2021 World Series of Poker Europe

Finland's Joni Jouhkimainen was denied heads-up for the second time in less than a week, as Ukraine's Andriy Lyubovetskiy won his first WSOP bracelet in Event #10: €25,000 Platinum High Roller.

He topped a field of 72 players to win €518,430, after seeing off a final table that featured former bracelet winners Martin Kabrhel and Ole Schemion.

Jouhkimainen would have to make do with €320,415 in prize money, good enough for the second-largest cash of his career.

Event #10: €25,000 Platinum High Roller Final Table Results

Winner's Reaction

A stunned Lyubovetskiy could scarcely believe what had happened following his victory over Jouhkimainen.

"At this moment, I don't think I've realised what's going on and what's just happened," he told PokerNews. "But I can tell you that I've been pursuing this dream for the whole 12 years that I've been playing poker.

"Unfortunately I couldn't go to Vegas because of visa problems, but it's my second WSOP final table at the WSOP Europe."

Lyubovetskiy was straight onto the three main ladies in his life — his mother, his girlfriend and his sister — to share with them the good news.

"I think I played my best poker ever. I'm pretty happy and just have no words right now."

Final Table Recap

It was an eventful start for the start-of-day short stack Lyubovetskiy, who doubled in only the second hand of the day to move ahead of several other short stacks including Thomer Pidun who would be the first casualty at the final table.

Tom-Aksel Bedell, another short stack, would double twice to stay alive, with Jordan Westmorland taking over the chip lead as a result. The chip lead would move to Jouhkimainen after he sent Ole Schemion to the rail in seventh, but after Jouhkimainen bluffed into the full house of start-of-day chip leader Martin Kabrhel, it was the two-time bracelet winner who returned to the top of the counts.

Lyubovetskiy's big move up the leaderboard would come with the elimination of Didier Rabl, followed swiftly by the elimination of Westmorland. After being left short, Westmorland enjoyed a run of three quick doubles but a fourth attempt with pocket kings didn't pan out and he was eliminated.

With the chip lead, Lyubovetskiy quickly sent Kabrhel to the rail to extend his lead further still, but Jouhkimainen managed to hold onto his coat tails after eliminating Bedell in third, and was only 2:1 down in chips ahead of heads-up play.

Heads-up began with Lyubovetskiy extending his lead, but Jouhkimainen would double into the chip lead with pocket kings to extend the contest.

The two stacks would level out, with the chip lead changing practically after every hand before the final hand came. However, Lyubovetskiy would open a massive chip lead thanks to a hero-call after both players missed flush draws, but the Ukrainian rivered a pair.

He followed that up by finishing off his opponent, to see out victory and claim his first WSOP bracelet.

Joni Jouhkimainen shoved for 4,650,000 and Andriy Lyubovetskiy called.

Joni Jouhkimainen:
Andriy Lyubovetskiy:

There was no help for Jouhkimainen on the runout and he was eliminated in second place. He still takes home €320,415 for his efforts.

Andriy Lyubovetskiy raised to 1,500,000 and Joni Jouhkimainen called.

The flop was and Jouhkimainen check-called 1,200,000. The turn was the giving both players a flush draw.

Jouhkimainen checked again and Lyubovetskiy bet 4,500,000. Jouhkimainen called.

The river was the giving Lyubovetskiy a pair, but it was Jouhkimainen who bet 7,000,000.

"Do I want to hero-call or not?" Lyubovetskiy asked his opponent as he contemplated his decision.

He eventually called, with his one pair enough to take down the pot and move into a dominant heads-up chip lead.

In another limped pot, Joni Jouhkimainen flopped top pair on and bet 1,000,000 after Andriy Lyubovetskiy checked.

Lyubovetskiy check-raised to 3,000,000 and Jouhkimainen shoved for 14,350,000.

Eventually, Lyubovetskiy folded his hand and Jouhkimainen moved back in front.

In a limped pot, Joni Jouhkimainen checked the flop over to Andriy Lyubovetskiy who bet 500,000. Jouhkimainen called.

The turn was the and both players checked.

The river was the and Jouhkimainen checked. Lyubovetskiy bet 1,800,000 and Jouhkimainen eventually folded.

With that pot, Lyubovetskiy regained the chip lead.

Andriy Lyubovetskiy moved all in and Joni Jouhkimainen snap-called.

Joni Jouhkimainen:
Andriy Lyubovetsky:

Jouhkimainen had woken up with it and the board ran out and Jouhkimainen doubled into the chip lead.