Dodging the restrictions imposed by the Czech government, the 2021 World Series of Poker Europe’s Main Event has wrapped up action on their first Day One of action. The number of players that have come to felt will ensure that it will be one of the most well-attended WSOP-E Main Event’s in the history of its stay in Rozvadov, perhaps even challenging 1000 entries by the close of Day One action. Most happy about these figures is the Day 1A chip leader, Daniel Rezaei, who socked away 617,500 in chips to take to Day 2 action on Sunday.
Guarantee Sure to Be Broken
Perhaps a bit concerned about drawing a field for the 2021 WSOP-E Main Event, there was a €5 million guarantee placed on the event. If the Day 1A field is any indication, those worries were not necessary. 434 players came to the felt, even with the increased COVID restrictions affecting the King’s Casino in Rozvadov, which nearly topped the fields for the last three WSOP-E Main Events held in the Czech casino.
Since the European hotspot for poker has taken over the WSOP-E, 500-plus player fields have become the norm. In 2017, 529 players came to the felt, while 2018 saw 534 players enter the event. In 2019 (the last year of live action for the WSOP-E), the second largest field of all time came out for the WSOP-E Main Event, with 541 players hitting the baize (only the 2011 WSOP-E had more players, at 593).
The 434 players that have already put up their €10,000 to enter the WSOP-E will most certainly be topped on Saturday, when the second of two-Day Ones will take place. That will shatter the €5 million guarantee and should top the record in the tournament, the €5,692,800 prize pool established in 2011. Whether it will crack the €1.4 million that Elio Fox earned by winning the title remains to be seen.
Daniel Rezaei Rides Battle with Martin Kabrhel to Chip Lead
Rezaei was the major beneficiary of a major battle with top European pro Martin Kabrhel. After shifting chips back and forth for much of the Day 1A action, Rezaei was able to get nearly a full double up through Kabrhel, his pocket tens turning a set to vanquish Kabrhel and push Rezaei over 480K in chips. He would continue to charge up the leaderboard, ending the day in the chip lead with another top European player hot on his heels.
1. Daniel Rezaei, 617,500
2. Ole Schemion, 540,000
3. Ian Bradley, 492,600
4. Edmond Jahjaga, 474,300
5. Dario Quattrucci, 443,600
6. Jovan Kenjic, 432,100
7. Enrico Campanile, 409,100
8. David Kaesler, 389,300
9. Zhong Chen, 372,500
10. Simone Andrian, 368,100
Roughly 275 players (at press time, final stats for the Day 1A action were still being calculated) will be around to go to Day 2 on Sunday, but they will have a bit of time to relax. Saturday’s Day 1B action should be frenetic, with the “last chance” to get into the 2021 WSOP-E Main Event on the line for many. Day 1B will hear the call to “shuffle up and deal” at 10AM on Saturday morning (4AM Eastern Time in the States of America) and we will learn just how big the 2021 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event will be.