High Roller
Day 2 Completed
2017 888Live Rozvadov Festival
High Roller
Day: 2
Event Info
Level 18
: 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
![High Roller Champion [Removed:291]](https://s.pnimg.net/syWVxbM4fYEQlo_KxvnADai-q8AHhkqclAxFMQMkJjk/pr:reporting-leading-desktop/aHR0cHM6Ly9wbmlt/Zy5uZXQvbHJlcC8x/OTIzLzgxL3g3Njdl/NDkyOGQzLmpwZw.webp)
[Removed:291] outlasted a star-studded table to win the 888Live Rozvadov €5,300 High Roller for €49,875. With just three players making the money, [Removed:292] finished ahead of overnight chip-leader Martin Kabrhel (2nd - €29,925), and Philipp Zukernik (3rd - €19,950) who rounded out the money spots.
[Removed:292] eventually emerged triumphant when his ace-queen cracked the pocket sevens of Czech pro and home favourite Martin Kabrhel, shortly before 2 a.m. local time. According to Hendon Mob this marks his largest live cash to date, and it comes just five days after a 28th place cash in the Opening Event of the 888Live Festival here in Rozvadov.
| Position | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Removed:291] | Germany | €49,875 |
| 2 | Martin Kabrhel | Czech Republic | €29,925 |
| 3 | Philipp Zukernik | Canada | €19,950 |
| 4 | Pierre Neuville | Belgium | |
| 5 | Ludovic Geilich | United Kingdom | |
| 6 | Aleksandar Tomovic | Serbia | |
| 7 | Pavel Binar | Czech Republic | |
| 8 | Enzo Del Piero | United Kingdom |
With such a small field, it was always going to be a who’s who of high roller regulars, and when nine players emerged overnight it was expected that more players would join the field at the start of the day. However, only two players entered the fray. Or re-entered the fray, as was the case with Niall Farrell. The other player joining the field was Oshri Dahan who was promptly eliminated within the first level of the day by Pavel Binar.
As the players slowly trickled towards the exit, with the likes of Michael Stuwe, Niall Farrell joining Dahan on the rail, a final table of some great names emerged into view. Martin Kabrhel lead going into the final table with more than double his nearest competitor’s chip stack, but he was joined by November NinerPierre Neuville, Scottish pros Ludovic Geilich and Niall Farrell, and ninth place finisher from the 888Live London Main Event Enzo Del Piero.
Del Piero was first to be eliminated, when his river bluff was caught by the evergreen Pierre Neuville who showed some true class, and luck of the deck, to keep pace with the young-guns at the final table.
Joining Del Piero on the rail was Pavel Binar and Aleksandar Tomovic, and as play reached five-handed the players all tightened up. With only three places paid, and a min-cash worth almost €20,000, many expected a bubble deal to be made, but none was forthcoming so play continued.
Ludovic Geilich’s Jacks were flushed away at the hands of [Removed:291] to leave just four players remaining, and finally, the hopes of many poker fans were crushed when septuagenarian superstar Pierre Neuville exited in fourth.
Three-handed play didn’t last long, with Philipp Zukernik exiting promptly in third place for €19,950 to leave overnight chip-leader Martin Kabrhel and [Removed:291] heads-up for the money and the title of High Roller champion.
Much of the heads-up, and indeed the final table, was marred by tanking from the Czech pro. The tanking was deemed by many players, including eventual champion [Removed:292] to be excessive. But it was an incident where Kabrhel was alleged to have engaged in angle-shooting which really turned up the temperature of the clash. Controversy aside, Kabrhel battled back from a 2:1 chip deficit to level things up, but eventually lost out when his pocket sevens were cracked by his opponents Ace-Queen, with the German holding a slight chip lead.
Speaking to David Tuchman on the live-stream shortly after his victory, [Removed:292] said some of his opponent Kabrhel's antics were "disgusting."
"I already know him from playing cash games with him. One minute you can just be talking normally to him, and then he's doing some crazy stuff to get you to play out of line. But I just tried to stay cool and play my very best game," said [Removed:292].
"So what are your plans now," asked Tuchman, who was joined in the livestream by new Team888 Pro Parker 'tonkaaaap' Talbot.
"Now? A beer," replied [Removed:292].
A beer is probably the least he deserved after showing stamina and focus to outlast some of the big names in the field. And all this in a game which he admits isn't even his best game!
Here is what he had to say the day after his win to our own Sarah Herring.
Level 18
: 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
Martin Kabrhel called 40,000 with 
and [Removed:291] raised to 125,000 with 
. Kabrhel moved all in and [Removed:292] called.
Kabrhel was the all in player, so needed his sevens to hold to force more action.
The flop came 
giving [Removed:292] the edge. The turn was the 
and the river was the 
.
Kabrhel was eliminated in 2nd place for €29,925
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
![Profile photo of [Removed:291]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
|
2,100,000
995,000
|
995,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 18
: 20,000/40,000, 5,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,105,000
547,000
|
547,000 |
|
|
995,000
-447,000
|
-447,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 18
Blinds: 20,000/40,000
Ante: 5,000
Level 17
: 15,000/30,000, 3,000 ante
Martin Kabrhel limped with 
and [Removed:291] raised to 100,000 with 
. Kabrhel moved all in and [Removed:292] called.
It looked like we would have a winner when the flop came 
, but the 
on the turn changed things, with the river bringing the 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,442,000
721,000
|
721,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
558,000
-708,000
|
-708,000 |
Level 17
: 15,000/30,000, 3,000 ante
A moment of ugliness cast a brief shadow on proceedings in a hand where [Removed:291] had limped with 
.
Martin Kabrhel quickly raised to 105,000 with 
and [Removed:291] then went all in.
Kabrhel motioned to fold his hand, keeping his hand flat on his cards as he moved them out across the table, then quickly back. In the mean time [Removed:292] had mucked his hand.
The floor was called and after much deliberation it was ruled that Kabrhel had folded, and he forfeited the pot to [Removed:292].
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,266,000
-222,000
|
-222,000 |
|
|
721,000
199,000
|
199,000 |
|
|
||
Level 17
: 15,000/30,000, 3,000 ante
[Removed:291] moved all in with 
and Kabrhel called with .
With his tournament life at stake, Kabrhel flopped best as the board came 
and Kabrhel doubled up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,300,000
-382,000
|
-382,000 |
|
|
700,000
282,000
|
282,000 |
|
|
||
Level 17
: 15,000/30,000, 3,000 ante
Martin Kabrhel raised with 
and [Removed:291] called with 
The flop came 
and [Removed:292] checked to Kabrhel who bet 30,000. [Removed:292] called and both players checked the turn which was the [k].
The river was the 
and [Removed:292] lead for 100,000.
Kabrhel got the clock called on him again, and eventually he called.
"Must be nice," he grumbled, counting out the chips, "Lucky river. 100,000? Really? Oh my God."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,682,000
182,000
|
182,000 |
|
|
418,000
-82,000
|
-82,000 |
|
|
||
Level 17
: 15,000/30,000, 3,000 ante
Martin Kabrhel limped with 
and [Removed:291] checked with 
.
On a 
board [Removed:292] checked to Kabrhel who bet 30,000 and [Removed:292] called.
The turn was the 
giving Kabrhel a straight. It checked to the Czech player who bet 65,000 and Jonas folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,500,000
-340,000
|
-340,000 |
|
|
500,000
142,000
|
142,000 |
|
|
||