The World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) 2025 got underway in Rozvadov, Czechia, with a historic victory for Poland. Pawel Wojciechowski captured his first-ever WSOP bracelet in the €1,200 No-Limit Hold’em Bounty Hunter Opener, overcoming a field of 385 entries at King’s Resort.
After a marathon 12-hour Day 2 session, Wojciechowski claimed the gold bracelet and a career-best $68,855 payday. The win marked his fifth career WSOP cash and his second in-the-money finish at WSOPE, solidifying him as one of Poland’s rising poker stars.
World Series of Poker Europe 2025 Kicks Off Strong
The opening event of the 15-bracelet WSOPE schedule brought plenty of drama and big names. Across two starting flights, 59 players advanced to Day 2, all guaranteed a min-cash of $1,410.
Among the notables who cashed but fell short of the final table were:
- Martin Kabrhel (25th) – controversial Czech pro
- Makarios Avramidis (24th)
- Renji Mao (27th)
- Zdenek Zizka (34th)
- Manig Loeser (42nd)
- Helmut Phung (47th)
Slovakian veteran Jan Bendik dominated early, entering the final table with a massive chip lead of 114 big blinds. Wojciechowski, meanwhile, held a middle stack but was poised for a comeback.
Final Table of the World Series of Poker Europe Bounty Hunter
The action at the final table quickly shifted when Wojciechowski doubled through Bendik with pocket aces against A♠K♦. That hand swung the momentum, and from there, Wojciechowski built his way to the title.
Key Eliminations:
- 9th – Amit Buganim ($3,861): Shoved A♣10♦ into A♠K♦ and hit the rail.
- 8th – Pablo Heredia ($4,914): His ace-queen suited couldn’t crack Wojciechowski’s pocket aces.
- 7th – Georgios Mylonas ($6,494): Pushed with J♦9♠ but lost to A♦9♦.
- 6th – Franz George ($8,717): His short-stacked K♦10♣ fell to A♦Q♠.
- 5th – Ioannis Chorianopoulos ($24,219): Lost a full house-over-full house cooler with pocket sevens against Wojciechowski’s queens.
- 4th – Mateusz Sikora ($29,250): Couldn’t recover from short-stack play, eliminated with a flush draw.
- 3rd – Dorian Melchers ($37,148): All-in with Q♠3♥, lost to Wojciechowski’s K♣J♥.
Heads-Up: Wojciechowski vs. Bendik
The title came down to Pawel Wojciechowski and Jan Bendik, with Wojciechowski holding a 2:1 chip advantage.
Final Hand:
- Board: 10♦3♥2♣ 9♥ 8♣
- Bendik: 9♦3♠ (two pair)
- Wojciechowski: Q♥J♦ (rivered straight)
Bendik bet the river, only to face an all-in shove from Wojciechowski. After tanking, he called and saw the bad news: a straight to end his run.
Bendik collected $49,316 as runner-up, pushing his career live earnings beyond $3.3 million.
Final Table Payouts – WSOPE 2025 Bounty Hunter
| Place | Player | Country | Prize | POY Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pawel Wojciechowski | Poland | $68,855 | 600 |
| 2 | Jan Bendik | Slovakia | $49,316 | 500 |
| 3 | Dorian Melchers | France | $37,148 | 400 |
| 4 | Mateusz Sikora | Poland | $29,250 | 300 |
| 5 | Ioannis Chorianopoulos | Greece | $24,219 | 250 |
| 6 | Franz George | Germany | $8,717 | 200 |
| 7 | Georgios Mylonas | Greece | $6,494 | 150 |
| 8 | Pablo Heredia | Spain | $4,914 | 100 |
| 9 | Amit Buganim | Israel | $3,861 | 50 |
A Defining Moment for Wojciechowski
For Pawel Wojciechowski, the bracelet represents not just a career milestone but also validation on the international stage. His run at the World Series of Poker Europe showcased composure, discipline, and a little bit of destiny.
This victory adds to Poland’s growing poker legacy and sets the stage for an exciting WSOPE 2025 series, with 14 more bracelets still up for grabs at King’s Resort.
