WSOPE Event #15: 2023 NLH Closer

The penultimate gold bracelet of the 2023 World Series of Poker Europe has been awarded at King's Resort in Rozvadov. After almost 11 hours of play, Maurice Nass earned his first live tournament victory defeating Traian Stanciu heads up to take down the top prize of €60,000 in Event #15: €550 NLH Closer. The win came after a gruelling three-handed battle that saw both finalists hold the short stack and double multiple times, before settling the tournament in the late hours of the night.

Nass conquered a field of 628 entries over the opening two flights, taking the largest piece of the €298,300 prize pool. He becomes the second straight bracelet winner from Germany, following Bernd Gleissner's triumph in Event #14: €1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo Freezeout.

Winner's Reaction

Amazingly, this was Nass' only appearance at the WSOP Europe, and the amateur player made the most if his one shot. "I had no time because I have a job, no time to play other tournaments" Nass told PokerNews after his victory. "I decided to play The Closer because I'm very good in closer tournaments. That's why I stayed here to play this tournament, with one bullet, and I won!"

As he reflected on the win, his thoughts were very clear on what the title means. "It's very amazing to win a tournament but it changes nothing in my life, and that's a good thing" Nass explained. "I'm not a professional poker player, I have a job. It means very much to win a trophy like this, I always wanted a bracelet. I was sure I would someday win a bracelet, now it's earlier than I thought, but I'm very, very happy".

Event #15: €550 NLH Closer Final Table Results

Day 2 Action

The final 61 players to find a bag returned to action, having already locked up €1,070. The day began at a furious pace, as the first four half-hour levels of play saw 35 players hit the rail. Among the notables to bow out early was Barny Boatman, who hit the rail as the second elimination of the day (60th - €1,070). He was soon joined on the sidelines by fellow WSOP bracelet winners Ilija Savevski (50th - €1,200) and Jared Strauss (48th - €1,200).

One of the more prominent patterns of the day was players struggling against ace-queen. This was especially true of Johan De Clercq (17th - €2,275) who was sent out with ace-king to get the field down to two tables

Other notable names to see their run cut short included Vlad Darie (14th - €2,275) and Emil Bise (13th - €2,800). Andrei Spataru was knocked out in tenth place for €3,500, and his elimination left the unofficial final table of nine.

Final Table Action

After posing for photos, the field was cut down by one more. Andrzej Jedryczka was propelled to a big stack early in the day with a double knockout, but was the first to fall at the unofficial final table after running into Duc Tuan Tran's pocket aces to finish in ninth for €4,474.

Roland Israelashvili earned his fifth cash of the series with a third final table appearance, but was unable to build any more momentum and fell in eighth. Next to hit the rail was Theodoor Woolschot, who made a move with pocket eights but could not match Tran's jacks to finish in seventh place.

Another trio of deep runs came to an end in the span of the next 15 minutes. Bogdan Tilica lost his short stack to finish sixth, followed by Anthony Mahaut in fifth and Sefora Pop just missing the podium with a fourth-place result.

Three-Handed Play

After the flurry of knockouts, the final three combatants settled in for what would be a four-hour grind. Nass entered three-handed play as the shortest stack, but doubled twice quickly to vault back into contention.

Unbelievably, that was followed by Stanciu doubling his short stack four times in a row, all through Nass. Meanwhile, Day 1b chip leader Tran seemed in control for most of the final table until a string of back-to-back hands sealed his fate. Tran lost a big pot to Stanciu for the lead, and was knocked out on the next hand against Nass.

From there, Nass took a big early lead in heads up play only to see Stanciu double from ten big blinds when both players made a full house. Nass was able to grind the chips back, eventually taking down the title with just over 30 big blinds left in play.

"I really don't know what to say, it's so amazing" said Nass after the win. "I started the day quite short, I got a roller coaster, and after all I think when we were three left, I was sure that I will win this tournament." Despite the ups and downs over the course of three-handed play, his mindset was proven right. Now Hass can proudly call himself a WSOP bracelet winner.

That concludes PokerNews coverage of Event #15: €550 NLH Closer, but don't miss our continuing coverage of the WSOPE Main Event as the final champion is crowned in Rozvadov.

Maurice Nass open-jammed two buttons and took the blinds and big blind ante.

Traian Stanciu limped in between and Nass checked. The     flop saw Nass bet 500,000, Stanciu called. After the   turn, Nass bet 1,300,000 and Stanciu folded.

Traian Stanciu	7,900,000	-3,000,000
Maurice Nass	7,800,000	3,000,000

After some not-so-exciting limped pots went back and forth, it was Maurice Nass who raised his button to 800,000. Traian Stanciu called from the big blind and the     flop hit the felt.

Stanciu checked to Nass, who made a bet of 550,000. A quick fold followed from Stanciu, seeing Nass' slight lead extend by a little bit.

Maurice Nass	9,775,000	1,175,000
Traian Stanciu	5,925,000	-1,175,000

Maurice Nass limped and Traian Stanciu checked to the     flop, on which the Romanian check-called for 400,000. The   turn was checked and Stanciu's bet of 750,000 on the   river took it down.

Nass then limped in soon after and folded to a shove. Stanciu shoved the button, too, and Nass folded.

Nass' next limp was checked by Stanciu and the latter check-called the     flop for 400,000. Stanciu check-called another 600,000 on the   turn and checked the   river. Nass moved all-in and Stanciu folded.

Traian Stanciu	8,400,000	-400,000
Maurice Nass	7,300,000	450,000

Down to the last 3,050,000, Traian Stanciu open-jammed on the button and Maurice Nass instantly called in the big blind.

Traian Stanciu:   
Maurice Nass:   

Both had found strong hands in heads-up play and the Romanian rail had reason to celebrate on the     flop. No split pot came with the   turn and   river as Stanciu doubled once again.

Maurice Nass	9,300,000	-2,750,000
Traian Stanciu	6,400,000	2,750,000

Maurice Nass raised his button to 600,000 chips and Traian Stanciu defended the big blind. Stanciu then checked to Nass on the     flop, and a 400,000 bet followed from the latter.

Stanciu called and the   turn appeared from the deck. Stanciu checked again before Nass put out a seven-figure bet of 1,100,000. Stanciu assembled calling chips and put them in the middle, and the subsequent   river completed the board.

A third check from Stanciu took place, after which Nass shoved all in, covering his opponent's stack of 3,700,000 chips.

Stanciu counted out his stack before tossing his cards into the muck, seeing Nass' lead grow by winning this large pot.

Maurice Nass	12,000,000	2,225,000
Traian Stanciu	3,700,000	-2,225,000

Traian Stanciu limped the button and Maurice Nass raised to 750,000 for the Romanian to fold.

Nass then min-raised the button and Stanciu defended, check-folded the     flop thereafter.

Stanciu limped his next button and Nass checked. On the     flop, Nass check-called for 250,000. The   turn was checked and Nass check-called another 625,000 on the   river. Stanciu showed    for aces and deuces to win the pot.

Maurice Nass	9,775,000	-325,000
Traian Stanciu	5,925,000	325,000

Maurice Nass limped the button and Traian Stanciu checked his option to the     flop. Stanciu check-called a bet of 250,000 and the   turn was checked. Stanciu check-called another 400,000 and Nass won the pot with   .

Stanciu min-raised the button and Nass three-bet to 1,500,000, shutting down his opponent.

Nass limped another button and Stanciu checked. They checked it down on the       board and Stanciu's    were no good, as Nass had the   .

Traian Stanciu	7,900,000	-2,200,000
Maurice Nass	7,800,000	2,200,000