Thursday, October 10, 2024 12:07 AM Local Time (about 55 days and 6 hours ago)
Simone Andrian Comes Full Circle After Winning WSOP Europe Main Event (€1,300,000)
Simone Andrian had played poker online for three years before taking his shot at the live felts in 2021. With almost no live tournament cashes on his resume, he achieved what most poker players only dream of by winning his first WSOP gold bracelet and €158,616 in a €1,650 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max event during the 2021 WSOP Europe. Tonight, Andrian came full circle, winning the coveted 2024 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event bracelet and a career-best score of €1,300,000 at King's Resort—the very place where his live poker journey began.
Andrian became the 15th player in history to win the WSOPE Main Event, triumphing over a field of 768 entrants. He ultimately defeated Urmo Velvelt in a gripping heads-up duel that lasted over three hours and saw the chip lead change hands multiple times.
Winner's Reaction
"It's amazing. By far the biggest score of my career. I couldn't be more happy" he said following his victory. "I've been playing here a lot and to have that kind of score here feels special."
Andrian's victory was far from easy; he had to navigate a series of ups and downs, going from a big stack to a short stack multiple times during the heads-up battle against Velvelt.
"It was very, very tough. We were super deep. Playing heads-up super deep, with 100 big blinds each, it's tough. Usually, you don't get to play super big pots." He added that having the support of his friends and fellow Italian pros was "super important, especially when I was short-stacked with 25 big blinds."
Andrian's poker career has come a long way since his first bracelet win, culminating in today's Main Event victory. During that time, he secured six additional six-figure scores, bringing his total live tournament earnings to just over $1,300,000—a figure that has more than doubled with today's win.
Final Table Results
Place | Player | Country | Prize (EUR) | Prize (USD) |
1 | Simone Andrian | Italy | € 1,300,000 | $1,423,827 |
2 | Urmo Velvelt | Estonia | € 854,000 | $935,378 |
3 | Ran Ilani | Israel | € 590,000 | $646,221 |
4 | Mariusz Golinski | Poland | € 415,000 | $454,545 |
5 | David Hochheim | Germany | € 297,000 | $325,301 |
6 | Enrico Camosci | Italy | € 217,000 | $237,677 |
7 | Robin Berggren | Sweden | € 161,000 | $176,341 |
8 | Luka Bojovic | Serbia | € 122,000 | $133,625 |
Final Table Action
Andrian started the day with a massive chip lead, holding more than double the chips of Velvelt, who started in second. Andrian's fellow Italian pro, Enrico Camosci, began the day as the shortest stack, having under 20 big blinds. It only took a few hands before he got his chips in with ace-jack suited against Velvelt's pocket eights. Camosci was a slight favorite after flopping the nut-flush draw to go along with his two overcards, but the turn and river were both bricks and Camosci became the first player eliminated on the final day.
David Hochheim was the second shortest stack at the start of the day, but he quickly doubled up after calling Andrian's small blind shove from the big blind with queen-ten suited. Hoccheim had Andrian's ten-seven offsuit dominated and he stayed ahead, successfully doubling through the chip leader. One orbit later, Hoccheim found himself in another blind-on-blind confrontation against Andrian, this time in bad shape with ace-four offsuit against Andrian's pocket queens. Hoccheim couldn't connect with the board and was sent to the rail in fifth place.
Mariusz Golinski started the day in third place, but the Polish pro had nothing go his way once cards were in the air. He paid off a value bet from Velvelt in the first level with pocket sevens only to see Velvelt turn over trip jacks. Shortly after, he four-bet shoved ace-queen and was called by Ran Ilani, who had pocket queens. That hand left Golinski with less than ten big blinds, and he was soon forced to commit the rest of his stack with ace-jack. Andrian woke up with ace-queen and held, eliminating Golinski and paving the way for three-handed play.
Ilani was the underdog once three-handed play began, with only 6,000,000 chips while Andrian and Velvelt each had over 30,000,000. He lost half of that stack right away after being forced to fold multiple times, but he wasn't going down without a fight and started mounting a comeback. He doubled up after calling Velvelt's small blind shove with queen-jack and holding against Velvelt's eight-seven. He then immediately doubled up through Velvelt again, this time with ace-queen against Velvelt's ace-jack.
Ilani needed just one more double up to get back into contention and soon found his opportunity in a classic preflop race, holding ace-king against Velvelt's pocket queens. Unfortunately for Ilani, he couldn't double up a third time against Velvelt after failing to connect with the board, and he exited in third place while Velvelt entered heads-up play with a slight lead over Andrian.
For the first time since midway through Day 4, Andrian did not hold the chip lead. When heads-up play began he had 36,425,000 to Velvelt's 40,375,000. Andrian regained the lead and started pulling away after winning a few pots without showdown, but soon after Velvelt turned a straight and got paid off by Andrian's top pair to bring the stacks back to even.
Velvelt then called down two streets from Andrian with a pair of fours and led out on the river. Andrian, having been bluffing with jack-high, was forced to concede the pot, allowing Velvelt to take the lead for the second time. With momentum now on his side, Velvelt then five-bet shoved with pocket eights, forcing Andrian to fold his ace-eight and extending his lead further.
Velvelt had Andrian on the ropes, but after bluffing two streets with king-high—only to have Andrian show down aces up—the stacks were close to even once more. When Velvelt started pulling away again with some well-timed aggression, Andrian attempted to fight back by check-raising bottom pair on a king-high flop. He continued with another bet on the turn, but Velvelt, holding top pair, moved all in. Andrian was forced to muck after which Velvelt held three quarters of the total chips in play.
Andrian regained some momentum after calling off for his tournament life against Velvelt, who had barreled three streets on an ace-high board. Andrian held only a pair of fives, but Velvelt had been caught bluffing with seven-deuce, allowing Andrian to stay in contention. Soon after, Andrian bet the turn on a jack-high connected board only for Velvelt to check-shove, putting Andrian to another decision for his tournament life. Andrian called with top pair and was up against Velvelt's bottom pair and gutshot. When the river bricked Andrian held a commanding lead once again, with 63,000,000 chips to Velvelt's 14,000,000.
The ever-aggressive Velvelt started to mount another comeback after check-raising Andrian on the flop with just ten-high and moving all in by the river. Andrian held top pair but couldn't find the call. A few hands later, Velvelt five-bet shoved into Andrian holding ace-ten. Andrian held pocket tens and snap-called. Andrian stood by his rail which erupted after the clean runout gave Andrian the winning hand. Velvelt was forced to settle for second place while Andrian claimed the 2024 WSOPE Main Event title.
2024 WSOPE Bracelet Winners
Event | Entries | Prize Pool | Champion | Prize |
Event #1: The €350 NLH Opener | 3,509 | €1,039,014 | Przemyslaw Szymanski | €115,350 |
Event #2: €550 Pot-Limit Omaha | 642 | €301,740 | Volodymyr Kokoulin | €56,100 |
Event #3: €1,350 Mini Main Event | 1,286 | €1,500,000 | Christopher Campisano | €213,350 |
Event #4: €2,000 Pot Limit Omaha | 229 | €398,231 | Vivian Saliba | €91,400 |
Event #5: €550 NLHE Colossus | 2,799 | €1,500,000 | Michal Schuh | €171,350 |
Event #6: €5,000 Pot Limit Omaha | 141 | .€629,565 | Dennis Weiss | €159,897 |
Event #7: €1,650 NLH 6-max | 351 | €494,910 | Ermanno Di Nicola | €111,250 |
Event #8: €25,000 NLH GGMillion€ | 38 | €1,000,000 | Alessandro Pichierri | €335,900 |
Event #9: €1,100 NLH Mystery Bounty | 515 | €484,100 | Amir Mozaffarian | €69,050 |
Event #10 €2,000 8-Game Mix | 90 | €156,510 | Patrick Bueno | €43,400 |
Event #11: €1,100 NLH Turbo Bounty Hunter | 458 | €430,520 | Darius Neagoe | €63,650 |
Event 12: €50,000 NLH Diamond High Roller | 30 | €1,395,900 | Martin Kabrhel | €529,000 |
Event #13: €10,350 Main Event NLH European Championship | 768 | €7,219,200 | Simone Andrian | €1,300,000 |
Event #14: €1,000 NLH Turbo Freezeout | 152 | €150,000 | Zewei Ding | €35,351 |
Event #15: €550 NLH Closer | 473 | €222,310 | Marius Schneider | €44,000 |
That concludes PokerNews' coverage of the 2024 World Series of Poker Europe. Stay tuned for more coverage of events around the world.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 11:09 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 7 hours ago)
Urmo Velvelt Eliminated in 2nd Place (€854,000)
Simone Andrian opened to 1,000,000 from the button and Urmo Velvelt three-bet to 3,500,000 from the big blind. Andrian four-bet to 7,000,000 from the button and Velvelt moved all in for 25,500,000. Andrian quickly called to put Velvelt at risk.
Urmo Velvelt:
Simone Andrian:
Andrian's rail erupted upon seeing that he had the best hand. Andrian joined them and watched as the flop was dealt. The turn was also clean and the river sealed the victory for Andrian.
Simone Andrian | 77,000,000 | 26,000,000 |
Urmo Velvelt | 0 | -26,000,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 11:03 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 7 hours ago)
Velvelt Takes From Andrian
Urmo Velvelt raised to 1,000,000 with and Simone Andrian defended the big blind holding .
Andrian check-folded to a bet of 1,200,000 from Velvelt on the flop.
Simone Andrian | 51,000,000 | -4,000,000 |
Urmo Velvelt | 26,000,000 | 4,000,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 11:03 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 7 hours ago)
Level 33 started
Level: 33
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 11:03 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 7 hours ago)
Velvelt Bluffs Andrian Off Top Pair
Simone Andrian opened to 800,000 from the button holding and Urmo Velvelt defended from the big blind with .
On the flop Velvelt checked and Andrian bet 700,000. Velvelt check-raised to 2,100,000 and Andrian called.
Velvelt bet 3,500,000 on the turn and was once again called by Andrian.
On the river Velvelt moved all in for 8,800,000. Andrian laid down the best hand and Velvelt took the pot.
Simone Andrian | 55,000,000 | -7,000,000 |
Urmo Velvelt | 22,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 10:56 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 7 hours ago)
Andrian Takes it Away on the Turn
Simone Andrian limped from the button with and Urmo Velvelt raised to 1,500,000 with . Andrian called.
The flop was checked through and the dropped on the turn. Velvelt checked, Andiran bet 1,100,000, and Velvelt folded.
Simone Andrian | 62,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
Urmo Velvelt | 14,000,000 | -4,000,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 10:52 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 7 hours ago)
Velvelt Slows Andrian Down
Urmo Velvelt opened from the button to 800,000 and Simone Andrian defended from the big blind.
The action checked all the way to the river on a board of before Andrian led out for 1,500,000. Velvelt raised to 4,000,000 and Andrian put in the call.
Velvelt showed a king-high flush with and took down the pot. Andrian mucked for a lower flush.
Simone Andrian | 59,000,000 | -4,000,000 |
Urmo Velvelt | 18,000,000 | 4,000,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 10:46 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 7 hours ago)
Andrian Reclaims the Chip Lead
Simone Andrian raised to 800,000 on the button and Urmo Velvelt three-bet to 3,600,000 from the big blind. Andrian called.
Velvelt checked the flop and Andrian checked behind. Velvelt checked again upon seeing the turn, to which Andrian put out a bet of 3,800,000. Velvelt check-raised to 27,450,000, putting Andrian all in. Andrian used a time extension before he ultimately made the call.
Simone Andrian:
Urmo Velvelt:
Andrian was ahead with top pair, but Velvelt had a lot of outs he could hit to end the tournament and become the 2024 WSOP Europe Main Event champion.
The dealer peeled of the on the river, giving Andrian two pair, and propelling him back into the chip lead.
Simone Andrian | 63,000,000 | 31,750,000 |
Urmo Velvelt | 14,000,000 | -31,550,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 10:37 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 7 hours ago)
Velvelt Runs Into Andrian's Flush
Urmo Velvelt rasied to 800,000 on the button and Simone Andrian defended from the big blind.
The flop went check-check and the fell on the turn. Andrian checked and Velvelt bet 700,000. Andrian called.
Andrian checked the river and Velvelt put out an overbet of 5,000,000. Andrian snap-called.
Velvelt showed for trip sevens, but was second-best to the flush of Andrian with .
Urmo Velvelt | 45,550,000 | -5,450,000 |
Simone Andrian | 31,250,000 | 5,250,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 10:32 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 7 hours ago)
Velvelt takes From Andrian
Simone Andrian raised to 800,000 on the button with before Urmo Velvelt three-bet to 3,600,000 with . Andrian called to see a flop.
Velvelt led out for 3.100,000 on the flop and Andrian quickly folded.
Urmo Velvelt | 51,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
Simone Andrian | 26,000,000 | -6,000,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 10:19 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 8 hours ago)
Andrian Makes the Correct Hero Call to Double
Simone Andrian limped from the button and Urmo Velvelt checked out of the big blind.
The flop saw Velvelt lead out for 600,000 and Andrian call.
Velvelt didn't slow down on the turn, this time he fired out a bet of 3,500,000, which Andrian called.
Velvelt unloaded the clip upon seeing the river, jamming for Andrian's remaining 11,475,000. Andiran went deep into the tank, pondering over his decision. Eventually, he made the call.
Velvelt flipped over for a total bluff with seven-high. Andrian earned the double-up with for just a pair of fives.
Urmo Velvelt | 44,000,000 | -17,000,000 |
Simone Andrian | 32,000,000 | 16,000,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 10:11 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 8 hours ago)
Andrian Gaining Momentum
Urmo Velvelt opened to 800,000 holding and Simone Andrian called with .
The dealer put out the flop of and Andrian checked. Velvelt bet 1,300,000, which Andrian called.
Velvelt and Andrian checked the turn and the hit the river. Andrian bet 750,000 and took the pot down as Velvelt folded.
Urmo Velvelt | 61,000,000 | -1,000,000 |
Simone Andrian | 16,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 10:08 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 8 hours ago)
Andrian Extracts Some Value From Velvelt
On the first hand back from the break, Urmo Velvelt raised to 800,000 on the button and Simone Andrian defended his big blind.
Andrian check-called a bet of 800,000 from Velvelt on the flop.
The action checked through on the turn for the to come on the river. Andrian led out for 2,400,000 and Velvelt called.
Andrian showed for a pair of fours, which was good as Velvelt mucked .
Urmo Velvelt | 62,000,000 | -3,525,000 |
Simone Andrian | 15,000,000 | 3,725,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 10:02 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 8 hours ago)
Level 32 started
Level: 32
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 9:55 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 8 hours ago)
Break Time
The two players are now on a 15-minute break.
Urmo Velvelt | 65,525,000 | -475,000 |
Simone Andrian | 11,275,000 | 275,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 9:52 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 8 hours ago)
Velvelt Puts Andrian to the Test
Simone Andrian raised with to 700,000 on the button. Urmo Velvelt called from the big blind with .
Velvelt checked the flop and Andrian bet 450,000. Velvelt check-raised to 1,600,000 and Andrian called.
Velvelt bet 4,000,000 when the hit the turn. Andrian called with 11,000,000 remaining in his stack.
The dropped on the river and Velvelt shoved to put Andrian all in. Andrian did some inventory before deciding to fold his cards and surrendered the pot to Velvelt.
Urmo Velvelt | 66,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
Simone Andrian | 11,000,000 | -7,000,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 9:41 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 8 hours ago)
Andrian Wins Some Back From Velvelt
Simone Andrian called from the button and Urmo Velvelt checked his option from the big blind.
Velvelt check-called a bet of 600,000 from Andrian on the flop.
Both players checked the turn for the to fall on the river. Velvelt bet 1,500,000 and Andrian reluctantly called. Velvelt showed for a pair of deuces and lost the pot to Andrian's pair of fours with .
Urmo Velvelt | 59,000,000 | -1,025,000 |
Simone Andrian | 18,000,000 | 1,225,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 9:36 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 8 hours ago)
Velvelt Takes Commanding Chip Lead
Urmo Velvelt raised from the button to 700,000 with with and Simone Andrian defended his big blind holding .
Andrian checked when the flop came out and Velvelt bet 700,000. Andrian check-raised to 2,800,000 and Velvelt called.
Andrian bet 7,000,000 when the dealer put out the turn. Velvelt deliberated over all his options before eventually shoving to put Andrian all in. Andrian snap-folded and Velvelt dragged in the huge pot.
Urmo Velvelt | 60,025,000 | 11,025,000 |
Simone Andrian | 16,775,000 | -12,225,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 9:30 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 8 hours ago)
Velvelt Takes it Away on the Turn
Urmo Velvelt raised to 700,000 with and Simone Andrian called with .
Andrian checked to Velvelt on the flop and he bet 700,000. Andiran check-raised to 3,500,000, which Velvelt called.
The turn saw Andrian check-fold to a bet of 2,500,000 from Velvelt.
Urmo Velvelt | 49,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
Simone Andrian | 29,000,000 | -6,000,000 |
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 9:25 PM Local Time (about 55 days and 8 hours ago)
Andrian With Some Preflop Aggression
Simone Andrian opened from the button to 700,000 holding . Urmo Velvelt chose to three-bet to 3,200,000 with . Andrian paused briefly before four-betting to 6,800,000 and Velvelt snap-folded
Urmo Velvelt | 41,000,000 | -4,000,000 |
Simone Andrian | 35,000,000 | 3,000,000 |