Roger Hairabedian Wins World Series of Poker Europe €2,200 No-Limit Hold’em

A total of 337 players posted the €2,200 to play in event no.5 at the 2013 World Series of Poker Europe, building a prize pool of €647,040 ($885,992 USD) for the nine-handed no-limit tournament. The last player standing is the first French player to ever win two WSOP gold bracelets: Roger Hairabedian. In addition to his second golden piece of hardware, the former martial arts practitioner and current poker pro earned €148,820 ($203,779 USD) and 720 Card Player Player of the Year points. This was Hairabedian’s third final table of 2013, and as a result he has moved into 216th place in the overall POY standings.

Hairabedian told WSOP.com that he is happy about the money, but even more glad to have earned the title and the bragging rights that come with it. The Frenchman says that his play has been criticized by some before, but being the first double bracelet winner from his country speaks for itself. “They have to give me credit now. What else can I do? Win a WSOP event on the moon?” said Hairabedian.

And it seems he is far from sated. “I want eight bracelets, like Erik,” he says, referencing runner-up in this event Erik Seidel. “I have a big arm for them.”

Hairabedian defeated Seidel, who was indeed going for his ninth WSOP gold bracelet in this event. Seidel came into the final showdown with just over a 2-to-1 chip lead, but Hairabedian was able to battle back and overtake the Poker Hall of Famer. On the 74th hand of heads-up play Hairabedian raised to 72,000 and Erik Seidel reraised to 174,000. Hairabedian shoved all in and Seidel called with the 88 only to see he was in bad shape against Hairabedian’s KK. The board ran out 965J2, securing the pot and the title for Hairabedian and sending Seidel to the rail with €93,003 ($125,980 USD) and 600 POY points. This was the American pro’s fourth final table finish of the year, including a runner-up finish in the EPT Barcelona €50,000 super high roller for $745,224 and a fourth=place finish in the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star for $295,590. As a result Seidel now sits in 24th place in the overall POY standing with 2,145 points and year-to-date earnings of $1,298,756.

Seidel isn’t the only POY contender who scored some crucial points at this final table. Canada’s Mike Watson finished fifth for €28,683 ($39,276 USD) and 240 POY points. This was Watson’s eighth final table of 2013, moving him into 7th in the overall rankings with 2964 points and year-to-date earnings of $1,215,783.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at this final table:

Photo courtesy of Joe Giron / WSOP.

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