WPT Slovenia just finished, with local Miha Travnik taking the first place title and $144,399! Travnik will also be receiving a $25,500 entry into the WPT World Championship held at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, later this year.
WPT Slovenia featured 141 entrants and a total prize pool of $554,609, running for five days total. It was located in the historic Metropol Casino, in the sunny beach-side getaway of Portoroz, Slovenia. The Metropol Casino is known for its castle like architecture and breathtaking views of the stunning Adriatic Sea.
The twenty-year old Travnik came in with online only experience. This was his first major live tournament and he was up against some stiff competition. With Portoroz’ close proximity to Italy, many of Italy’s top pros made the flight. It seems though that home field has its advantages. With this win Travnik becomes the first Slovenian to win a major international poker tournament!
At the final table tough Swedish pro Johannes Korsar, who held the chip lead for much of the tournament, tried to make it back to back Swedish WPT wins, after fellow countrymen Lukas Berglund won the first stop on this year’s WPT Tour, the WPT Spanish Championship. Korsar ended up settling for third after losing a few monster hands to Italian live pro Vincento Natale.
Heads up action found Travnik facing Vincento Natale and very short on chips. Only by overcoming a large chip deficit was Travnik able to get the win. The win meant a great deal to Travnik, who is very proud to bring the first ever WPT Title to Slovenia, as well as to do it in front of his friends and family looking on from the rail.
This is the 10th season of the WPT, with two events already done out of twelve scheduled for the year. The next three events will be Legends of Poker in Los Angeles (Aug 25th), WPT Grand Prix de Paris (Sept. 5th), and the Borgata Poker Open in Atlantic City (Sept. 18th).
Also, next month in Los Angeles, Season 9 Player of the Year Andy Frankenberger is scheduled to receive his Player of the Year trophy at a special ceremony.
Final Table Results:
1st: Miha Travnik: €84,500 – Slovenia
2nd: Vincenzo Natale: €70,700 – Italy
3rd: Johannes Korsar: €48,500 – Sweden
4th: Ferdi Ciorabai: €36,300 – Romania
5th: Gaetano Fortugno: €28,800 – Italy
6th: Marcello Marigliano: €23,400 – Italy