Wednesday, November 9, 2022 4:46 AM Local Time
The 2022 World Series of Poker Europe has now crowned another champion here at the King's Resort in Rozvadov. The star-studded field saw 34 runners out of 67 entries return for half a day's worth of high-caliber poker in Event #8: €25,000 Platinum High Roller and when the final last chance saloon had closed for business, it was Triton co-founder Paul Phua sitting atop the podium to earn his first bracelet, along with a cool €482,433 for this victory.
"It's a very different kind of feeling, you know. You don't get to do this all the time. Not often. I didn't expect to win because there are so many players around. But the structure at the end is very short which suits players like me," smiled a very elated Phua.
The Triton co-owner has amassed over $26 million in live earnings and has changed the poker community for the better with his unique High Roller events in Asia. "In terms of growing the game, we founded Triton. I think I want to run more special tournaments, bring more sponsors in and get money so we can put it back into the game and benefit the players."
Danny Tsang and Paul Phua Celebrate First Bracelet
Phua has won many High Roller events, but never a WSOP bracelet. "This is the highlight of my poker career. I'm lucky enough that money doesn't matter. I just try to play my best, and try to be competitive against pros. You know, we don't get to study every day. But as I play more I think I get a little bit better and have a better chance."
Phua had a giant rail of supporters waiting for him to win once the final table started. "I have a bunch of great friends you know. I would like to thank all of my supporters and friends."
"I think the older generations support me more because they like to see the older guys beat the young guys," laughed Phua.
Final Table Results in Event #8: €25,000 Platinum High Roller
Place |
Winner |
Country |
Prize (in EUR) |
1 |
Paul Phua |
Malaysia |
€482,433 |
2 |
Gab Yong Kim |
South Korea |
€298,163 |
3 |
Shaun Deeb |
United States |
€205,566 |
4 |
Daniel Negreanu |
Canada |
€146,370 |
5 |
Julien Martini |
France |
€107,752 |
6 |
Ben Heath |
United Kingdom |
€82,104 |
7 |
Wayne Heung |
Hong Kong |
€64,835 |
8 |
Eelis Parssinen |
Finland |
€53,129 |
9 |
Espen Jorstad |
Norway |
€45,242 |
Final Day Action
The late registration period remained open until cards hit the air on Day 2, having four more sign up during this time which brought the total number of registrants to 67 for this event, creating a €1,565,790 prize pool. Once the final day kicked off, 34 runners were spread across five tables and just 11 were set to land at least a min-cash of 40,098 with the eventual winner pocketing €482,433 for their victory.
Leading the field to start was Wayne Heung and right on his tail was two-time WSOP champion Nick Petrangelo who fizzled out early, sending most of his stack over to Laszlo Bujtas before eventually sending his last few blinds to Negreanu. It was not long before the bubble went from, on the horizon to in the rearview mirror. But the hand-for-hand journey in between was a long stretch en route to hitting the money.
Ben Heath finished the event with a 6th place finish
Ben Heath took charge when 12 were left and extended his lead with the passive environment. Eventually, the time came for short-stacked Vaclav Lattner to shove with his ace-duck and Espen Jorstad hooked him up with a call, holding ace-queen. Lattner almost went runner-runner to survive but was instead dubbed the bubble boy of this event.
Instantly Timothy Adams found his stack go in with ace-jack and was up against the nines of Heath. The board ran out clean for Heath, making Adams the first payout desk visitor. Laszlo Bujtas pushed just moments later with queens and was called by Heung who had kate. A cowboy on the flop sent Bujtas to the rail and the final table was then set.
A cooler started the final table off in classic fashion when Jorstad picked up kings and four-bet shoved into the aces of Heath. Another uneventful runout sent the chips to Heath as Jorstad took an exit. Phua then jumped into the action with king-ten, calling a shove of just over a million by Eelis Parssinen who had ace rag. A king-high flop dropped Parssinen and sent a much-needed stack over to Phua.
The start-of-day leader was next on the chopping block after he whittled down to a short stack and was faced with an all-in decision with king-eight. He elected to call and was up against a strong ace held by Deeb. A bullet on the flop sent Heung out in seventh. Phua was picking up steam and Heath was spiraling in the opposite direction. Eventually, Heath put his last chips in with ace-queen, Phua and Kim called. Phua turned a nine and bet Kim off the pot. Heath failed to catch up and had to settle for a sixth-place finish.
Julien Martini was sweating on the bubble but was steadily building a stack afterward but Phua had different plans. Martini three-bet jammed with jacks and Phua called with cowboys. Martini flopped a set but Phua completed a straight on the river to eliminate one more. Negreanu was eyeing another bracelet and found an optimal spot when he shove a pair of fives into the sailboats of Phua. Lady luck was still on Phua's side and he landed a set of fours when the flop was spread. Negreanu failed to catch up and was eliminated in fourth place.
Shaun Deeb Finishes in Third-Place
Just hands later it was
Shaun Deeb taking a shot at slowing down the red-hot Phua when he jammed with ace-trey of spades. Phua snapped it off with sevens and instantly flopped a set. Deeb had a straight draw but missed on the runout and had to settle for third.
The heads-up portion of this event saw Phua enter with a commanding lead but Kim started it off with a double to bridge the gap. Kim quickly sent most of the chips back when he attempted to push Phua off a pot. His attempt was met with raise by Phua and Kim quickly folded, dropping down to the danger zone. Kim shoved his remaining chips in with king-nine and Phua called with ace-three. Kim flopped a flush draw but missed the next two streets, taking home a respectable €298,163 for his runner-up finish.
Event #7: €25,000 Platinum High Roller ResultsWednesday, November 9, 2022 2:19 AM Local Time
Paul Phua wins first gold WSOP bracelet
Gab Yong Kim moved all in for 8.6 million with and Paul Phua asked for a count before deciding to call with .
Kim was the player at risk and behind, while Phua was five cards away from potentially winning his first ever gold World Series of Poker bracelet.
The dealer fanned the flop and Phua was still out front with ace high but Kim picked up a flush draw.
The turn was the and the river was the , confirming the elimination of Kim and cementing Phua as the champion.
Paul Phua - 33,500,000
Gab Yong Kim - Eliminated in 2nd place (€298,163)
Gab Yong Kim is the Platinum High Roller runner-up
A full recap showcasing Paul Phua's bracelet win will be posted later tonight.
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 2:09 AM Local Time
Gab Yong Kim completed for 500,000 with and Paul Phua raised to 1.7 million with . Kim called.
The two high rollers went to the flop and Phua checked first to act. Kim checked back and the hit the felt on the turn, giving Phua a straight. He checked again and Kim bet 1.5 million.
Phua raised to 3.5 million and Kim had a decision to make with his king high and gut-shot straight draw. He used two time chips and then reraised to 6.5 million. Now Phua used a time chip then clicked it back to 9.5 million. Kim folded.
Paul Phua - 24,000,000
Gab Yong Kim - 9,600,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 2:01 AM Local Time
Paul Phua peeled first to act and he decided to limp in, prompting a check-back from Gab Yong Kim with .
The flop came and Kim checked his trips. Phua bet 500,000 with his gut-shot straight draw and Kim check-raised to 1.3 million. Phua called and they went to the turn, giving Phua a flush draw now.
Kim checked again and Phua bet 2.5 million this time. Kim jammed for 5.9 million, and it was 3.4 million more for Phua to call. Eventually he called.
The river completed the board with the and Kim doubled through, bringing the heads-up match to almost even.
Gab Yong Kim - 16,000,000
Paul Phua - 18,000,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 1:55 AM Local Time
Gab Yong Kim shoved the first two hands of heads-up play and picked up the blinds.
Gab Yong Kim - 8,000,000
Paul Phua - 25,000,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 1:53 AM Local Time
Level: 28
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 1:41 AM Local Time
Paul Phua leads with 26,765,000 to Gab Yong Kim's 6,740,000.
Play will start back up in 10 minutes.
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 1:40 AM Local Time
Shaun Deeb (pictured) moved all in for 4 million from the button with and Paul Phua called with from the big blind, putting Deeb at risk now.
The flop came and Phua flopped yet another set, but Deeb still had outs to make a straight. The turn and river weren't good enough and the five-time World Series of Poker champion was sent to the rail.
Paul Phua - 26,765,000
Shaun Deeb - Eliminated in 3rd place (€205,566)
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 1:36 AM Local Time
Daniel Negreanu (pictured) moved all in with for 4.4 million from under the gun. Paul Phua called from the big blind with , putting the six-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner at risk.
The dealer put out the flop and Phua took a commanding lead with a set of fours. The turn was of no help to Negreanu and neither was the , sending him to the rail in fourth place.
Paul Phua - 21,000,000
Daniel Negreanu - Eliminated in 4th place (€146,370)
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 1:22 AM Local Time
Daniel Negreanu moved all in again for 4.1 million from button with . Shaun Deeb was in the small blind and called for 2 million with .
Deeb was the player at risk and needed a lot of help to improve and stay alive among the final four.
The paired Deeb up though and he took a commanding lead. The hit the turn and the hit the river to send the pot to Deeb.
Shaun Deeb - 4,800,000
Daniel Negreanu - 2,100,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 1:20 AM Local Time
Daniel Negreanu jammed for 1.9 million from the small blind with and Shaun Deeb snapped with from the big blind.
The flop paired Negreanu's eight to give him the lead and he stayed ahead as the turn and river completed the board.
Daniel Negreanu - 4,100,000
Shaun Deeb - 1,800,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 1:07 AM Local Time
Paul Phua raised to 800,000 with from under the gun and Julien Martini jammed for 6.1 million with from the button. Phua quickly called and the cards were on their backs.
The flop came though and Martini flopped a set while Phua picked up a straight draw. The turn was a brick but the river gave Phua a straight and Martini was eliminated.
Paul Phua -15,000,000
Julien Martini - Eliminated in 5th place (€107,752)
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 12:59 AM Local Time
Paul Phua raised to 1 million from the cutoff with and Shaun Deeb was all in for 1.9 million from the big blind with . Phua called.
Deeb was at risk but the flop gave him two pair to take a big lead. Phua had a straight draw but the turn and river were clean for Deeb to double yet again.
Shaun Deeb - 4,500,000
Paul Phua - 8,000,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 12:56 AM Local Time
Level: 27
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 12:37 AM Local Time
The final players are on another 15-minute break.
Paul Phua - 9,950,000
Gab Yong Kim - 9,490,000
Julien Martini - 6,260,000
Daniel Negreanu - 5,465,000
Shaun Deeb - 2,330,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 12:37 AM Local Time
Gab Yong Kim raised to 650,000 from the cutoff and Julien Martini defended his big blind with . Martini checked, Kim bet 310,000 and Martini check-raised to 850,000. Kim looked back at his cards and opted to peel and see a turn.
The turn was the and Martini bet 800,000. Kim looked over at his stack but decided to fold.
Julien Martini - 6,500,000
Gab Yong Kim - 9,500,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 12:29 AM Local Time
Paul Phua made it 1 million to go from the small blind with and Daniel Negreanu defended his big blind with .
The dealer fanned the flop and Phua continued for 600,000. Negreanu called with top pair and the ripped off on the turn to give Phua a set. Phua checked and Negreanu checked back.
The river was the and Phua announced a bet of 2.8 million. Negreanu started to count out his stack and weighed his options. He peeled his cards back once more and called to see the bad news.
Paul Phua - 11,000,000
Daniel Negreanu - 4,600,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 12:25 AM Local Time
Daniel Negreanu raised to 600,000 with from under the gun and Shaun Deeb jammed for 790,000 from the button with . Gab Yong Kim jammed for 12.2 million from the small blind with and Negreanu folded.
The flop came and Deeb found an ace to pull ahead. The turn and river were safe. Deeb almost tripled and is back in the game.
Shaun Deeb - 2,700,000
Gab Yong Kim - 11,500,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 12:22 AM Local Time
Daniel Negreanu raised to 600,000 from the cutoff with and Julien Martini jammed for 2.5 million with from the button.
Gab Yong Kim peeled in the big blind and weighed his options but opted to fold. Negreanu laughed and appeared to do some math in his head but folded.
Julien Martini - 3,600,000
Daniel Negreanu - 9,900,000
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 12:17 AM Local Time
Shaun Deeb jammed for his last 470,000 from the button with and Gab Yong Kim three-bet to 1.5 million with .
The dealer ran the board out and Deeb doubled through.
Shaun Deeb - 1,500,000
Gab Yong Kim - 10,000,000