Max Neugebauer takes his competitive skills to the felt and wins a record-setting tournament
The previous three World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) €10,350 ($11,310) buy-in No-Limit Hold ’em main events have set new attendance marks. It continued with a 7% rise in entries in 2023, from 763 last year to 817 players, surpassing the €5 million ($5.46 million) guarantee and creating a prize pool of €7.7 million ($8.48 million). Former Austrian pro basketball player Max Neugebauer was the winner of this year’s event to earn his first WSOPE bracelet and the $1,590,000 top prize.
Eight players remained on the final day, with Eric Tsai in the chip lead and Neugebauer in third to begin play. Alf Martinsson ($156,880) was the first to fall against Michele Tocci, with Ruslan Volkov next to the rail in seventh place for $204,580.
Play resumed six-handed for the next three hours until two players were eliminated in quick succession. Nils Pudel went home in sixth place for $270,300, and Michael Rocco was eliminated at his second final table of the series in fifth place for $361,460.
Neugebauer would take the chip lead during four-handed action, later busting out Kasparas Klezys, who earned a career-high cash of $491,840 for fourth place. He then sent Tocci home in third place for $677,430 for his biggest career cash.
On the final hand, Tsai missed a gutshot straight flush draw on the river but would move all in for 16,000,000 vs. Neugebauer’s two pair. After more than two minutes, Neugebauer’s call would end the tournament, giving Tsai $944,460 to increase his lifetime earnings to over $1.4 million.
Neugebauer also gained 2,280 Card Player Player of the Year points, putting him in 113th place for the 2023 POY title presented by Global Poker.
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