Oleksandr Shcherbak wins the first bracelet of the 2017 World Series of Poker Europe, and Ryan Hughes takes the lead in the Player of the Year race.
For the longest time, the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) was a poser. First, it set up camp in one of the finest capital cities in the world, London. T
hen it went upmarket by moving to Cannes. Pop up events in Paris, and Berlin added to the bourgeoisie feel of things, and then came a dramatic shift.
After a decade, the WSOPE is coming to you live from one of the smallest villages in the world. If you thought hosting the largest-ever European live tournament festival in the King’s Casino would impact numbers, then Event #1 is n ot a great indicator of that particular reality.
The team slapped a €500,000 guarantee on Event #1: €1,100 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack, and a respectable 561 entrants proved the forecasters right.
The first of 11-bracelets now sits in the suitcase of Oleksandr Shcherbak. The Ukrainian’s victory was a hit and run. By all accounts, he breezed through the final table, despite only cashing in one other event in his lifetime, and was out of the door before the camera crosshairs could find him.
The standout names at the final table were Walter Treccarichi (5th) and Ismael Bojang (8th). King’s Casino supporter, Pierre Neuville was 11th, the gifted Greek Georgios Zisimopoulos was 12th, and the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) smasher Valentin Vornicu was 14th.
Here are the final table results:
1. Oleksandr Shcherbak – €117,708
2. Viliyan Petleshkov – €72,747
3. Sergio Fernandez – €49,929
4. Carlo Savinelli – €34,869
5. Walter Treccarichi – €24,787
6. Peter Bstieler – €17,940
7. Serge Danis – €13,225
8. Ismael Bojang – €9,934
9. Ahmad Sameeian – €7,605
Ryan Hughes Overtakes Chris Ferguson in the Race for the Player of the Year
Those of you who are not looking forward to having a banner of Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson hanging over you during the 2018 World Series of Poker (WSOP) will be glad to know that Ryan Hughes is the new favourite to win the WSOP Player of the Year (POY) award.
Hughes flew into Rozvadov in second place, with Ferguson holding the lead. Hughes cashed in the opening event finishing 20th. The na
me of Ferguson is missing from the first ITM list.
How long Hughes’s lead lasts is anyone’s guest.
Hughes crashed out of Event #2: €550 Pot-Limit Omaha, and Jesus is still alive in that event, although it’s very early doors. The event is only midway through Day 1A as I type.
Current POY Standings
1. Ryan Hughes – 922.10
2. Chris Ferguson – 898.46
3. John Monnette – 865.21
4. John Racener – 853.16
5. Ray Henson – 768.49
