The 2019 World Series of Poker Europe kicked off this week at King’s Resort in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, and the first event is in the books. Topping the 1,011-entry field in the €350 Opener No Limit Hold’em was Renat Bohdanov, earning €53,654 and his first career gold bracelet.

The win proved to be the largest live tournament score of Bohdanov’s career, as his previous best payout was for €11,350 in the €250 Mini Main Event held earlier in the month during the WSOP International Circuit in Rozvadov.

WSOP Europe Event #1 Results

1st: Renat Bohdanov – €53,654
2nd: Norbert Mosonyi – €33,112
3rd: Eyal Bensimhon – €23,386
4th: Mykhailo Hryhoriev – €16,736
5th: Samuel Mika – €12,138
6th: Michal Kral – €8,923
7th Rafi Elharar – €6,651
8th: Jeff Lisandro – €5,026
9th: Ricardas Vymeris – €3,853

The event created a prize pool of €302,541, with the top 152 finishers reaching the money. Among those to finish in the money were Ismael Bojang (14th – €2,363), Pierre Neuville (24th – €1,538), Erik Cajelais (76th – €615), and top-ranked PA online poker player Thai Ha (146th – €465).

Entering Day 3, the final day of play, 10 players remained. Austria’s Eyal Bensimhon had the chip lead to start and it was Marcus Mondel first to bust. He was knocked out by Bensimhon to set the official final table.

After Ricardas Vymeris fell in ninth place, six-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Jeff Lisandro was eliminated in eighth. Rafi Elharar then went out in seventh, Michal Kral in sixth, and Samuel Mika in fifth. It was Bohdanov who knocked out Mika in what was the biggest of the tournament up until that point. Bohdanov had the to Mika’s , but he was able to come from behind thanks to the runout.

Four-handed play saw Mykhailo Hryhoriev bust in fourth, also falling at the hands of Bohdanov as Bohdanov increased his chip lead. Shortly thereafter, Bohdanov got even more chips when he knocked out Bensimhon in third place. On Bensimhon’s final hand, he got the last of his chips in with the against Bohdanov’s . The window card was an ace, but it was followed by a king and a three on the flop to keep Bensimhon alive. The turn was the and Bensimhon was still in front, but the on the river gave Bohdanov a better two pair.

Bohdanov entered heads-up play with the chip lead and continued to apply pressure to widen the gap.

Although the chip lead did change hands during heads-up play, it was ultimately Bohdanov that got the better of his opponent. On the final hand, Bohdanov’s held up against the for Norbet Mosonyi. The money went in preflop and the final runout was .