German restaurant owner and enthusiastic poker fan Makarios Avramidis is Euro 105,000 richer today (Sunday) following his weekend victory in the first event of this year’s Berlin-hosted World Series of Poker Europe, the Euro 2,200 buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em competition.
197 players registered for the event.
Although a regular at European Poker Tour contests, this win – and the prestigious WSOP gold winner’s bracelet – was Avramidis’ best yet. His achievement was all the more remarkable considering the final table included German ace Marvin Rettenmaier (who finished sixth), 2015 WSOP bracelet winner Paul Michaelis (third), and 10-time WSOP final table UK participant Stephen Chidwick (fourth).
Michaelis and Chidwick dominated much of the final table with a duel that saw the chip lead changing a few times, but Avramidis made his move when Chidwick busted at fourth, playing an aggressive game undeterred by his star-quality opponents and eventually taking the chip lead as German player Frederic Schwarzer eliminated Michaelis.
That left Avramidis facing Schwarzer, albeit with a small chip disadvantage that he immediately set about rectifying with a stunning double up, followed by more aggressive play that enabled him to crush Schwarzer and send him home with the Euro 65,000 runner-up prize.
Other final table cashes included:
Paul Michaelis Euro 45,860
Stephen Chidwick Euro 32,600
Rick Alvarado Euro 23,310
Marvin Rettenmaier Euro 16,740