There’s no scarcity {of professional} mainstream sports activities stars who’ve gone on to win on the poker tables – the competitiveness of the exercise drives them. The most recent so as to add his identify to the record is Max Kruse, a Bundesliga soccer participant who simply took down a World Sequence of Poker Europe (WSOPE) occasion.
Bundesliga soccer participant Max Kruse reacts on the sphere. He additionally grew to become a profitable poker participant, incomes a WSOP bracelet in a latest occasion. (Picture: Stern)
Kruse shares the identical house as Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar, Jr. or former MLB participant Alex Rodriguez. All of them thirst for achievement on the poker tables. Of those three, solely Kruse can brag about successful a WSOP bracelet.
The 34-year-old ahead received the €1,650 (US$1,650) WSOPE No-Restrict Maintain’em Six-Max event within the Czech city of Rozvadov. Kruse, who has had problem on the soccer area over time, may make a residing as knowledgeable poker participant.
From Soccer Kicks to Poker Chips
With the win, Kruse scored a payday of €134,152 (US$134,152), however it wasn’t his first. In 2020, he pocketed just a little greater than $57K within the $25K No-Restrict Maintain ’em Poker Gamers Championship. He adopted that up final yr with a third-place end for simply over $62K within the GGPoker WSOP On-line $10K Heads-Up Championship.
His finest WSOP consequence was in 2014. That yr, he completed third within the WSOP $1,500 No Restrict 2-7 Draw Lowball for $36,494.
Congratulations to Vfl Wolfsburg (@VfLWolfsburg_EN) participant Max Kruse (@MaxKruse_10) for outlasting 413 entrants within the €1,650 NLH Six-Max to earn his first WSOP bracelet!
“I’m overwhelmed. It’s the best feeling to have lastly received a WSOP bracelet.” pic.twitter.com/VwDLGSLZkk
— WSOP – World Sequence of Poker (@WSOP) November 9, 2022
Kruse cruised to victory by eliminating French participant Doran Melchers within the closing heads-up battle of the seventh WSOPE occasion.
Down 2:1 in chips, he launched a surge that culminated in a showdown between his pocket 2s and Melchers’ A-Q. Though his opponent discovered his pair on the flip, a deuce on the river gave Kruse a set to win the hand and the occasion.
The Bundesliga participant has been with Wolfsburg however is leaving after falling out with coach Niko Kovac. There are rumors a couple of transfer to MLS. However there’s additionally an opportunity he may return to his former staff, Werder Bremen. Kruse performed for them from 2016 to 2019.
Quick Deck Occasion Delivers Tall Prize
In one other WSOPE occasion, Switzerland’s Emil Bise secured the €2,200 (US$2,200) Quick Deck occasion for his second WSOP bracelet. He added €49,521 (US$49,521) in prize cash.
Forty-five contributors and 46 re-entries pushed the prize pool to €172,900 ($172,900), with 14 gamers remaining within the closing run. The bubble had burst on Day 1, and people nonetheless on the desk had been set to take house no less than €3,572 (US$3,572).
As gamers continued to hit the rail, Bise was able to be subsequent. Nevertheless, he doubled towards Tom Paz and Simeon Tsonev, giving him some respiratory room. With a cushty lead, Jakub Koleckar went heads-up towards Bise. However the Swiss professional doubled, grabbed the lead, and ultimately, the bracelet.
It got here right down to pocket queens vs. A-10, with Bise holding a lot of the chips and the pair. The flop didn’t assist both participant, however Bise secured his win on the flip when a queen appeared. At that time, Koleckar was drawing lifeless, and the 6 on the river was irrelevant.
