French player Darko Stojanovic, playing on French soil at this year’s World Series of Poker Europe, edged out Dan O’Brien Thursday to claim his first WSOP winner’s bracelet in the Euro 5,300 buy-in Mixed Max event.
Stojanovic claimed his biggest career prize money yet at Euro 188,160, leaving his final heads up opponent with the runner up prize of Euro 116,280.
The format on the final consisted of 16 players spread over four tables playing four-max poker until just five survived, at which point play would condense to one table and five handed competition until just four players remained. These four survivors then played heads up to decide the winner.
Down to five players, something of an endurance contest unfolded as three hours of play were necessary to end with the final four. These then paired off, with O’Brien facing Jason Mann, and Stojanovic going up against Noah Schwartz.
The result was a Stojanovic vs. O’Brien final heads up with O’Brien holding a 3 to 1 chip lead, which Stojanovic quickly reversed with a stunning double up which gave him the momentum to build on his lead and take the bracelet and the top money after just 53 hands of play.