Online Qualifier Stanislav Zegal Wins First WSOP Paradise Main Event ($2,000,000)
The first-ever World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise Main Event champion has been crowned as Germany's Stanislav Zegal took down the $5,000 buy-in event for $2 million and his first WSOP bracelet. The GGPoker qualifier defeated heads-up opponent Michael Sklenicka of the Czech Republic to wrap up a final day that only lasted four hours.
The inaugural WSOP Paradise Main Event at the five-star Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas drew 3,010 players for a prize pool that just squeaked past the $15 million guarantee. The field included dozens of online qualifiers, including Zegal, who was able to parlay his online poker prowess into a life-altering seven-figure victory.
I was so lucky, the cards just fell my way all the time," Zegal told PokerNews in a winner's interview. "I think I played well too, but obviously (theres) tons of luck ... This is what you call life-changing money, I guess.
Zegal was joined at the international final table by Brazil's Gabriel Schroeder, Portugal's Rui Sousa and American Matt Glantz, who was looking to bring "TeamLucky" a second Main Event title this year after his good friend Daniel Weinman won $12.1 million earlier this summer.
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WSOP Paradise Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Stanislav Zegal | Germany | $2,000,000 | |
| 2nd | Michael Sklenicka | Czech Republic | $1,200,000 | |
| 3rd | Daniel Neilson | Australia | $900,000 | |
| 4th | Matt Glantz | United States | $685,000 | |
| 5th | Rui Sousa | Portugal | $510,000 | |
| 6th | Gabriel Schroeder | Brazil | $400,000 | |
| 7th | Montgomery McQuade | United Kingdom | $300,000 | |
| 8th | Luke Graham | United States | $250,000 |