Monday, November 29, 2021 9:36 PM Local Time
Another World Series of Poker Europe gold bracelet has been awarded as Edmond Jahjaga has captured his first-ever title in Event #5: €550 No-Limit Hold'em COLOSSUS. Jahjaga steam-rolled his way to a victory and €147,775 after defeating 2,478 players including a very brief heads-up match with Riadh Farhat.
The 43-year-old from Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, is a business owner and started playing poker roughly five years ago, and is now a new WSOP Europe champion. He considers himself a recreational player and headed to King's Resort for the second time after a brief spell here back in 2020. Jahjaga can often be found playing live cash games and only takes part in tournaments a handful of times throughout the year.
"It means a lot to me. I don't know how to describe it because it comes so unexpected. The whole experience feels like a movie and it just happened." You could tell just how much winning a tournament like this meant to Jahjaga, even for someone who just plays the game as a hobby.
He also mentioned that he got very lucky on Day 1 when he found himself all in with an overpair against his opponent's set. Jahjaga managed to hit a bigger full house on the river which kept his tournament life alive. "I also got lucky on Day 2 but that's part of the game. You have to get lucky at times to win tournaments and fortune was on my side."
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | Edmond Jahjaga | Kosovo | €147,775 |
| 2 | Riadh Farhat | France | €91,318 |
| 3 | Matteo Calzoni | Italy | €67,596 |
| 4 | Andrea Ricci | Italy | €50,506 |
| 5 | Roman Krahula | Czech Republic | €38,095 |
| 6 | Zlatin Penev | Bulgaria | €29,008 |
| 7 | Aurelio Reggi | Italy | €22,302 |
| 8 | Fotios Ntamaris | Greece | €17,314 |
| 9 | Gabriele Re | Italy | €13,574 |
Final Day Action
There were 10 players who returned to their seats for 10 a.m. at King's Resort and it only took a mere 14 minutes until Merijn can Rooij was sent to the rail in 10th place thanks to the pocket nines of Jahjaga. After that, the remaining nine players took a 90-minute break, awaiting the live stream to begin at 12 p.m. Once the action got underway, there were a few short stacks that needed to navigate their way through the pay jumps.
Unfortunately for Gabriele Re, he was the first casualty on just the second hand at the feature table. He was quickly followed by Fotios Ntamaris and Aurelio Reggi who also entered the day as short stacks. With six players left, Jahjaga took a stranglehold on the chip lead when Zlatin Penev shipped into his pocket kings, leaving just five players remaining.
Roman Krahula was the next shortest stack and his patience finally came to an end. He picked up an ace in the big blind but Andrea Ricci was waiting with his pocket nines to snap him off. Krahula was unable to improve and he headed for the payout desk in fifth place.
The final four players all made it to the first break at the final table but when they returned it became a blood bath. Matteo Calzoni started with a double up through Ricci, which left Ricci on the short stack. Just a couple of hands later, Ricci fell to a two-outer from Farhat and was ousted in fourth place.
Andrea Ricci (WSOP circuit ring winner) finished in fourth place
Once three-handed play began, Calzoni attempted to take a couple of shots at Jahjaga's chip lead but failed time and time again when Jahjaga always had the best hand. His last straw came when he shoved all in with jack-ten suited but Jahjaga once again woke up with ace-king. Calzoni couldn't connect with the board and bowed out in third place, leaving Jahjaga with a big chip lead versus Farhat.
The heads-up battle didn't last long as Farhat raised it up on the button with king-queen in the very first hand. Jahjaga shoved all in from the big blind with ace-nine and Farhat called off his stack. The board ran out clean for Jahjaga and he quickly ended the match on the very first hand. Farhat was forced to settle for a runner-up finish but still claimed his largest ever tournament score.
That wraps up the coverage for this event, but the PokerNews live reporting team will be here to bring you the live updates throughout the rest of the WSOP Europe from King's Resort.
Monday, November 29, 2021 9:25 PM Local Time
Riadh Farhat raised it up on the button and Edmond Jahjaga announced all in from the big blind. Farhat quickly called off his stack of 13,100,000 and the cards were on their backs in the first hand of heads-up action.
Riadh Farhat:
Edmond Jahjaga:
The flop came and Jahjaga's ace-high remained in the lead. The turn brought the and Jahjaga picked up two pair, leaving Farhat drawing dead to the on the river. Just like that, in an instance the match was over on the first hand and Farhat was eliminated in second place.
| Edmond Jahjaga | 62,000,000 | 13,200,000  |
| Riadh Farhat | 0 | -13,100,000  |
Monday, November 29, 2021 9:13 PM Local Time
Matteo Calzoni was the shortest stack at the table with around 15 big blinds and pushed all in for 9,900,000 on the button. Edmond Jahjaga called from the small blind and the cards were on their backs.
Matteo Calzoni:
Edmond Jahjaga:
The flop came to give Calzoni a straight draw to go with his two live cards. The on the turn paired the board and the on the river also paired the board. Calzoni was unable to connect and was eliminated in third place.
The stage is now being set for the heads-up match and they will take a quick 5-minute break.
| Edmond Jahjaga | 48,800,000 | 16,100,000 |
| Riadh Farhat | 13,100,000 | -1,200,000 |
| Matteo Calzoni | 0 | -13,400,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 9:04 PM Local Time
Edmond Jahjaga opened to 1,400,000 on the button with and Matteo Calzoni defended from the big blind with . The flop came and Calzoni check-folded to a bet of 1,400,000 from Jahjaga.
A couple of hands later, Jahjaga raised to 1,400,000 in the small blind with and Riadh Farhat just called in the big blind with . The flop fell and Jahjaga led out with a bet of 1,800,000. Farhat laid down the best hand and Jahjaga raked in another pot.
| Edmond Jahjaga | 32,700,000 | 4,900,000 |
| Riadh Farhat | 14,300,000 | -3,500,000 |
| Matteo Calzoni | 13,400,000 | 700,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 8:52 PM Local Time
Andrea Ricci pushed all in for 8,300,000 on the button and Riadh Farhat asked for a count from the small blind. Farhat thought for a moment and then also shoved all in.
Andrea Ricci:
Riadh Farhat:
The flop of gave both players a pair but Ricci held the better one with the kings. However, the on the turn gave Farhat trip sixes and Ricci was left drawing to two outs. The on the river was not one of them and Ricci was sent packing in fourth place.
| Riadh Farhat | 17,800,000 | 6,150,000 |
| Andrea Ricci | 0 | -10,500,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 8:46 PM Local Time
Matteo Calzoni shoved all in for 5,900,000 on the button and Andrea Ricci asked for a count from the big blind. Ricci made the call and the cards were tabled.
Matteo Calzoni:
Andrea Ricci:
The flop came which left Calzoni in the lead with the better ace-high. The on the turn and the on the river gave Calzoni a double up and left Ricci on the short stack.
| Matteo Calzoni | 12,700,000 | 7,175,000 |
| Andrea Ricci | 10,500,000 | -6,375,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 8:36 PM Local Time
Level: 38
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 600,000
Monday, November 29, 2021 8:20 PM Local Time
The remaining four players are heading on a 15-minute break.
| Edmond Jahjaga | 27,800,000 | 3,500,000 |
| Andrea Ricci | 16,875,000 | -1,525,000 |
| Riadh Farhat | 11,650,000 | 2,550,000 |
| Matteo Calzoni | 5,525,000 | -3,875,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 8:07 PM Local Time
Andrea Ricci made it 1,250,000 in the cutoff with and Edmond Jahjaga defended from the big blind with . The flop came and Jahjaga check-called a bet from Ricci.
The turn was the and Jahjaga checked again. Ricci made another small bet of 1,400,000 and Jahjaga stuck around to see the on the river.
Jahjaga checked for the third time and Ricci went with another bet of 1,400,000. Jahjaga quickly called and Ricci collected the pot with a pair of kings and the better kicker.
| Edmond Jahjaga | 24,300,000 | -3,500,000 |
| Andrea Ricci | 18,400,000 | 3,775,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 8:01 PM Local Time
Andrea Ricci raised it up to 1,000,000 on the button and Roman Krahula three-bet to 2,400,000 in the big blind. Ricci announced all in and Krahula called off his stack of 3,650,000.
Roman Krahula:
Andrea Ricci:
The flop fell to give Krahula a straight draw to go with his single over card. The turn was the to give Krahula a few more outs but the on the river was not one of them.
| Andrea Ricci | 14,625,000 | 4,425,000 |
| Roman Krahula | 0 | -5,300,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 7:57 PM Local Time
Andrea Ricci opened to 1,000,000 in the hijack with and was called by Riadh Farhat in the cutoff with . They went heads-up to a flop of and Ricci continued with a bet of 1,000,000. Farhat quickly folded and Ricci collected the pot.
On the next hand, Edmond Jahjaga limped in from the small blind and Ricci checked his option. The flop came and they both checked to the on the turn.
Jahjaga led out with a bet of 1,000,000 and Ricci called to see the on the river. Jahjaga checked this time and Ricci fired out a bet of 1,400,000. Jahjaga looked him up and Ricci showed for a missed flush draw while Jahjaga held for two pair.
| Edmond Jahjaga | 27,800,000 | 2,425,000 |
| Andrea Ricci | 10,200,000 | 3,400,000 |
| Riadh Farhat | 9,100,000 | -3,850,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 7:48 PM Local Time
Edmond Jahjaga raised to 1,000,000 in the hijack and Zlatin Penev shipped all in for 9,175,000 in the small blind. The action was back to Jahjaga who looked back at his cards before making the call.
Zlatin Penev:
Edmond Jahjaga:
Penev was in rough shape up against the pocket kings and the flop of didn't provide much help. The on the turn left Penev drawing dead to the on the river.
| Edmond Jahjaga | 25,375,000 | 11,575,000 |
| Zlatin Penev | 0 | -8,500,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 7:40 PM Local Time
Level: 37
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
Monday, November 29, 2021 7:37 PM Local Time
Aurelio Reggi ripped all in for his last 1,325,000 from under the gun and Andrea Ricci called on his left. Zlatin Penev also shoved all in for 3,300,000 in the cutoff and it folded back to Ricci who called to put both players at risk.
Aurelio Reggi:
Zlatin Penev:
Andrea Ricci:
The flop came to give Penev a commanding lead with a pair of queens. The on the turn and the on the river spelled the end for Reggi who finished in seventh place.
| Zlatin Penev | 8,500,000 | 2,050,000 |
| Andrea Ricci | 6,800,000 | -2,400,000 |
| Aurelio Reggi | 0 | -1,325,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 7:20 PM Local Time
Fotios Ntamaris raised to 1,050,000 in early position, with just 1,500,000 behind. Edmond Jahjaga re-raised to 3,000,000 on the button which got the blinds to fold and Ntamaris called off his stack of 2,525,000.
Fotios Ntamaris:
Edmond Jahjaga:
The flop fell to give both players a pair but Jahjaga's was the larger of the two. The turn brought the which narrowed Ntamaris' outs and the on the river sent him home in eighth place.
| Edmond Jahjaga | 13,800,000 | 2,500,000 |
| Fotios Ntamaris | 0 | -4,375,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 7:02 PM Local Time
Level: 36
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000
Monday, November 29, 2021 6:59 PM Local Time
Roman Krahula raised to 600,000 in middle position with and was called by Edmond Jahjaga in the cutoff with and Riadh Farhat in the big blind with .
The flop fell and the action checked to Jahjaga who just ripped all in with the royal flush draw. Farhat gave it some thought with a pair of jacks but decided to ditch his cards as did Krahula with his pocket tens.
| Edmond Jahjaga | 11,300,000 | 2,525,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 6:53 PM Local Time
Andrea Ricci raised to 600,000 in early position with and Roman Krahula jammed all in for 3,900,000 on the button with . The action folded back to Ricci who also let his hand go.
On the next hand, Ricci opened to 600,000 from under the gun with and Matteo Calzoni three-bet to 1,900,000 on the button with . The blinds folded and Ricci was forced to lay his hand down again.
| Matteo Calzoni | 12,500,000 | 150,000 |
| Andrea Ricci | 9,200,000 | -1,800,000 |
| Roman Krahula | 5,300,000 | 650,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 6:43 PM Local Time
Andrea Ricci raised to 600,000 in the hijack and Gabriele Re three-bet to 1,350,000 on the button, leaving himself with just 550,000 behind. Ricci eyed up his stack and then shoved all in, which Re quickly called off.
Gabriele Re:
Andrea Ricci:
The flop fell and Ricci found a pair of jacks on the flop to take the lead. The on the turn paired the board, leaving Re with just six outs. The river was the and Re was unable to come from behind, being eliminated in ninth place.
Gabriele Re| Andrea Ricci | 11,000,000 | 2,675,000 |
| Gabriele Re | 0 | -2,650,000 |
Monday, November 29, 2021 6:34 PM Local Time
The cards are in the air at the final table of Event #5: €550 NLH COLOSSUS with the blinds resuming at 150,000/300,000 and a big blind ante of 300,000.
Event #5: €550 NLH COLOSSUS - Final Table