Oleg Vasylchenko outlasted a field of 167 to win the WPT partypoker Prague event (WPT photo)

The poker world may have its eye currently set on Las Vegas and the World Poker Tour Five Diamond Classic, but over in the Czech Republic, the partypoker WPT Prague event drew a field of 167 to the Hotel Grandior. It took four days of play for the final table to be reached and 122 hands for Oleg Vasylchenko to put the seal on his first career WPT title.

Vasylchenko started the final table as the chip leader and kept his edge throughout to take down the title and the €132,200 first place prize. The final table was an accomplished one that included WSOP circuit ring winner and EPT Champion, Martin Khabrel.

It took 21 hands to find the first elimination and it was Preben Stokkan who earned that distinction. Stokkan started the final table as the second shortest stack and met his end with Romain Lewis finishing him off. Tonio Roder raised to 55,000 and Stokkan came over the top all in, as did Lewis. Stokkan was on the short end of the hand with Th9h as Roder showed JdJs with Lewis AdAs having them both dominated. The 5c3h2cQdQh board was good for Lewis to ship the pot. Stokkan took home €23,520 for his finish.

Next out was Khabrel, who was felted by Lewis. Khabrel shoved for 265,000 and was called by Lewis in the big blind with pocket queens. Khabrel held a single overcard Kd8d but the Ad4h3cThQh runout provided barely a sweat and he hit the rail.

Four-handed play ensued for 20 hands and it was Lewis who was the next man out. Roder raised to 80,000 and big blind 30,000, and Lewis defended his big blind with about 300,000 behind. Lewis checked the Qc7h3d flop over to Roder and found himself check-raising all in. Roder called with Ah7s and would need to hold against the 6c3c of Lewis. The Ts turn failed to increase Lewis’s outs and the Ac on the river gave Roder the pot and the knockout.

Three-handed play was a lengthy affair that lasted for over 50 hands. Roder was neck-and-neck with Anton Petrovbut saw his stock drop with Vasylchenko picking up most of the slack. It would be Vasylchenko who eliminated Roder, marking his first victim of the final table.

With the blinds at 25,000/50,000, Vasylchenko limped in from the small blind and called a raise from Roder. The two saw a flop of 8h5d4d and Vasylchenko check-called an all in from Roder. Roder held Ad8c but would have to dodge Vasylchenko’s 8d6d web of outs. The turn was the Kd leaving Roder needing the fourth diamond on the river to hit a higher flush. Only the 5h could be mustered and Roder left the final table €52,500 to show for his days of play.

Vasylchenko started heads up play against Petrov with about 60 percent of the chips in play and wasted little time finishing his last opponent off.

Petrov raised to 115,000 and Vasylchenko called from the big blind to see a Ts7h4c flop. The Jc hit the turn and Vasylchenko bet 315,000. Petrov raised all-in and Vasylchenko called with Td7d for a flopped two pair. Petrov and his Jd3d would need help going to the river but the 9s would wrap up the win for Vasylchenko.

Vasylchenko’s career earnings now eclipsed the $200,000 and more importantly, he has clinched a spot in the WPT Tournament of Champions.

Final Table Payouts

  1. Oleg Vasylchenko – €132,200
  2. Anton Petrov – €82,000
  3. Tonio Roder – €52,500
  4. Romain Lewis – €39,120
  5. Martin Kabrhel – €29,410
  6. Preben Stokkan €23,520