Max Neugebauer wins WSOP Europe Main Event

The WSOP Europe has concluded with former professional basketball player Max Neugebauer taking down the main event.

This year’s €10,350 main event set a new WSOP Europe record with an 817-player field. That topped last year’s record-setting 763 players. The record player pool in 2023 easily surpassed the €5 million guaranteed prize with a €7,761,500. In the end the largest payout went to Neugebauer.

When the final day of the main event began Neugebauer was third in chips at the final table behind chip leader Eric Tsai. Naturally it came down to Neugebauer and Tsai heads up for the tournament title and the WSOP bracelet.

Entering heads-up play Neugebauer had a large chip lead on Tsai with 64.1 million chips to Tsai’s 17.4 million. Early on Tsai was able to chip away at Neugebauer’s chip lead but was still heavily trailing during the final hand.

In the final hand of the tournament with the blinds at 300,000/600,000 and a big blind ante of 600,000, Tsai raised the minimum from the button. Neugebauer called and the flop came out Qd-8d-7h. After Neugebauer checked Tsai bet one million. After a call from Neugebauer the turn card was the As. Following another check from Neugebauer Tsai bet big, 6.3 million.

Neugebauer made the call and the river card was the 4s. Neugebauer checked once again and Tsai pushed all-on with his remaining 16 million chips. After thinking over his decision for a few minutes Neugebauer called. Tsai showed Jd-9d which completely missed the board. Neugebauer had Js-8c for pair of eights to win the hand and the tournament.

For the win Neugebauer cashed €1.5 million, or approximately $1.6 million US. For second place Tsai received €891,000, or approximately $969,000 US.