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Edmond Jahjaga Wins 2021 World Series of Poker Europe €550 Colossus Event

The Kosovo Native Defeated A Field of 2,478 Entries To Earn His First Bracelet And €147,775 ($165,508 USD)

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The 2021 World Series of Poker Europe €550 buy-in no-limit hold’em ‘Colossus’ event featured a €1 million guarantee. The event was reorganized due to government announcements in the Czech Republic made during a surge in COVID-19 cases, with the originally scheduled seven starting flights cut down to just four. Despite these changes, a total of 2,478 entries were made by the time registration closed. As a result, the guarantee was surpassed and a €1,177,050 ($1,332,068 USD) prize pool was created.

In the end, the largest share of that money was awarded to 43-year-old business owner Edmond Jahjaga. The Pristina, Kosovo resident earned €147,775 ($165,508 USD) and his first WSOP gold bracelet as the champion. This was his first recorded live tournament score.

In addition to the money and the hardware, Jahjaga was also awarded 540 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win.

The final day of this event began with 10 players remaining. Jahjaga sat in sixth chip position to start, but quickly climbed the leaderboard thanks to his elimination of Merijn van Rooij (10th – $12,037 USD). Gabriele Re was the next to fall, with his A-Q failing to hold up against the K-J of Andrea Ricci. Re took home $15,203 USD as the ninth-place finisher.

Jahjaga scored his second knockout of the day with A-K besting the Q-J of Fotios Ntamaris (8th – $19,392 USD), making aces up on the river to narrow the field to seven. Shortly after that, a three-way all-in spelled the end of short stack Aurelio Reggi (7th – $24,978 USD). The Italian shoved with J-2 suited and received two calls. Zlatin Penev ended up scooping the pot with his A-Q making top pair, top kicker, while Andrea Ricci’s A-9 suited failed to improve.

Despite that win, Penev was the next to be sent packing. he ran K-Q into the pocket kings of a surging Jahjaga (6th – $32,489 USD).

Roman Krahula’s run in this event came to an end when his AHeart Suit5Club Suit failed to outrun the 9Spade Suit9Heart Suit of Andrea Ricci. The pocket pair held to see Ricci claim the second-place spot in the chip counts.

Matteo Calzoni doubled through Ricci to reverse that progress. Not long after that, Ricciwas all-in and at risk. He had shoved for 8.3 million from the button with ASpade SuitKClub Suit. Riadh Farhat came over the top with a shove of his own from the small blind holding AHeart Suit6Diamond Suit. The big blind got out of the way and the board ran out KHeart SuitQSpade Suit6Club Suit6Spade Suit4Spade Suitto give Farhat trip sixes. Ricci was eliminated in fourth place, earning $56,567 USD for his deep run.

Jahjaga already held a sizable lead when three-handed play began. He pulled even further away as action continued. The next big showdown saw short stack Matteo Calzoni moved all-in for 16.5 big blinds with JSpade Suit10Spade Suit from the button. Jahjaga called with AHeart SuitKSpade Suit from the small blind and the board came down QDiamond Suit9Heart Suit7Spade Suit7Heart Suit9Club Suit. Calzoni flopped a straight draw but was unable to improve and was knocked out in third place ($75,708 USD).

Heads-up play didn’t last long. Jahjaga held more than a 3.5:1 chip lead, and was able to quickly convert that advantage into the win. In the final hand he three-bet shoved from the big blind with AClub Suit9Club Suit and Riadh Farhat called off with KDiamond SuitQSpade Suit. The 4Spade Suit4Diamond Suit2Heart SuitAHeart Suit5Diamond Suit runout secured the pot and the title for Jahjaga, while Farhat was awarded $102,276 USD as the runner-up.

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

Place Player Earnings (USD) POY Points
1 Edmond Jahjaga $165,508 540
2 Riadh Farhat $102,276 450
3 Matteo Calzoni $75,708 360
4 Andrea Ricci $56,567 270
5 Roman Krahula $42,666 225
6 Zlatin Penev $32,489 180
7 Aurelio Reggi $24,978 135
8 Fotios Ntamaris $19,392 90
9 Gabriele Re $15,203 45

Winner photo via King’s Resort’s official Facebook page.