Israeli Players Cleaning Up at 2018 WSOP Europe

Israeli players are currently crushing it at the 2018 WSOP Europe taking place at the King’s Casino in the Czech Republic. One day after Tamir Segal took down Event #1: €550 COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold’em for €203,820 ($234,252), fellow countryman Asi Moshe has now followed suit, this time by securing victory at Event #2: €1,650 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed Deepstack for a €82,280 ($95,136) payday.

“The secret of Israel? I have no idea, but two for two is pretty sick. Sick is an overused word in poker but it is sick!” commented Moshe following his impressive win.

Israel’s 12 Bracelet Tally

Israel now boasts a total of 12 WSOP bracelets, making it the world’s 8th most winning country alongside Sweden, and placing it ahead of nearest rivals Italy (9), Denmark (8), and Spain (8). In addition, Asi Moshe joins Amir Lehavot in becoming the only Israelis to have ever won two WSOP bracelets, with his first accolade recorded at the 2014 WSOP $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event for $582,321.

Following his latest triumph, Asi Moshe is now ranked his country’s third highest tournament earner with $2,150,868 in winnings, with just Amir Lehavot ($5,706,052) and Zvi Stern ($2,669,291) having won more.

€1,650 NLHE 6-Handed

The €1,650 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed event drew 221 entries, resulting in a prize pool €118,074 in excess of its €200,000 guarantee. A total of 34 players would then see a return on their buy-ins, including Roland Israelashvili in 22nd (€3,094), Chris Ferguson in 17th (€3,726), Manig Loeser in 15th (€3,726), Shaun Deeb in 11th (€4,640), and Maria Lampropulos in 8th (€7,927).

Final Table

Asi Moshe entered the final table as chip leader on a 105bb stack, followed close behind by James Bullimore (91bbs). The next tier of players were subsequently a fair distance adrift, including Giuliano Bendinelli (50bbs), Robert Schulz (35bbs), Viktor Katzenberger (29) and Van Tiep Nguyen (22bbs).

First to exit the arena was Katzenberger (8-7), who made two pair on an 8-7-6 flop, and managed to induce an all-in call from Moshe (J-J) holding an over-pair. Unfortunately for the Hungarian, a J on the turn followed by a Q on the river ended his tournament ambitions in 6th place, albeit with €10,852 to show for his deep run.

Next, Moshe (7-7) called Van Tiep Nguyen’s (A-5) all-in shove, with his pocket pair holding up on a 10-9-8-K-J board to send the Czech player to the rail in 5th, while soon after James Bullimore (8-8) saw off Giuliano Bendinelli (6-6) in 4th.

Nevertheless, Bullimore (Jc-8h) became the table’s next casualty following a hand in which he made a straight on a 10h-10c-9s-Qc-2c board, only to lose out to Moshe’s (Kc-9c) flush.

Heads-Up Recap

Moshe began heads-up with a roughly 5:1 lead, and while Robert Schulz succeeded in doubling up twice, Moshe managed to grind out the game and 90 minutes later secure a famous victory. In the deciding hand, Asi Moshe moved all-in from the button holding A-4, and after Schulz made the call, the dealer laid out a Q-J-2-J-10 board to eliminate Schulz in second place. As a result, the Germany player now increases his career earnings to $883,815, with his best score to date still his deep run at the 2017 WSOP Main Event where he finished in a 57th position worth $121,188.

Asi Moshe, on the other hand, received top honors for his outstanding performance, and commenting upon what the win meant to him, stated:

“There are a lot of bracelet winners, but the two-time bracelet winners club is much more exclusive. It’s a validation. I’ve been waiting for this one quite a while.”

Final Table Result

1: Asi Moshe (ISR) €82,280 ($95,365)
2: Robert Schulz (GER) €50,842 ($58,927)
3: James Bullimore (UK) €33,149 ($38,420)
4: Giuliano Bendinelli (Ity) €22,210 ($25,742)
5: Van Tiep Nguyen (Czech) €15,303 ($17,736)
6: Viktor Katzenberger (HNG) €10,852 ($12,579)

€550 PLO 8-Handed

Meanwhile, the action is hotting up at Event #3: €550 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed, with just 40 players remaining from its original 572 player field. Furthermore, Israel has an opportunity to make it three bracelets from three events as Dor Tal is currently sitting 4th in chips overall. Nevertheless, he is the lone Israeli player still left in contention, so he will have his work cut out if he is to keep his country’s unprecedented run going.