World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) Event #5 €2,200 No-Limit Hold’em has concluded after Roger Hairabedian defeating the eight time WSOP champion Erik Seidel in heads-up action, in a fantastic final table in Paris.
This one was always going to contain s little something for the poker news outlets to scream about. Erik Seidel was attempting to tie with Phil Ivey and Johnny Moss with nine WSOP bracelets, Roger Hairabedian was trying to win his second WSOPE bracelet in successive years, Matan Krakow had made his third consecutive WSOPE final table in the €2,200 event, and you still had the likes of Max Greenwood and Mike Watson taking up the slack.
Here are the finer points of an absorbing contest.
Final Table Standings
Seat 1: Mike Watson – 156,000
Seat 2: Erwann Pecheux – 130,000
Seat 3: Kevin Song – 442,000
Seat 4: Matan Krakow – 204,000
Seat 5: Erik Seidel – 711,000
Seat 6: Roger Hairabedian – 267,000
Seat 7: Max Greenwood – 113,000
Level 19: Max Greenwood and Mike Watson Are Eliminated
The first player to be eliminated from the final table was the short stack Max Greenwood. The former WSOP champion jamming over an Erik Seidel open holding [Kd] [9h], and Seidel making the call with [Ac] [5c] – an ace on the turn extending the New Yorkers lead at the top of the counts.
Then a few hands later we lost the Canadian Mike Watson, and once again it was Seidel holding the axe after the eight-time WSOP champion opened the cutoff before calling a small blind jam from Watson. It was pocket sevens for Seidel, ace-king for Watson and five community cards later Watson was out.
Level 20: Erwann Pecheux is Eliminated
Erwann Pecheux moved his short stack in to the middle from the hijack and Roger Hairabedian called in the big blind. It was jacks against queens and on this occasion the ladies conquered the men to send Pecheux plummeting out of the contest.
Level 21: Matan Krakow is Eliminated
In the short history of the WSOPE, Matan Krakow’s performances in the €2,200 events must go down as one of the most successful feats since its inception.
Krakow had finished in fourth and third in the previous two years, and unfortunately for him has to add another fourth to his CV after being eliminated by Roger Hairabedian.
It was pocket sevens for Krakow and [Ac] [Tc] for ‘Big Roger,’ and the board producing a ten on the turn to eliminate Krakow and create three-way action between the Frenchman, Erik Seidel and Kevin Song.
Level 22: Kevin Song is Eliminated
Kevin Song opened the button, Erik Seidel three-bet from the blinds, Song moved all-in and Seidel called. It was sixes for Song and queens for Seidel, and the music was silenced not long after.
Level 24: Erik Seidel Denied His Ninth Gold Bracelet
Erik Seidel has been one of the most dominating forces in the history of the WSOP, winning eight gold bracelets; but in recent years nobody has performed with more consistency in the European format of the event than Roger Hairabedian.
A grueling contest would go the way of recent form when Erik Seidel made his move with pocket eights, Roger Hairabedian found pocket kings and it was all over bar the singing and dancing.
Congratulations to Roger Hairabedian for winning his second WSOPE bracelet in the past two years.
Final Table Results
1st Roger Hairabedian – €148,820
2nd – Erik Seidel – €92,003
3rd – Kevin Song – €67,118
4th – Matan Krakow – €49,784
5th – Erwann Pecheux – €37,502
6th – Mike Watson – €28,683
7th – Max Greenwood – €22,258
