Fedor Holz Wins 2016 European Poker Tour Barcelona €50,000 High Roller

Earlier this summer 22-year-old Fedor Holz announced that he planned on retiring from the full-time grind of a professional poker player. This came after his fifth tournament win of the year at his 13th final table. It seems that the German’s retirement is going much as his career did, as Holz continued his incredible run on the live tournament circuit by topping a field of 102 entries to win the 2016 European Poker Tour Barcelona €50,000 high roller. Holz was awarded €1,300,300 ($1,471,485 USD) for the win. This was his fourth seven-figure tournament score of 2016.

Holz’s live tournament earnings for the year now total $15,988,834. His lifetime career earnings of $19,867,366 are enough to move him into ninth place on the global all-time earnings list and to make him the German tournament earnings leader. His success is incredible in it’s own right but is made even more impressive by just how quickly he has accumulated so many huge scores. Holz had never had a six-figure live score before May of 2015. He has accumulated 20 scores of six figures or more since then.

In addition to the money Holz was also awarded 1,020 Card Player Player of the Year points. With six titles, 14 final tables, 6,758 POY points and nearly $16 million in earnings this year Holz is far and away the leader of the 2016 POY race. His next nearest competitor, Justin Bonomo, is 2,288 points behind.

Holz came into the final table of nine players in second chip position with 4,970,000. Timothy Adams was the chip leader with 8,045,000. Sam Greenwood was the second shortest stack to start the day, but more than tripled up after winning a wild hand early on. A four way preflop all-in with pocket nines, pocket tens, A5 and Greenwood’s KK saw the Canadian hold up, eliminating Erik Seidel in ninth place and chipping up to second place on the leaderboard.

Greenwood was able to survive to three-handed play and win a race against Adams to set-up a heads-up battle against Holz. The two began with essentially even stacks, with Holz only a big blind or two ahead. That didn’t last long though, as Holz was able to quickly extend his lead. By the time the final hand arose Holz held more than a 7-to-1 lead.

With blinds of 100,000 – 200,000 and an ante of 25,000 Greenwood moved all in from the button for 3,125,000 with the 65. Holz quickly called with the AK. Holz paired right away as the flop came down K97. Greenwood had a gutshot straight draw that improved to open ended when the 4 hit the turn. The Q was a blank, though, keeping Holz ahead to earn him the pot and the title. Greenwood was awarded €903,600 ($1,022,559 USD) as the runner-up.

The 2016 running of this event saw a record-breaking turnout. The tournament has seen year-over-year growth with each new running. The first ever EPT Barcelona €50,000 high roller drew 51 entries in 2013. A total of 77 entries were made the following year, with 99 in 2015.

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

Winner photo courtesy of EPT / PokerStars.

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