Monday, November 7, 2022 11:36 PM Local Time
Lubos Laska played the biggest buy-in of his career in the Colossus
After five days of poker, 36-year-old Lubos Laska topped a field of 2,982 entries to win Event #5: €550 No-Limit Hold'em Colossus for €170,568 and his first ever gold World Series of Poker Europe bracelet at King's Resort in Rozvadov, Czech Republic.
Slovakia's Laska also won a seat into the €10,350 WSOP Europe Main Event, as well as a seat into the 2023 Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas next year after the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.
"I was really lucky today," laughed Laska. "I am really happy. Probably some professionals would be so much more happy because they would feel like they accomplished something, but I play just for fun."
The newly-crowned champion was born in Slovakia and lived there for 18 years before moving to go to college in the Czech Republic. "I tried poker a few times in a bar in college with friends," explained Laska. He didn't play after that until a year and a half ago when he discovered poker on Twitch.
"It looked fun, so I started to play in my local casino," smiled Laska. This is by far his biggest buy-in and he was hoping to just min-cash it so he could maybe try a bigger buy-in later in the year. "My goal was to min-cash here and then go to EPT Prague," laughed Laska. "Now I can play the Main Event here, and maybe if I min-cash the Main I will play the Main Event in Prague."
Laska is a programmer and just plays poker for fun. He has no plans to play poker professionally, and just wants to continue enjoying the game. "I am grateful. I am happy I won!"
Laska battled with some tough players deep in this event, including the likes of WSOP Circuit champion Patrik Zidek (6th place), WSOP bracelet winner Jason Wheeler (9th place), WSOP bracelet and Event #1 winner Fabio Peluso (16th place).
Final Table Results:
| Place |
Winner |
Country |
Prize (EUR) |
| 1 |
Lubos Laska |
Slovakia |
€170,568 |
| 2 |
Nino Junior Pansier |
Netherlands |
€105,241 |
| 3 |
De Han Kim |
South Korea |
€79,495 |
| 4 |
Demetrio Caminita |
Italy |
€60,442 |
| 5 |
Florin Bilan |
Romania |
€46,262 |
| 6 |
Patrik Zidek |
Czech Republic |
€35,644 |
| 7 |
Andras Balogh |
Hungary |
€27,647 |
| 8 |
Ismet Oral |
Turkey |
€21,590 |
| 9 |
Jason Wheeler |
United States |
€16,975 |
Day 3 Action
The day began with 15 players and it took a few hours to get to the final table of nine. A big bubble loomed with the top 12 players getting a seat into the €10,350 WSOP Europe Main Event so play was quite slow.
Yann Lormel was out first when he ran ace-king to Patrik Zidek’s aces, and then Laska started spreading chips around after doubling multiple people in what was clearly an effort to apply pressure with a big bubble in sight. Ihor Kaliahin was eventually the WSOP Europe Main Event Seat bubble boy after he called a jam in the big blind with ace-ten and lost to Pansier’s jack-ten suited.
Once the seat bubble was burst, eliminations started to rack up and eventually Samir Boudeliou would bubble the final table when his ace-six was unable to hold against Balogh’s king queen and the final table of nine was set.
The Colossus final table at WSOP Europe
Final Table Action
Jason Wheeler was looking to win his second WSOP gold bracelet but was unfortunately the first casualty on the final table. He took some hits early on in the day but managed to claw his way to the final table. Wheeler got in king jack but ran into Pansier’s kings and that was all she wrote for the America pro.
Ismet Oral was next to go in 8th place after his ace-eight was unable to make anything happened against Caminita’s king queen after he flopped not one but two queens. Oral was left drawing dead on the turn and was bumped from the tournament.
Play continued for 90 minutes, plus a 30-minute break, and nobody was eliminated in that time. Pansier kept accumulating chips, jamming over opens and finding ways to steal the pot many times before it was clear he was separating himself from the pack. Eventually Andras Balogh put it in with ace-nine suited but ran into a better suited ace against Caminita’s ace-jack of clubs. He flopped a nine but Caminita flopped a jack and they were quickly down to six.
Just 30 minutes later they were down to five after Zidek busted in a standard spot, followed by the demise of Florin Bilan. Four-handed poker didn’t last too long before Demetrio Caminita couldn’t beat Laska’s jacks, and De’s ace high was demolished by Laska’s king high, sending them both home in fourth and third place, respectively.
The champion and runner-up
Heads-Up Play
After a short break, heads-up play began with Laska holding a healthy lead over Pansier, which didn’t last too long. Laska bluff check-raised with eight high on a nine high board, but Pansier held top pair and wasn’t ready to give it up, giving him the chip lead.
After some back and forth, Laska doubled with ace-ten suited against Pansier’s king high, but Pansier got some back after he doubled with two sixes just five minutes later. The back-and-forth finally ended when Laska flopped a pair of queens and Pansier check-jammed with second pair and a straight draw. The Slovakian held and the Colossus champion was crowned.
Event #5: Colossus Results
Relive the Live Updates via WSOP.com
Monday, November 7, 2022 11:07 PM Local Time
Ludos Laska wins his first gold WSOP bracelet
Lubos Laska opened to 3.5 million with and Nino Pansier Junior called with .
The dealer fanned the flop and Pansier checked. Laska bet 3.5 million with his top pair and Pansier check-raised all in for 22 million. Laska looked back at his cards and asked for a count before deciding to call.
Pansier was the player at risk with second pair and a straight draw, with Laska firmly ahead holding top pair, poised to win his first ever gold World Series of Poker bracelet.
The turn was the and the river was the to make Laska the WSOP Europe Colossus champion.
The Slovakian takes home €170,568, a seat into the €10,350 WSOP Europe Main Event, a seat into the 2023 Tournament of Champions and his very first gold WSOP bracelet.
Lubos Laska - 77,400,000
Nino Pansier Junior - Eliminated in 2nd place (€105,241 + €10,350 WSOP Europe Main Event Seat)
Nino Pansier Junior is the runner-up
A full recap detailing Lubos Laska's run in the Colossus will be posted later tonight.
Monday, November 7, 2022 11:06 PM Local Time
Nino Pansier Junior jammed all in for 16 million with and Lubos Laska snap-called with .
The board ran out and Pansier found new life with a pair of sixes.
Nino Pansier Junior - 35,000,000
Lubos Laska - 43,000,00
Monday, November 7, 2022 11:04 PM Local Time
Lubos Laska raised to 3.2 million with and Nino Pansier Junior jammed with . Laska snapped for 27 million, putting himself at risk with the best hand.
The flop came giving Pansier a pair of sixes but Laska had a tremendous amount of outs with a flush draw, straight draw and over cards. The turn gave Laska the lead, and the sealed it.
Lubos Laska - 56,000,000
Nino Pansier Junior - 21,000,000
Monday, November 7, 2022 10:52 PM Local Time
Lubos Laska made it 3.2 million with and Nino Pansier Junior jammed with the same hand . Laska mucked.
Nino Pansier Junior - 51,725,000
Lubos Laska - 25,675,000
Monday, November 7, 2022 10:38 PM Local Time
Nino Pansier Junior completed with the infamous poker hand and Lubos Laska checked back .
The flop came and Laska checked. Pansier bet 1.6 million and Laska released.
Nino Pansier Junior - 49,000,000
Lubos Laska - 29,000,000
Monday, November 7, 2022 10:35 PM Local Time
Level: 42
Blinds: 800,000/1,600,000
Ante: 1,600,000
Monday, November 7, 2022 10:25 PM Local Time
Nino Pansier Junior completed with and Lubos Laska checked .
The flop came and Laska checked. Pansier bet 1.4 million and Laska went in for the check raise to 4 million. Pansier called.
The turn was the and Laska bet a hefty 8 million after picking up a straight draw. Pansier cut out chips and slid them forward to call again.
The river was the and Laska looked back at his cards again before opting to check and give up. Pansier checked back his top pair and scooped the pot, taking the chip lead.
Nino Pansier Junior - 44,000,000
Lubos Laska - 33,000,000
Monday, November 7, 2022 10:20 PM Local Time
Nino Pansier Junior raised to 3 million with and Lubos Laska called with .
The flop came and Laska checked. Pansier continued for 2.4 million and Laska folded.
Nino Pansier Junior - 32,000,000
Lubos Laska - 45,000,000
Monday, November 7, 2022 10:16 PM Local Time
The final two players have taken their seats, prepared to battle for the title.
Monday, November 7, 2022 9:59 PM Local Time
With the recent elimination of Kim Dan He, just two players remain in the Colossus.
Lubos Laska leads with 48,875,000 and Nino Pansier Junior has 28,525,000.
Remaining players are guaranteed €105,241 and a seat each into the €10,350 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event. The winner will be taking home €170,568, a seat into the 2023 Tournament of Champions and a coveted gold WSOP bracelet.
Players are taking a short break before heads-up play begins.
Monday, November 7, 2022 9:56 PM Local Time
Kim Han De (pictured) raised to 5.7 million from the button, leaving 650,000 behind, with and Lubos Laska announced "call" with from the big blind.
Laska thought De was all in so he went to turn his cards over but the dealer stopped him. Since it was deemed a call, the two players went to the flop and Laska check-called for De's last 650,000.
The turn was the and the river was the to send De home in third place.
Kim Han De - Eliminated in 3rd place (€79,495 + €10,350 WSOP Europe Main Event Seat)
Lubos Laska - 46,000,000
Monday, November 7, 2022 9:51 PM Local Time
Demetrio Caminita (pictured) was first to act and moved all in for 12 million with . Lubos Laska was on the button with and moved all in over top for 24 million. The blinds got out of the way and the cards were on their backs.
Caminita was the player at risk and needed some serious help to remain in the tournament.
The board ran out and Caminita headed to the payout desk after an impressive run.
Ludos Laska - 39,000,000
Demetrio Caminita - Eliminated in 4th place (€60,442 + €10,350 WSOP Europe Main Event Seat)
Monday, November 7, 2022 9:39 PM Local Time
Nino Pansier Junior completed from the small blind with and Demetrio Caminita checked from the big blind.
The flop came and Pansier checked top pair. Caminita checked back his flush draw and they went to the turn. Pansier was done checking and led out for 2.4 million. Caminita called.
The river completed the board with the and Pansier opted to check this time. Caminita missed his flush draw and decided to move all in for his remaining 8.3 million for a pot-sized bet.
Pansier went deep into the tank and weighed his options but eventually folded, sending the pot to Caminita. He proudly showed the bluff and Pansier gave him a fist bump.
Demetrio Caminita - 16,000,000
Nino Pansier Junior - 23,000,000
Monday, November 7, 2022 9:32 PM Local Time
Level: 41
Blinds: 600,000/1,200,000
Ante: 1,200,000
Monday, November 7, 2022 9:30 PM Local Time
Florin Bilan (pictured) moved all in for 9.6 million from the button with and Lubos Laska woke up with a monster in the small blind. He moved all in over the top and the big blind got out of the way.
Bilan was the player at risk and needed to improve. The flop came and he did just that, pairing his ten. Unfortunately for him the turn gave Laska a pair of queens to take the lead back. The river was the and Bilan was sent to the payout desk for a respectable fifth place finish.
Lubos Laska - 26,000,000
Florin Bilan - Eliminated in 5th place (€46,262 + €10,350 WSOP Europe Main Event Seat)
Monday, November 7, 2022 9:22 PM Local Time
Nino Pansier Junior - 24,000,000
Lubos Laska - 19,000,000
Demetrio Caminita - 17,500,000
Kim Han De - 11,500,000
Florin Bilan - 10,000,000
Monday, November 7, 2022 9:11 PM Local Time
Demetrio Caminita raised all in from first position with and everyone folded.
In the next hand, Nino Pansier Junior moved all in from the small blind with and Caminita mucked in the big blind.
Caminita moved all in with from the small blind and Florin Bilan folded from the big blind.
The big stacks are continuing to apply pressure with the pay jumps getting bigger and bigger with each elimination.
Nino Pansier Junior - 24,000,000
Demetrio Caminita - 17,500,000
Monday, November 7, 2022 8:57 PM Local Time
Patrik Zidek (pictured) jammed all in from the button with for 8.6 million. Nino Pansier Junior was in the big blind with and went into the tank, putting his head down over his arms while making the decision for around half of his stack.
After looking around at the stacks he decided to call and was happy to see he was ahead with ace high.
The flop came and Pansier extended his lead further with a pair of nines. The turn gave Zidek some outs with a pair of eights but the river was a brick and he was eliminated.
Nino Pansier Junior - 26,125,000
Patrik Zidek - Eliminated in 6th place (€35,644 + €10,350 WSOP Europe Main Event Seat)
Monday, November 7, 2022 8:53 PM Local Time
Level: 40
Blinds: 500,000/1,000,000
Ante: 1,000,000