This Week's Big Winner: Marti Roca De Torres Wins World Series of Poker Europe Main Event

A total of 529 entries were made in the 2017 World Series of Poker Europe €10,350 no-limit hold’em main event, which was held in the Czech Republic for the first time in the event’s history. In the end, it was 36-year old Spanish poker pro Marti Roca De Torres who emerged victorious, capturing his first WSOP gold bracelet and the top prize of €1,115,207 ($1,301,815).

The former economics teacher had only $30,000 in prior live tournament earnings before taking down this massive title. He won his way into this event in a €220 buy-in satellite online and was then able to turn his entry in this event into a seven-figure score.

“I don’t know, I am more nervous now than before when I was playing,” Roca De Torres told WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel after the win. “But for sure I am very happy and it is a dream come true, I don’t know what to say.”

Here are the five biggest hands that propelled Roca De Torres to the win.

Tournament: WSOP Europe Main Event
Buy-In: €10,000 ($12,000)
No. of Entries: 529
Prize Pool: €5,025,500 ($5,827,143)
1st Place Prize: €1,115,207 ($1,301,815)

The Action

At the unofficial nine-handed final table, Roca De Torres raised to 175,000 from under-the-gun and Osinovski took his time before three-betting to 550,000. Roca De Torres then moved all-in for his last 2,890,000. After confirming the count, Osinovski went into the tank before eventually calling all-in for his last 2,855,000. Osinovski showed A K, but he was in terrible shape against the pocket aces of Roca De Torres. The board fell 8 7 4 J 7 and Osinovski was eliminated in ninth place, earning €74,737.

The Action

Sitting six-handed, Ho moved all-in for her last 1,260,000 from early position. Roca De Torres took his time before calling from the small blind, and the action fell to Farrell in the big blind. After looking at his opponent’s stack, Farrell moved all in for 6,860,000 and Roca De Torres snap-called with pocket aces. Farrell had been coolered with pocket kings, and Ho was in bad shape with A J. The board ran out nine high, and both Ho and Farrell were eliminated. Ho earned €174,365 for her sixth-place showing, while Farrell pocketed €239,639 for fifth.

The Action

By the time the field reached three-handed play, Roca De Torres found himself on the short stack and made a stand for his last 12 big blinds or so from the button. Speranza thought it over from the small blind but ultimately folded a weak ace. Jonkers took his time, eventually calling with K Q from the big blind. Roca De Torres, however, had him in bad shape with pocket queens. The board ran out A 9 8 2 7 and Roca De Torres doubled back into contention. Jonkers was left with just about five big blinds and was eliminated shortly afterwards, earning €476,585 for his third-place finish.

The Action

Facing a nearly 3:1 chip deficit, Roca De Torres called a raise of 800,000 from Speranza on the button. The flop came down K Q 3 and Roca De Torres checked. Speranza bet 600,000 and Roca De Torres called. The turn was the 6 and again Roca De Torres checked. Speranza checked behind and the river was the A. Roca De Torres checked, and Speranza moved all-in. Roca De Torres had just Q 5 for third pair, but he still found a call, and doubled up against Speranza’s J 6. With that pot, Roca De Torres took the lead in the heads-up match.

The Action

Roca De Torres moved all-in on the button for 12,725,000 and Speranza called from the big blind with A J. Roca De Torres was in a coinflip situation with pocket fives, but the flop was A 9 3, leaving him drawing to two outs or a runner-runner straight. Speranza was a 91 percent favorite to win the tournament, but the 5 on the turn left him drawing dead instead. Left with less than two big blinds, he was eliminated on the very next hand. Speranza earned €689,246 for his runner-up finish, while Roca De Torres banked €1,115,207 and his first WSOP bracelet.

Final Table Results

1. Marti Roca De Torres — €1,115,207 ($1,301,815)
2. Gianluca Speranza — €689,246 ($804,578)
3. Mathijs Jonkers — €476,585 ($556,332)
4. Robert Bickley — €335,089 ($391,159)
5. Niall Farrell — €239,639 ($279,738)
6. Maria Ho — €174,365 ($279,738)
7. Jack Salter — €129,121 ($203,542)
8. Luis Rodriguez — €97,344 ($113,403)