The amateur player overcame big names to capture his first live cash
Maurice Nass took his first live tournament win at the 2023 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) at King’s Resort in Rozvadov after defeating Traian Stanciu heads up to secure the €60,000 ($65,130) top prize in Event #15: €550 NLH Closer. He survived the 628-player field to take the largest share of the €298,300 ($323,805) prize pool.
The German amateur made the best of his only series appearance. “I had no time because I have a job, no time to play other tournaments,” Nass said to PokerNews following his win. “I decided to play The Closer because I’m very good in closer tournaments. That’s why I stayed here to play this tournament, with one bullet, and I won!”
The final table saw Andrzej Jedryczka with a big stack early after a double knockout, but he would soon go home after Duc Tuan Tran’s pocket aces eliminated him in ninth place for €4,474 ($4,857).
Roland Israelashvili cashed in eighth to win €5,750 ($6,242), with Theodoor Woolschot the next to fall after moving all-in with pocket eights against Tran’s jacks to finish seventh for €7,550 ($8196).
Three more players fell in the next 15 minutes, as Bogdan Tilica finished sixth for €10,050 ($10,909), Anthony Mahaut was next in fifth for €13,600 ($14,763) and Sefora Pop took fourth place, netting him €18,600 ($20,190).
The final three would grind for four hours until Tran lost consecutive hands to Stanciu and Nass, sending him home in third place for €25,900 ($28,114). After Stanciu doubled from ten big blinds, Nass would eventually gain those chips back and win the event with a little more than 30 big blinds remaining in play. Stanciu would cash €36,600 ($39,729) as runner-up.
