WSOPE: The Biggest Lucker in History? Indomitable Bendinelli Adds WSOP Bracelet to EPT Title

The action at WSOP Europe is gaining momentum each day, and now we know the names of four new bracelet holders. Two of them were awarded yesterday during the final days of the €2k NLH Monsterstack and €1k PLO events.

The Marathon Finale with an Incredible Finish

In the final of Event #4, the €2,000 NLH Monsterstack, Italy's 'comeback kid' Giuliano Bendinelli scripted a remarkable story. Among 419 entries, the champion from the record-breaking EPT Barcelona Main Event 2022 battled through a challenging final day, clinching his first WSOP bracelet after an exhilarating heads-up at King's Resort. He scooped €169,850 for his victory, and like the entire top ten, secured a ticket to the WSOPE Main Event, worth €10,350.

Bendinelli entered the final day as a big stack, but was thoroughly tested. He slid to around ten blinds before clawing back into the game. Sitting at the final table with a 25bb stack, he held fourth place on the leaderboard.

At the final table, it was primarily driven by Czech backgammon world champion and fresh bracelet winner Zdeněk Žižka, who claimed a golden bracelet in Vegas (defeating Shaun Deeb heads-up). The 26-year-old home player demonstrated exceptional skill, eliminating four rivals before entering heads-up against Bendinelli with roughly a four-to-one lead.

When Fortune Smiles, You Can't Lose

The first hand of the heads-up could have ended it all. Bendinelli, holding 6 s 6 h, faced A c T c suited, but hit a full house on the flop with 4 s 4 c 6 c. Minutes later, the Italian survived another all-in with A h 2 h against A d J s that ended in a chop. Žižka continued to press, keeping the Italian under ten blinds, but Bendinelli seemed to have nine lives.

In another face-off with A d 8 d against T h 8 s, the flop of A h T c T d looked ominous, but he held an ace up his sleeve as the turn brought A c, giving him another double-up. Soon after, with 8 d K d, he defeated Žižka's A d J s, hitting a backdoor flush.

The final curtain came when Bendinelli's J d J c held against Žižka's A h T d, sealing the win. A frustrated Žižka could only shake his head, yet he walked away with a €115,650 consolation prize (including a ME WSOPE ticket).

Indomitable Giuliano Bendinelli took his first WSOP bracelet and €169,850 (including a ticket). Remarkably, this isn't the first time Bendinelli defied the odds. At his EPT triumph, he turned a single blind into a title, demonstrating his resilience.

Sascha Wilhelm Snatches Second Bracelet in Thrilling Heads-Up

Amidst the drama, Event #3, the €1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Max final, unfolded nearby with the last 16 players vying for the bracelet. Germany's Sascha Wilhelm navigated the 811-strong field, withstood the pressure of seasoned Omaha pros, and claimed his second WSOP gold bracelet after a tense heads-up with Denmark’s Daniel Bang-Ortmann, earning €148,600.

Entering the final sixteen, Omaha specialist Salih Atac was a top contender alongside eventual champion Wilhelm. Atac, a key figure throughout, bowed out in 8th place after a series of tough spots. Chaos dominated the finale, with Bang-Ortmann twice fighting back into contention, but Wilhelm held his nerve to secure a second career bracelet.

Sources - YouTube, Kings-Resort, PokerNews