John Juanda Wins 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event!

Full Tilt Pro Takes Down Prestigious WSOP Title!

This year’s World Series of Poker Europe Main Event finale was definitely one for the ages. The final table would include two of the biggest poker superstars on the planet - John Juanda and Daniel Negreanu - battling it out against “November Nine” Main Event final tablist Ivan Demidov, revered online tournament pro Scott Fischman, and 5 other gritty opponents who played good enough to make it to the end of this £10,000 buyin event.

Demidov, who is the first person to EVER make two WSOP Main Event final tables in the same year, would join his fellow Russian comrade Stanislav Alekhin at the top of the chip standings as play began for the remaining 9 players. However, all the talk in the stands seemed to be pointing to chip leader John Juanda and Team PokerStars ambassador Daniel Negreanu, who between them have a total of 7 WSOP bracelets and countless millions in tourney earnings.

Unfortunately for Negreanu, who had been playing some of the best poker of the year at this particular WSOPE, would not be able to utilize his big chip stack and sick poker sense to push forward with any realistic momentum, came up short in finishing in a disappointing 5th place. He would be steamrolled by the aforementioned Russian Stanislav Alekhin’s pocket Jacks after his A-9 failed to produce a bullet on the board.

From there on out, all the attention would be focused on Juanda and Alekhin, who would eventually meet heads-up and butt heads for the £868,000 1st place prize. They played back and forth and the chip stacks were swinging wildly. At one point, Juanda was down to his final 900,000 in chips but made an insane rally to get it even towards the conclusion. After crippling his Russian rival, the following hand came up to give Juanda his 4th WSOP bracelet (thanks WSOP.com for the live update just now!):

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:33:09

John Juanda Wins the 2008 WSOP-Europe Main Event (£868,800), Stanislav Alekhin Eliminated in 2nd Place (£533,950)

Hand #484 - Stanislav Alekhin has the button. He moves all in and Juanda calls. Alekhin A-9 Juanda K-6. The flop is 6 6 2 and Juanda flops trips to the audience’s elation. The turn is a Q and Alekhin is drawing dead. To put the icing on the cake, the case 6 falls on the river for quads and John Juanda is our champion, winning the 2008 WSOP-E Main Event and his fourth World Series of Poker bracelet! Stanislav Alekhin made a tremendous effort tonight and takes home £533,950 for his runner-up finish.