The global poker community was treated to a breakout performance as Zdenek Zizka carved his name into the history books with a dominant victory in the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) Super High Roller Series R$500,000 ($100,000 USD) Main Event. While fellow Czech star Martin Kabrhel generated his usual table-wide buzz, it was Zizka’s silent, disciplined approach that ultimately stole the spotlight and brought him the R$6,000,000 (US$1,200,000) top prize — the largest score of his career.
“To be honest, I completely don’t know what it means yet,” Zizka said after defeating Brazilian superstar and $50K champ Felipe Boianovsky heads-up, still taking in the enormity of the moment. “It just means like another great piece from another new country, and it will definitely mean a lot.”
Long before Zizka entered the Brazilian Series of Poker, he was already known as a strategy prodigy — but in the world of backgammon, not poker.
A certified grandmaster, Zizka had achieved international recognition as one of the top minds in the game. He finished runner-up at the 2022 Backgammon World Championship and later published a popular strategy guide titled “The Zizka Method.” His brain for calculation and risk assessment made him a feared competitor — even before he ever bought into a poker tournament.
Poker, however, is still a fairly new chapter for him. His first recorded cash came roughly two years ago, and for most of that time, his scores hovered below $20,000. But everything changed in 2024 and 2025. Zizka’s rise has been meteoric:
- Won a WSOP bracelet, defeating Shaun Deeb in a $1,000 NLHE event
- Three final tables at WSOP Europe
- More than $1 million in early-2025 cashes
- Now the BSOP Super High Roller champion
With his BSOP score nearly matching his entire prior live earnings combined, Zizka has officially arrived as a legitimate global contender.
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Final Table Breakdown
The final table was a dynamic mix of escalating tensions, big moments, and dramatic swings — yet Zizka remained unshaken.
Early Eliminations
- Gabriel Tavares became the first casualty after running queens into Kabrhel’s kings.
- Ottomar Ladva followed shortly after when Zizka’s flopped set of threes crushed his pocket jacks.
Four-Handed Dominance
Zizka and Boianovsky controlled the pace as Renan Bruschi and Kabrhel searched for opportunities. Zizka’s momentum surged thanks to two crucial hands:
- A brave river call with third pair
- Another pot secured by flopping bottom set
The Loudest Moment: Kabrhel’s Rollercoaster Exit
Kabrhel found himself all-in with pocket nines vs. Bruschi’s jacks. The flop delivered Kabrhel a set, prompting full celebration — only for the turn to bring a jack, ending his run in 4th place and triggering a wave of reactions across the room.
Three-Handed Chaos
Momentum shifted repeatedly:
- Bruschi doubled through both players
- Boianovsky hit a straight on Zizka
- Zizka won a dramatic three-way all-in, his pocket sevens cracking Boianovsky’s nines while Bruschi busted in third
Heads-Up for the Title
Boianovsky entered heads-up with the slightest of leads, but Zizka immediately seized control with a perfectly timed bluff-catch. The final hand saw Boianovsky shove with ace-nine into Zizka’s pocket tens — and the board offered no salvation.
Zdenek Zizka officially became the newest champion of the Brazilian Series of Poker, earning respect, recognition, and a life-changing payday.
A New Force in Global Poker
With a WSOP bracelet, multiple final tables, and now a major victory at the Brazilian Series of Poker, Zdenek Zizka’s rapid ascent shows no signs of slowing. His background in elite strategy gaming, paired with his calm and analytical playing style, makes him one of the most intriguing rising stars in the poker world.
Whether he’s traveling through Europe, competing in Las Vegas, or now conquering South America, one thing is clear:
Brazilian Series of Poker $100,000 Super High Roller Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (R$) | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zdenek Zizka | Czechia | R$6,000,000 | $1,200,000 |
| 2 | Felipe Boianovsky | Brazil | R$3,800,000 | $760,000 |
| 3 | Renan Bruschi | Brazil | R$2,700,000 | $540,000 |
| 4 | Martin Kabrhel | Czechia | R$2,000,000 | $400,000 |
| 5 | Ottomar Ladva | Estonia | R$1,500,000 | $300,000 |
| 6 | Gabriel Tavares | Brazil | R$1,193,600 | $238,700 |
