kolonias checked once more. Segebrecht moved all in for 27,025,000 and Segebrecht instantly folded.
| Claas Segebrecht | 31,600,000 | 1,700,000 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | 7,450,000 | -2,200,000 |
Thursday, October 31, 2019 10:07 PM Local Time
Kolonias Jams Once
Bling-on-blind, Claas Segebrecht limped the and Anthony Zinno checked the . Segebrecht bet the flop for 500,000 and the on the turn was checked by both players. After the river, Segebrecht bet 1,100,000 and Zinno folded the best hand.
Up next, Zinno raised to 1,000,000 with the and Alexandros Kolonias shoved for 7,650,000 with the in order to win the pot.
| Claas Segebrecht | 29,900,000 | 2,750,000 |
| Anthony Zinno | 14,800,000 | -3,400,000 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | 9,650,000 | 900,000 |