In my last column I reported that after a good start to the series with several final table places, British players underachieved for the next dozen events or so. It was written just in time to report on Max Pescatori's win in Event No. 24, which secured him his second bracelet.
However, I failed to mention that this was indeed the second bracelet win by a European in this year's series, as German Jens Voertmann's win in Event No. 22, the $3,000 HORSE event, was the first. Since then, British players have made a few further final tables, but have been in the shadow of continental European players, who excelled at taking home the wrist wear. Since Pescatori's win, a further eight tournaments have been won by European players, taking the Euro bracelet tally to ten after 45 events.
Russian player Vitaly Lunkin won Event No. 27, taking home over $600,000 when defeating a field of over 2,700 runners in the $1,500 no-limit hold 'em event. Rob Hollink won Holland's first ever bracelet by taking down the $10,000 World Championship Limit hold 'em Event No. 30 and almost half a million in prize money. Event No. 31 was also won by a European, this time in the shape of diminutive Italian Dario Minieri, for just over half a million. Irishman John O'Shea also made the final. Then, in Event No. 32, Germany's Sebastian Ruthenberg made it three in a row for Europe, by winning the $5,000 world championship seven card stud hi-lo event. Dutchman Marcel Luske was fourth and Italian Allesio Isaia was sixth in the same tournament.
Daniel Makowsky of Switzerland was pipped to the post by Layne Flack in Event No. 34, while Italian Dario Alioto was fourth. But Europe did not have to wait long for more glory, as Event No. 36 was the scene of the next success story when Denmark's Jesper Hougaard won the $610,000 first prize, defeating over 2,400 runners in another $1,500 no-limit hold 'em tournament.
David Benyamine made up for his near miss in Event No. 28 by securing another victory for Europe in Event No. 37. It was the $10,000 world championship Omaha/8 tournament and boasted a first prize of $535,000. David Kitai of Belgium won Event No. 38 ($2,000 pot-limit Omaha), making it six of the last nine events, and took the European bracelet tally up to nine. But that was not the end of it, as Germany's Martin Klaser made it ten by winning Event No. 43, the $1,500 pot-limit Omaha/8. So why the success? In past series there has never been anything like this level of achievement by European players, but now they are outperforming themselves. The answer lies in the growth of poker as a worldwide pastime. Five years ago poker tournaments in Europe were sparse, with only a handful of venues outside of the UK offering decent festivals. Now the calendar is three or four times as busy, with many bigger buy-in events.
The European Poker Tour (EPT) and other tours in the UK and Europe have made a huge impact in increasing the standard of competition. Running antes are also now standard in many European tournaments, whereas five years ago they were almost unheard of.
There have always been great European and British players, but in the past they were small in number. Now there are many more Europeans playing at the highest level, so more bracelet wins were inevitable, it just took a few years to gather momentum. Roll on the main event.
Jonathan Raab is a poker consultant and tournament reporter. He also represents online poker site Blue Square at live poker events in the UK and Europe, and manages the GUKPT. Email Jonathan at jr@bluesq.com
