Alexandros Kolonias Wins 2019 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event

Alexandros Kolonias is the 2019 World Series of Poker Europe €10,350 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event champion. The 32-year-old Greek poker pro outlasted a field of 541 entries to secure his first WSOP gold bracelet and the top prize of $1,258,383.

“I still haven’t figured it out in my mind what actually happened. I am really happy about the way I played in the beginning,” Kolonias told WSOP reporters after coming out on top. “One level was not so good when we had four left, but things worked out for me.”

Kolonias is primarily focused on online poker, and has reportedly cashed for more than $3 million under the screen name ‘mexican222.’ While live tournament poker has been less of a focus for him, he has now managed to accumulate career earnings in excess of $3.6 million, making him the highest-earning Greek poker player of all time.

This year’s running drew the second-largest turnout in WSOPE main event history, behind only the 593 entries made in 2011. The 541 entries made this year saw the prize pool grow to €5,139,500 ($5,710,087), with the top 82 finishers making the money.

In addition to the bracelet and the money, Kolonias was also awarded 2,100 Card Player Player of the Year points as the champion of this event. This was his second final table of the year, having placed fourth in the partypoker LIVE! MILLIONS North America main event for $273,800 and 1,050 points back in May. As a result of this latest win, Kolonias has climbed into 37th place in the 2019 POY race, which is sponsored by Global Poker.

Here are the five key hands that propelled Kolonias to the title.

Tournament: WSOP Europe Main Event
Buy-In: €10,300 ($11,616)
No. of Entries: 541
Prize Pool: €5,139,500 ($5,710,087)
1st Place Prize: €1,133,678 ($1,258,383)

The Action

Kolonias raised to 210,000 from the cutoff and Baker responded by shoving all-in from the big blind with his pocket jacks. Kolonias decided to look him up with A Q and won the flip with an ace on the flop. Baker earned $66,332 for his deep run in the tournament, and finished the series in tenth place overall in the WSOP POY race.

The Action

The action folded around to Rezaei in the small blind and he moved all in for a little less more than eight big blinds. Kolonias looked down at pocket jacks in the big blind and instantly called, well ahead of Rezaei’s small, suited ace. The board offered no help to either player, and Rezaei was eliminated in tenth place, earning $84,840.

The Action

Zinno raised to 500,000 and Madsen three-bet shoved for 2,060,000. Kolonias flat called from the hijack, and Zinno got out of the way. Kolonias held pocket jacks, and was racing against Madsen’s A K. The board fell seven high, and Kolonias dragged the pot. Meanwhile, Madsen headed to the payout desk for his $110,506 in winnings.

The Action

With three players left, Kolonias raised to 1,300,000 on the button and Zinno shoved from the big blind for his last 7,650,000. Kolonias felt he was live and made the call with J 10, and Zinno showed down A 9, a small favorite to double up and even out the remaining stacks. Instead, the board fell Q J 6 8 K, and Zinno was eliminated in third place. The 2015 Card Player Player of the Year winner finished the series with a $538,673 score and a fourth-place showing in the WSOP POY race after winning his second bracelet this summer.

The Action

With the two players each enjoying at least 38 big blinds, the heads-up match could have gone on for a while. Instead, Kolonias min-raised the button, and was met with a three-bet shove from Segebrecht in the big blind. Kolonias made the call with his suited big slick, and Segebrecht revealed his pocket treys. The flop brought a king, and left Segebrecht drawing to two outs. The turn and river were bricks, and he was eliminated in second place, earning $777,709. Kolonias dragged the final pot of the tournament, winning the title, the bracelet, and the $1,258,383 first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. Alexandros Kolonias — $1,258,383
2. Claas Segebrecht — $777,709
3. Anthony Zinno — $538,673
4. Dario Sammartino — $379,289
5. Anh Do — $271,565
6. Rifat Palevic — $197,770
7. Julien Martini — $146,539
8. Jakob Madsen — $110,506
9. Marek Blasko — $84,840