Thursday, November 25, 2021 3:48 AM Local Time
The 2021 World Series of Poker Europe has crowned the third champion at the King's Resort in Rozvadov. In a battle of Slovakians, Samuel Stranak prevailed against Alan Sabo in Event #4: €2,000 Pot-Limit Omaha and collected his first gold bracelet along with the top prize of €101,764. Both close friends battled for the first-ever gold bracelet for their home country with the better end for Stranak in a very entertaining and jovial heads-up duel.
The tournament attracted a field of 241 entries and the €423,557 prize pool was divided among the top 37 finishers. Notables on the final table included the UK's Ian Bradley, Amir Mozaffarian, and Krasimir Yankov.
Final Table Result Event #4: €2,000 Pot-Limit Omaha
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (in EUR) |
|---|
| 1 | Samuel Stranak | Slovakia | €101,764 |
| 2 | Alan Sabo | Slovakia | €62,894 |
| 3 | Ian Bradley | United Kingdom | €44,044 |
| 4 | Vasil Medarov | Bulgaria | €31,484 |
| 5 | Amir Mozaffarian | Germany | €22,982 |
| 6 | Krasimir Yankov | Bulgaria | €17,140 |
| 7 | Stanislav Parkhomenko | Bulgaria | €13,065 |
| 8 | Ermanno Di Nicola | Italy | €10,185 |
Eventual champion Stranak did the lion's share of the work en route to victory after knocking out seven of his last eight opponents on the feature table of Europe's biggest poker arena. Prior to his win, the 24-year-old scientist from Bratislava only had four recorded MTT cashes to his name while the one year older Sabo earned several WSOP Online cashes throughout the last two years.
Both had been playing against each other in cash games prior but it was the first time they participated in the same tournament together and that made the duel for the title and glory even more special.
"We were joking about it before but what are the odds? One million to one?" a delighted Stranak said while his buddy chimed in. "It was an amazing experience, I almost cried when I got heads-up with this guy. I am sad that I didn't get the bracelet but I am very happy for him," runner-up Sabo said during the joint winner interview with the two Slovakians.
Both didn't hold back when battling with each other even prior to the heads-up and Stranak had Sabo at risk during three-handed play only to see his friend turn an unlikely full house to survive. In the heads-up itself, it was Sabo who pulled away but a gutsy bluff didn't get through to shift the momentum towards Stranak.
"Ranges? I think it was the Gin Tonic we had before the hand. I don't know if I can talk strategy, I don't even know what I was thinking," Stranak joked when asked about his hero-call with just a pair of jacks. Sabo didn't quite agree with that but couldn't stop himself from grinning just like he did when being caught with the fingers in the cookie jar.
Both admitted that they prefer Pot-Limit Omaha while playing "Hold'em for fun" and will likely ride the wave to participate in further events during the ongoing 2021 WSOPE festival. But first, there is one day of rest and some partying planned to celebrate the occasion.
Samuel Stranak and Alan Sabo celebrate the victory
Big Names Fall Early on the Final Day
The final day started with 46 players still in contention and just 37 of them made the money. Sabo was among the bigger stacks right from the start and received a massive boost when he sent 2019 runner-up Omar Eljach to the rail. Jan-Peter Jachtmann was also among the casualties prior to the money and defending champion Tomas Ribeiro was then eliminated on the money bubble.
Other notables who cashed but failed to make the final table were Abdelhakim Zoufri, Mick Heder, Tomasz Gluszko, and Vivian Saliba. Stranak started his rise on the leaderboard with several double-ups soon after the bubble had burst and built a larger stack on the final two tables. Leonid Yanovski and Richard Toth were eliminated just shy of the final table while Sabo and Stranak surpassed the red-hot running Ian Bradley at the top of the leaderboard.
Stranak Dominates Final Table
When the final nine players combined to one table, it was Stranak to draw the first blood and eliminate a short-stacked Andriy Lyubovetskiy. It was a sign of things to come as the only finalist to not bust against Stranak from there on was seventh-place finisher Stanislav Parkhomenko. For example, Krasimir Yankov as arguably one of the most experienced contenders still in the mix, took a stand with a suited broadway combo but Stranak came out on top with two pair.
Amir Mozaffarian chipped up to threaten the top spot of the Slovakian but saw his hopes vanish in a large clash, which sent Stranak into an overwhelming lead. His run-good continued shortly after when he made a superior full house against Vasil Medarov.
Three-handed play turned out to be a far bigger challenge as the two Slovakians battled back and forth while Bradley doubled twice and even took the lead for a short period. However, he was then caught with a move holding pocket kings on an ace-high flop as Stranak looked him up with the top pair and secured the all-Slovakian heads-up duel.
The banter between the two countrymen was flowing back and forth, and it was Stranak who came out on top.
This wraps up the PokerNews coverage for this event but the live reporting team provides updates from all 15 WSOP gold bracelet events during the 2021 World Series of Poker Europe until December 8, 2021.
Thursday, November 25, 2021 3:33 AM Local Time
Samuel Stranak limped in, Alan Sabo raised the pot, Stranak then three-bet to 1,320,000 and called the shove by Sabo for 1,835,000.
Alan Sabo:
Samuel Stranak: .
As they gathered in the middle with the drinks in their hands, both were smiling and awaited the community cards. The flop gave Sabo the top pair but Stranak had a gutshot royal flush draw.
Stranak improved on the turn and Sabo could now only chop with a king. The tournament ended with the river and both hugged before the main spotlight was on Stranak.
Sabo takes home €62,894 while the honour of first Slovakian gold bracelet winner belongs to Stranak, who collects the top prize of €101,764 for his victory.
A recap of today's action is to follow.
| Samuel Stranak | 12,050,000 | 1,950,000  |
| Alan Sabo | 0 | -1,900,000  |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 3:29 AM Local Time
In a limped pot to the flop, Samuel Stranak checked the and Alan Sabo checked back with the . Stranak check-raised the turn from 275,000 to 700,000, which shut down Sabo.
| Samuel Stranak | 10,100,000 | 1,130,000 |
| Alan Sabo | 1,900,000 | -1,130,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 3:20 AM Local Time
Samuel Stranak raised to 300,000 with the and Alan Sabo defended the . The flop was checked through and both then invested 120,000 each on the turn.
Sabo bet the river for 750,000 with his trips fours and Stranak then smirked before raising it up to 3,210,000. Sabo instantly folded and was shown the goods. Two hands later, Sabo went on a short smoke break as Stranak just relaxed on the table and casually waited for his countryman.
| Samuel Stranak | 8,970,000 | 1,070,000 |
| Alan Sabo | 3,030,000 | -1,070,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 3:11 AM Local Time
Samuel Stranak three-bet to 990,000 with the and Alan Sabo called with the . The flop was checked by Stranak and Sabo elected to check it back.
The fell on the turn and Stranak now bet 800,000 for Sabo to call. As they headed to the river, the pot had grown to 3,700,000 and Stranak checked once more. Sabo then bet the full pot and Stranak was sent into the tank for the 2,100,000 he had behind.
A long tank followed and Stranak then called as Sabo was caught with the fingers in the cookie jar. "Fuck, I only have queen-high," he joked in Slovakian and Stranak celebrated to double into the lead.
| Samuel Stranak | 7,900,000 | 3,900,000 |
| Alan Sabo | 4,100,000 | -3,900,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 3:05 AM Local Time
In a single-raised pot to the flop, Alan Sabo had flopped bottom set with the . He faced a bet by Samuel Stranak for 450,000 with the and raised the pot in order to shut down his opponent.
| Alan Sabo | 8,000,000 | 800,000 |
| Samuel Stranak | 4,000,000 | -800,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 3:03 AM Local Time
Alan Sabo raised to 255,000 with the and Samuel Stranak defended with the . On the flop, Sabo check-called for 305,000 and checked again the turn. Sabo bet 1,005,000 and Stranak folded after short consideration.
| Alan Sabo | 7,200,000 | 1,700,000 |
| Samuel Stranak | 4,800,000 | -1,700,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:57 AM Local Time
In a limped pot to the flop, Alan Sabo bet 200,000 with the and Samuel Stranak raised to 700,000 with the . The turn was checked and the river brought a bet worth 400,000 by Stranak, which Sabo paid off before joking about what unusual line his countryman took.
| Samuel Stranak | 6,500,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Alan Sabo | 5,500,000 | -1,500,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:53 AM Local Time
Level: 27
Blinds: 60,000/120,000
Ante: 120,000
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:53 AM Local Time
Alan Sabo raised to 250,000 with the flop and Samuel Stranak three-bet the pot to 750,000 with the , earning a call from Sabo.
"Okay okay," Sabo said with a grin as they headed to the flop. Stranak opted to check and Sabo used the opportunity to lead for 900,000. The fold of Stranak folded and he flashed the cards as both continued their friendly banter.
| Alan Sabo | 7,000,000 | 500,000 |
| Samuel Stranak | 5,000,000 | -500,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:49 AM Local Time
Samuel Stranak raised to 250,000 with the and Alan Sabo called with the . The flop fell and Sabo check-folded to a bet, jokingly mentioning that he may have check-raised.
Sabo then limped in and Stranak potted to 300,000 with the . Sabo elected to call with the . The flop brought a bet worth 400,000 by Stranak and Sabo called.
After the turn, Stranak checked and Sabo bet the full pot in order to win the pot.
| Alan Sabo | 6,500,000 | 400,000 |
| Samuel Stranak | 5,500,000 | -400,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:40 AM Local Time
Alan Sabo raised the button with the and Samuel Stranak called with the . On the 5AcJc10c] flop, Stranak check-called a bet worth 100,000 and the turn was checked.
Stranak bet the river for 400,000 and Sabo called to then laugh when he was shown the quads by his countryman.
| Alan Sabo | 6,100,000 | -760,000 |
| Samuel Stranak | 5,900,000 | 760,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:35 AM Local Time
Samuel Stranak raised to 250,000 with the and Alan Sabo came along with the . The flop was checked by Sabo and he then check-raised a bet worth 400,000 by Stranak to 1,400,000.
After some consideration, Stranak called and both players took a sip of their drinks before the appeared on the turn. Both checked to the river and Sabo then piled it in. That sent Stranak into the blender and he eventually opted to fold.
| Alan Sabo | 6,860,000 | 1,060,000 |
| Samuel Stranak | 5,140,000 | -1,060,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:29 AM Local Time
Samuel Stranak raised to 300,000 with the and Alan Sabo defended the . On the flop both players hit a flush and Sabo check-called a bet worth 300,000. The turn was checked and Sabo bet the river for 175,000 into 1,200,000.
Stranak called and Sabo nearly closed the gap to his countryman.
| Samuel Stranak | 6,200,000 | -765,000 |
| Alan Sabo | 5,800,000 | 715,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:26 AM Local Time
Alan Sabo raised to 250,000 with the and Samuel Stranak called with the . The flop was checked and Stranak check-folded the turn to a pot-sized bet, jokingly calling it a nit fold.
He got some chips back the next hand and retained the small lead over his countryman.
| Samuel Stranak | 6,965,000 | -75,000 |
| Alan Sabo | 5,085,000 | 75,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:20 AM Local Time
Heads Up
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:15 AM Local Time
Ian Bradley three-bet potted out of the big blind and Samuel Stranak called on the button. The flop brought the shove by Bradley for 1,290,000 and Stranak shrugged, then called.
Ian Bradley:
Samuel Stranak:
Bradley needed a king or six to stay alive once more but instead, it was Stranak who improved to a straight on the turn and river. That brought an end to Bradley's tournament run and he collects €44,044 for the efforts.
Heads-up play between the two Slovakians Stranak and Alan Sabo will get underway in a few minutes.
| Samuel Stranak | 7,040,000 | 2,140,000 |
| Alan Sabo | 5,010,000 | 225,000 |
| Ian Bradley | 0 | -2,100,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:13 AM Local Time
Samuel Stranak raised the button with the and Ian Bradley defended the big blind with the . Bradley checked the flop. Stranak bet 200,000 and Bradley folded.
Alan Sabo then raised to 225,000 with the and earned the blinds and big blind ante.
| Samuel Stranak | 4,900,000 | 225,000 |
| Ian Bradley | 2,100,000 | -490,000 |
Thursday, November 25, 2021 2:08 AM Local Time
Level: 26
Blinds: 50,000/100,000
Ante: 100,000
Thursday, November 25, 2021 1:53 AM Local Time
Ian Bradley limped the button with the and Samuel Stranak did so from the small blind with the . Alan Sabo raised the pot o 320,000 with the and earned two calls. They checked the flop and turn.
Stranak also checked the turn and Sabo bet 725,000 to get rid of Bradley. Stranak also folded and showed his bottom end of the straight, which Sabo took with a smile on the face.
Upon completion of the hand, the players went on a scheduled 15-minute break with the two Slovakians nearly even at the top of the leaderboard.
| Alan Sabo | 4,785,000 | 785,000 |
| Samuel Stranak | 4,675,000 | -725,000 |
| Ian Bradley | 2,590,000 | -510,000 |