Marius Schneider delivered an electrifying finish at the 2024 World Series of Poker Europe, securing his first-ever bracelet in Event #15: €550 Closer at King’s Resort in Rozvadov. Schneider’s impressive performance earned him a career-best prize of €44,000, as he triumphed in a challenging heads-up duel against Romania’s Tiberiu Tirca, who walked away with €28,800—also a personal record.
The second and final day of Event #15 at the World Series of Poker Europe saw 58 players return to King’s Resort Rozvadov, all guaranteed at least a min-cash. Marius Schneider came into the day with just 16 big blinds, making him one of the shorter stacks in the field.
Several notable players fell short of the final table, including two-time bracelet winners Ilija Savevski (55th) and Wing Po Liu (53rd), and bracelet winner Sergiu Covrig (17th).
Among the final nine, Martin Kabrhel was the only player with prior WSOP victories, fresh off winning his third bracelet in the €50,000 high roller event. Kabrhel exited in eighth place (€4,246) after his pair and flush draw failed to overcome Tiberiu Tirca’s top pair. Kabrhel’s career earnings now exceed $12.8 million after yet another strong showing at WSOPE.
Marius Schneider began his surge by winning a crucial flip with Q-J suited against Ron Jeda’s pocket nines, eliminating Jeda in seventh place (€5,583). Musa Jusaj followed in sixth place (€7,493) when his A-10 couldn’t crack Ran Shahar’s pocket tens.
Despite knocking out Jusaj, Shahar soon found himself eliminated in fifth place (€10,434). Holding top pair on a five-high board, he got all-in against Schneider’s bottom pair and straight draw. The turn completed Schneider’s straight, and he held on to send Shahar to the rail.
De Han Kim was the next to go, finishing fourth (€10,434) after his A-10 lost to Schneider’s J-7 suited when a seven hit the turn, giving Schneider the winning hand.
Ib Poulsen shoved with Q-10 from the button, only to run into Tirca’s A-10. With neither player improving, Poulsen finished in third place (€21,423), setting up a heads-up showdown between Tirca and Schneider.
Tirca began heads-up play with a slight chip lead, 6.4 million to Schneider’s 5.6 million, but the decisive hand came after about an hour of play. Tirca limped in with K♦6♠, and Schneider raised to 900,000 from the big blind with A♥K♣. Tirca shoved, and Schneider called all-in. The board ran out A♣5♥2♦5♣2♣, doubling Schneider into a commanding lead.
With just a few big blinds left, Tirca shoved the next hand with 8♦3♦ against Schneider’s K♠4♥. The board ran K♦10♣8♥7♣Q♥, securing Schneider the title and bracelet, while Tirca finished runner-up, earning €31,968.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marius Schneider | Germany | €44,000 |
| 2 | Tiberiu Tirca | Romania | €28,800 |
| 3 | Ib Poulsen | Denmark | €19,300 |
| 4 | De Han Kim | South Korea | €13,300 |
| 5 | Ran Shahar | Israel | €9,400 |
