Event 2 (€250 buy-in) 26th March 2008

As the sun set on old Praha and the competitors took their seats for the 2nd event in our 4 event series, one fact was becoming exceedingly clear.

The Czech players were turning out to be a force to be reckoned with.

Following on the heels of Thomas Hanzlik’s surprise win on Day 1 and no less than five Czechs making the final table, the skills of the locals was the primary topic of conversation heading into the Day 2 event. Whilst much of the initial speculation assumed the Czech players would be an aggressive lot, they refused to be pigeonholed; demonstrating strong skills in all facets of their game. When we expressed our admiration at the quality of the field and the play on display, Tournament Director Ondrej Kopecky provided explanation.

“The quality of the Czech players is to be expected given the size of the prize pools on offer. For many Czechs, some of the top prizes are equivalent to an entire year’s salary. For that reason alone, this tournament has attracted many of the top players in the country.”

As play progressed on Day 2, Ondrej’s words were proving to be prophetic with one player after another falling victim to the mighty Czechs. Peter Schmidt, the 2nd Place Finisher from Day 1 was one of the first to fall when his AK was topped by a pair of red 10’s. This was surely a disappointment for Schmidt with $10,000 in Leaderboard prizes on offer to the Top 4 players compiling the most points over the course of the festival. But Peter was hardly alone as, one after another, online qualifiers from Norway to Greece fell under the onslaught of the cagey Czechs. Adding insult to injury, those players busting out had to look on enviously as the local lads still in the fray were cheered on by their comely Czech companions. Warning to players attending Prague Poker Palooza 2 next year! If you’re distracted by gorgeous girls on the rail, this is not the tournament for you. Be safe. Bring your sunglasses!

Whether from sunglasses or simply superior play, the nine players that found their way to the final table for Event 2 were not going to be distracted with over CZK 337,000 up for grabs and their play reflected this with Aces and Kings the preferred weapons of choice for this final battle.

First to fall was Pole Blazej Szpich whose AQ off suit lacked sufficient kick in the face of AK. Soon after, Aces returned for the next knockout when Dutchman Ruben Visser’s A10 unsuited fell to yet another Ace King combo. Finally, the third consecutive finalist fell when Martin Krajbich became the first Czech to reach the cash in Event 2 after his A8 suited fell to an AK with an additional King on the flop sealing the deal. At this point, it was beginning to seem as if Ace King in the hand of a Czech player was an unbeatable combination!

This left Greek countrymen Kareidis Vasilios and Christos Tzelpis alone to face the four remaining Czechs, but alas an upset was not in the offing for our Greek combatants as both were quickly dispatched after pushing all-in with short stacks and coming up short on the flop. Now, not only had our Czech competitors matched their feat of 5 players on the final table, they’d achieved the even more impressive feat of a final four comprised solely of homegrown talent!

Of this quartet, Peter Hejdanek was the first to go, but was clearly looking to be the Leaderboard favourite thus far with his fourth place placement following on the heels of his ninth place finish in Event 1. Next to leave was Patrik Holecek in one of the more compelling hands of the day. Pushing all-in AJ unsuited against Q10 offsuit, Holecek was looking to be the next Czech to prosper with a Pocket Rocket, but he was undone with a flush draw on the river setting the stage for our final two combatants: Robert Novak and Josef Gulas.

5 Czechs Cashed!

When Gulas found himself short stacked and pushed in with J6 unsuited to Novak’s K7 suited, the writing was on the wall. The board cards helped neither man and Novak thus became the fifth and last Czech to cash – taking home the first place prize of CZK 104,500. It was a fitting finale for a dominant performance by the home side. The natural question heading into the final two events? Would it be a case of outright domination for the Czechs in the first annual Prague Poker Palooza or would the other players rise to the occasion with the two biggest prize pools of the festival laying in wait?

See Day 3 for the answer to that question and much more…

Lee Ferris – VC Poker: On location at the Prague Poker Palooza

Event Two Winners