Capping off what has been a stirring fortnight of poker at the Spielbank Berlin Casino in Germany, the United States’ Kevin MacPhee earned his second bracelet of 2015 over Spain’s David Lopez at the €10,000 Championship Event of the World Series of Poker Europe on Saturday night.
The six man final table was set up for play on Friday with the sentimental choice for many going by the wayside. After an opening bet out of Lopez, MacPhee three-bet the action from the small blind. That wouldn’t be the end of the fireworks, however, as Erik Seidel – looking for his ninth WSOP bracelet – pushed it to four bets from the big blind as Lopez ducked for cover. Instead of cowering himself, MacPhee upped the bet again with a five-bet and, after Seidel moved his stack to the center, MacPhee was more than happy to make the call
Seidel’s Big Slick in spades was nice, but it was MacPhee’s red pocket Aces that stole the show. There weren’t any spades on the 7-5-2 flop, eliminating the possibility of a flush from the equation, and an eight on the turn left the Poker Hall of Famer drawing dead to MacPhee. After the purely ceremony of the river card (a deuce), Seidel was out of the WSOP-Europe in seventh place as the remaining six men bagged up their chips.
Coming into the final table of the 2015 WSOP-E Championship Event, MacPhee – courtesy of that knockout of Seidel – was far and away the chip leader:
Kevin MacPhee, 5.015 million
Andrew Lichtenberger, 2.135 million
JC Alvarado, 1.07 million
David Lopez, 520,000
Kilian Kramer, 435,000
Felix Bleiker, 215,000
Lopez would get a key double up right out of the gate, his pocket tens standing up to the Big Chick (A-Q) of Alvarado, while Bleiker staved off elimination by picking up the blinds and antes on a few occasions. Alvarado, after having his stack halved by Lopez, would regain that stack when he doubled up through Lichtenberger when his Big Slick this time outraced Lichtenberger’s pocket Queens.
As everyone else scrambled in their attempts to catch up to him, MacPhee remained above the fray until after Lopez took down Bleiker in sixth place. Following that elimination, MacPhee went on the proverbial rampage, knocking off Kramer and Lichtenberger in fifth and fourth places, respectively, to further entrench his lead. It would come down between Lopez and Alvarado to determine who would take on MacPhee for the title and, when that clash occurred, it was a stunning one.
After Lopez opened up the action off the button, Alvarado put the remainder of his stack in the center of the table. Lopez would make the call and show the A-Q, but Alvarado had an edge with his A-K. Once an Ace came on the A-4-2 rainbow flop, Alvarado’s lead was extended. With a six on the turn removing any chance at a split pot, Alvarado only had to fade the three ladies in the deck to emerge with a needed double up. Alas, it was not to be as the river Q♣ crushed Alvarado’s dominance in giving Lopez Aces up and the hand to eliminate Alvarado in third place.
With more than a 2:1 lead, MacPhee and Lopez went about finishing off the evening’s entertainment. After slightly more than an hour of dalliance, MacPhee would open up the betting and, after Lopez three-bet him, MacPhee put him to the test with an all-in move. Lopez was more than up to the challenge, making the call and turning up pocket Kings for the fight while MacPhee could only muster an A♦ 4♦ to go to battle. It would prove to be enough as, once the 7-5-2-3 flop and turn hit the felt, MacPhee had made an unbeatable Wheel to win the 2015 WSOP-E Championship Event (for posterity’s sake, the river Jack was laid out to complete the board).
1. Kevin MacPhee (United States), €883,000
2. David Lopez (Spain), €475,000
3. JC Alvarado (Mexico), €315,000
4. Andrew Lichtenberger (United States), €225,000
5. Kilian Kramer (Germany), €175,000
6. Felix Bleiker (Switzerland), €130,000
With the end of the WSOP Europe, the 2015 WSOP Player of the Year race also comes to a close. With none of the members of the 2015 “November Nine” within shooting distance of him, $50,000 Poker Players’ Champion Mike Gorodinsky will earn the POY honors with 2251.81 points, although MacPhee’s win brought him close with 2168.98 points. MacPhee will be more than satisfied with the Championship Event win in Berlin, however, as the final hands of the 2015 WSOP season are played out.