WSOP Europe: Kevin 'ImaLuckSac' MacPhee Wins Main Event
Just five months ago, Kevin ‘ImaLuckSac’ MacPhee was just another player chasing his first World Series of Poker bracelet. He changed that this summer when he won his first bracelet in Las Vegas and Saturday in Berlin he won his second bracelet of the year, winning the WSOP Europe Main Event and €883,000 ($972,879 US).
“It was a goal of mine just to win one bracelet,” MacPhee said. “Having two in the same year feels pretty unreal. I’m not the greatest mixed-game player. I’m more of a no-limit tournament specialist. So it’s very difficult for me to win two in a year.”
MacPhee started the six-handed final table with a commanding chip lead and other than a brief spell during heads-up play with David Lopez, he held control the entire night.
The first two hours of the final table could fairly be described as a bloodbath. In a 45-minute span, four players were eliminated, leaving MacPhee and Lopez to play for the bracelet.
Lopez kicked things into high gear by eliminating Felix Bleiker in sixth place. Just eight minutes later, MacPhee eliminated Kilian Kramer. MacPhee then cut short Andrew ‘luckychewy’ Lichtenberger‘s pursuit of his first bracelet when he was eliminated in fourth.
When three-handed play began MacPhee was still in control, holding 6,300,000 of the 9,390,000 chips in play. Despite his impressive chip lead, MacPhee wasn’t involved in the next elimination.
Lopez raised to 90,000 from the button, MacPhee folded his small blind, and JC PrtyPsux Alvarado moved all-in for 595,000 from the big blind. Lopez called and tabled Ac Qs, but found himself behind Alvarado’s Ad Kh. The flop came Ah 4c 2d to give both players top pair. The 6h was a safe card for Alvarado’s double-up hopes, but the Qc river gave Lopez top two pair and sent Alvarado out in third place.
While the first four eliminations came rather quickly, the final one took much longer. MacPhee maintained his lead for the first two hours before Lopez climbed his way to the top. It didn’t take long for MacPhee to regain control one final time.
On the final hand of the night, MacPhee raised to 140,000 before Lopez three-bet to 435,000. MacPhee announced he was all-in and Lopez quickly called and tabled Kc Kh. MacPhee flipped over Ad 4d. The flop came 7c 5h 2h to give MacPhee a gutshot straight draw. The 3c on the turn made MacPhee’s wheel to wrap up the hand. The meaningless river was the Js.
Final Table Payouts
- Kevin MacPhee – €883,000
- David Lopez – €475,000
- JC Alvarado – €315,000
- Andrew Lichtenberger – €225,000
- Kilian Kramer – €175,000
- Felix Bleiker – €130,000
