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

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 A5 failed to outrun the 99 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 AK. Riadh Farhat came over the top with a shove of his own from the small blind holding A6. The big blind got out of the way and the board ran out KQ664to 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 J10 from the button. Jahjaga called with AK from the small blind and the board came down Q9779. 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 A9 and Riadh Farhat called off with KQ. The 442A5 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:

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

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