The second event in this year’s World Sries of Poker Europe – the Euro 550 buy-in “Oktoberfest” No-Limit Hold’em competition – attracted an entry field of 2,144 and saw German pro Dietrich Fast emerge as the winner of the Euro 157,749 main prize…and his first WSOP bracelet.
Fast, who started playing a decade ago and was an avid television observer of major international poker tournaments, bested UK ace John Gale in the three-hour heads up, denying him a third bracelet in a tense encounter
Fast set up the heads up by eliminating Brazil’s Rodrigo Caprioli at third for Euro 73,699 and started the final phase of the contest against Gale with a chip advantage.
Always the fighter, Gale played his way back into contention over the next three hours, but in the end Fast scored heavily in a double up to boost his lead beyond defeat.
Still fighting, Gale managed to double up as well, but it was not enough to take the leadership away from his German opponent, and the UK player had to be content with a second placing prize of Euro 97,804.
Nevertheless, it was an impressive performance from a man who had to take a three year break recently due to a brain tumour he was able to beat.
Other cashes on the 12-hour final table included:
Vojtech Cervinka (Czech Republic) Euro 56,278
Steve O’Dwyer (USA) Euro 43,409
Adrian Apmann (Austria) Euro 33,808
Sandro Wuest (Switzerland) Euro 26,587
Jorn Winter (Germany) Euro 21,115
Harry Lodge (UK) Euro 16,935