US online and live poker pro Kenny Smaron (31) has bested a field of 315 to win the lion’s share of a Euro 3,150,000 prize pool in the Euro 10,300 buy-in European Poker Tour High Roller competition in Prague.
Smaron’s victory brought him a pay day worth Euro 595,500 – his biggest live career win yet.
On the last day of the competition Smaron faced a talented final table that included aces Vanessa Selbst and Daniel “Jungleman” Cates, along with Jaroslaw Sikora, Feliz Bleiker, Ihar Soika, Iliodoros Kamatakis and Rocco Palumbo.
At the three-handed stage the elimination of Swiss player Feliz Bleiker after a protracted but exciting series of exchanges set up the heads-up match, with Smaron holding a more than 6-1 chip lead against Polish player Jaroslaw Sikora.
Smaron’s massive advantage was too great for the Pole to overcome and the heads up was over in just two hands, with Sikora scoring a very useful second placing pay-out of Euro 378,280.
Other final table cashes were:
Ihar Soika Belarus Euro 229,470
Iliodoros Kamatakis Greece Euro 180,890
Daniel Cates USA Euro 138,110
Rocco Palumbo Italy Euro 101,440
Vanessa Selbst USA Euro 74,550