Moldova and Poland Secure Their First Live WSOP Bracelets in Las Vegas
The US may be the nation with the most World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, but it can't take credit for all of them. The list of countries with WSOP victories just got a bit longer, with the addition of Moldova and Poland to the mix.
With 1,453 bracelets, the US leads the pack, followed by Canada (78) and England (60). Even Morocco and Kosovo have managed to secure some wins in the past.
Following impressive performances that saw them defeat several big names, Moldova and Poland have now solidified their place in the list of countries with live poker tournament victories. With the WSOP still ongoing, there's a chance for these two countries to add more hardware to their collections.
Poland Wins Through Horecki
The WSOP $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Eight-or-Better event boasted 566 participants, including regulars like Brian Rast and Sergio Braga. In attendance was a player still seeking his first WSOP title despite 17 years of experience in the live poker scene.
It was a storybook ending for Poland's Marcin Horecki, who emerged victorious after defeating four-time WSOP bracelet winner Mike "The Mouth" Matusow.
Horecki, who initially found himself near the bottom of the standings, defied the odds and made his way up the pay ladder. He even managed to outplay Rast, a six-time bracelet winner, who exited in 7th place. Horecki's final challenge was against Matusow, who was desperate to avoid going home empty-handed.
Despite Matusow's best efforts, Horecki maintained a comfortable lead throughout the match. However, the 2023 Poker Hall of Fame finalist refused to go down without a fight and kept clawing his way back.
Eventually, Matusow's efforts were in vain as his shrinking chip stack left him vulnerable. He could only watch in disbelief as Horecki's cards revealed a stronger hand, leaving him to settle for second place and a prize of $95,957.
Horecki's win marked the end of a dry spell, boosting his lifetime live poker winnings to almost $1.6 million. His last first-place finish came six years ago in the €330 Seven-Card Stud tournament of the WSOP Circuit series in Rozvadov, Czech Republic.
While Poland had previously won a WSOP bracelet through an online event, Pavel Plesuv's recent victory marks their first live tournament win.
Moldova's Plesuv Takes the Crown
Plesuv, Moldova's leading poker player, had only $5 million in winnings before the WSOP $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold'em event. Despite his extensive experience, he had never been able to secure a WSOP bracelet title.
Over the course of five days, Plesuv navigated through a field of 10,430 players to reach the final table. The moment he sat down, he knew he was in for something special. As the final table players were revealed, the reality of the situation became clear.
A crucial hand saw Plesuv hit a straight, thanks to pocket A-2 and the help of the board. He was locked in a battle with Andreas Kniep at this point, with the German taunting him before the showdown. When the cards were turned over, reality sunk in for Kniep, who took fourth place with $163,320.
Plesuv's formidable lead only grew stronger from there, enabling him to retain control as he faced off against France's Florian Ribouchon in the last heads-up match. Just a few hands later, Plesuv held the WSOP bracelet high, celebrating with his friends and family, and claiming his $1.2 million prize. Ribouchon received $1 million for his second-place finish.
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Source: www.casino.org
