WSOP Europe: Makarios Avramidis Captures First Bracelet in Berlin
Somewhere tonight in Berlin, Greek restaurateur Makarios Avramidis (pictured) is likely celebrating the accomplishment of a lifelong goal. Don’t be surprised however if there aren’t too many locals celebrating with him. Avramidis beat a final table that included three Germans to win the €2,200 Six Max No Limit Hold’em event at WSOP Europe and with it the first ever World Series of Poker bracelet awarded in Germany.
Avramidis beat German Frederic Schwarzer heads-up to claim the €105,000 ($119,266 US) first place prize money and that coveted bracelet. His previous best score was for just over $60,000 for an eighth place finish at the Master Classics of Poker in 2011.
Schwarzer earned €64,930 for finishing second. The other German players who fell just short of becoming the envy of their countrymen were Paul Michaelis and Marvin Rettenmaier. Michaelis actually sent two players to the rail on his way to being the overwhelming chip leader at one point. First, he busted Rettenmaier in sixth and then PocketFiver Stephen stevie444 Chidwick in fourth place.
Sandwiched between those two bustouts was the only American player at the final table. Californian Rick Alvarado, who started the day second in chips, was eliminated by Chidwick in fifth place. Alvarado now has seven WSOP cashes this year, including three final tables.
Chidwick, who started the final table with the chip lead, was unable to maintain the momentum he had at the end of Day 2 and scored his eighth 2015 WSOP cash, earning €32,600 in the process. Following Chidwick’s bustout, Michaelis found himself with 58% of the chips three-handed. It went downhill from there.
The key hand came just a few minutes into Level 24 (10,000/20,000 – 3,000 ante). From the button, Avramidis raised to 50,000, Schwarzer folded the small blind before Michaelis moved all-in from the big blind. Avramidis called with his tournament life on the line and tabled Jh-Js before Michaelis showed Tc-Td. The board ran out Qs-Jd-9d-Ah-4d to double up into the chip lead.
Michaelis was eliminated just five minutes later when he again found himself all-in pre-flop with a smaller pocket pair than his opponent. Schwarzer held pocket jacks to Michaelis’ pocket tens. Michaelis got no help from the dealer and was out in third place.
Heads-up play lasted a little over an hour with the two players swapping the chip lead back and forth a few times before Avramidis finished off Schwarzer to win his first career bracelet.
There is one event underway at Spielbank Casino in Berlin, the €550 Oktoberfest No Limit Hold’em, with another eight on the schedule. A new event starts each day this week until the €10,450 Main Event next Sunday.
Final Table Payouts
- Makarios Avramidis – €105,000
- Frederic Schwarzer – €64,930
- Paul Michaelis – €45,860
- Stephen Chidwick – €32,600
- Rick Alvarado – €23,310
- Marvin Rettenmaier – €16,740
