2011 World Series of Poker Europe Preliminary Events Recap

Now that the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event is well underway I figured that now would be a good time to take a look back at the preliminary events at the 2011 WSOPE, where among other things, Mike “The Grinder” Mizrachi won his second WSOP bracelet.

So here is a quick recap of the first six events at the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe.

Event #1: €2,680 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em

Guillame Humbert kicked off the 2011 WSOPE with a win in the 6-Max NLHE tournament, winning his first bracelet and €215,999 in the process. Among the final table participants were Adrien Allaine, Casey Kastle, and the 11-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, who fizzled out on the final day of the tournament finishing in 7^th place.

Event #2: €1,090 No-Limit Hold’em

In Event 32 it was another first-time bracelet winner who would walk away victorious as Andrew Hinrichsen topped the field of xxx, including a final table that included John Eames and Roberto Romanello who was looking to become the fifth Triple Crown in poker history, and the third player to accomplish the feat in 2011.

Event #3: €5,300 Pot-Limit Omaha

In the third tournament of the 2011 WSOPE it was Steve Billirakis who would come out victorious; winning his second career WSOP bracelet (his first made him the youngest WSOP bracelet winner in the history of poker). Billirakis’ PLO victory came over a very tough final table that included Sam Trickett and 2011 November Niner Eoghan O’Dea.

Event #4: €3,200 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout

The online players took home a win in Event #4 when one of the game’s best, Tristan “Cre8ive” Wade came away with his first WSOP victory after defeating a very tough field in the No Limit Holdem Shootout tournament.  One of the developing storylines in the tourney was Bertrand “ElkY” Grosspellier’s deep run that ended with a 7^th place finish.

Event #5: €10,400 No-Limit Hold’em (Split Format)

It was “The Grinder” who would hold his hands up in victory for the second straight year at the World Series of Poker, as the 2010 Players Championship winner captured his second WSOP bracelet in the Split Format NLHE tournament. The Grinder has now had two consecutive very successful WSOP’s: In 2010 Mizrachi managed to not only win the Players Championship but he also final tabled the main Event, and in 2011 Mizrachi had a runner-up finish at the WSOP to go along with his WSOPE win.

Event #6: €1,620 Six-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha

In the final preliminary tournament it was Phillip Boucher who would claim the top spot, earning his first WSOP bracelet and nearly €125,000 in prize-money.