Simone Andrian has once again written his name into poker history, securing his second WSOP bracelet by winning the 2024 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event. With this triumph, Andrian not only claimed the prestigious title but also took home a career-best €1,300,000 at King’s Resort, Rozvadov.
This win was particularly special for Simone, as he had begun his live poker journey in this very venue back in 2021, where he earned his first bracelet. Coming full circle, Andrian overcame an impressive field of 768 players in what turned out to be the second-largest WSOPE Main Event in history. The final showdown was a tense heads-up battle against Urmo Velvelt, an Estonian poker pro who made the Italian sweat for every chip during their three-hour duel.
2024 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Simone Andrian | Italy | €1,300,000 |
| 2 |  Urmo Velvelt | Estonia | €854,000 |
| 3 |  Ran Ilani | Israel | €590,000 |
| 4 |  Mariusz Golinski | Poland | €415,000 |
| 5 |  David Hochheim | Germany | €297,000 |
| 6 | Enrico Camosci | Italy | €217,000 |
| 7 |  Robin Berggren | Sweden | €161,000 |
| 8 |  Luka Bojovic | Serbia | €122,000 |
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The Road to Victory
With Simone Andrian starting the final day of 6 players as the chip leader, his journey to victory wasn’t without its challenges. Fellow Italian pro Enrico Camosci was the first to be eliminated after his A♦J♦ couldn’t improve against Velvelt’s 8♥8♦. David Hochheim soon followed after his A♦4♣ was no match for Andrian’s Q♠Q♣, leaving Hochheim to exit in fifth place.
For Mariusz Golinski, the cards just didn’t fall in his favor. First, he paid off Velvelt’s trip jacks, and then his A♠Q♣ ran into Ran Ilani’s pocket queens. Despite a valiant effort, Golinski was eliminated in fourth place.
As three-handed play commenced, Ran Ilani needed a double-up and found one with his A♦Q♥ against Velvelt’s A♣J♣. However, his luck didn’t hold, and Velvelt reclaimed the lead, ultimately busting Ilani when his Q♦Q♣ held against Ilani’s A♦K♠. Ilani’s exit in third set the stage for a gripping heads-up battle.
The Heads-Up Showdown
Entering heads-up play with nearly identical stacks, Urmo Velvelt seized the momentum early on, even extending his lead at one point. But Simone Andrian was determined, and after a series of well-timed bluffs and solid reads, he clawed back into the contest.
In the pivotal hand, Velvelt five-bet shoved with 8♦8♠, forcing Andrian to fold his A♦8♠. However, the Estonian’s aggression would eventually backfire. On the final hand, Velvelt shoved with A♥10♠, only to be snap-called by Andrian’s 10♥10♣. The clean runout sealed the win for Simone Andrian, who celebrated with his rail as he was crowned the 2024 WSOPE Main Event Champion.
A Career-Defining Moment
“This is the biggest moment of my career,” Andrian said, reflecting on his emotional win. “I couldn’t have asked for a better place to do it. I’ve been playing here for years, and to win this title here, it feels so special.“
With this victory, Simone Andrian adds a second WSOP bracelet to his resume, joining an elite club of champions. His tournament earnings have now surpassed $2.6 million, cementing his status as one of Italy’s top poker professionals.
Prestigious History of WSOPE Main Event Champions
The WSOPE Main Event has a rich history, with Simone Andrian now joining an elite group of champions following his victory in 2024. Over the years, this prestigious tournament has seen notable winners, including legends like Phil Hellmuth, who claimed the title in 2012, and Adrián Mateos, who became a rising star with his 2013 win. The event has grown significantly, reaching a record 817 entrants in 2023, when Max Neugebauer took home €1,500,000. Andrian’s triumph in the second-largest Main Event field ever, with 768 entrants, further cements the tournament’s status as a premier event in the global poker scene.
| Year | Winner | Prize | Entrants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 |  Annette Obrestad | £1,000,000 | 362 |
| 2008 |  John Juanda | £868,800 | 362 |
| 2009 | Barry Shulman | £801,603 | 334 |
| 2010 |  James Bord | £830,401 | 346 |
| 2011 | Elio Fox | €1,400,000 | 593 |
| 2012 | Phil Hellmuth | €1,022,376 | 420 |
| 2013 |  Adrián Mateos | €1,000,000 | 375 |
| 2015 | Kevin MacPhee | €883,000 | 313 |
| 2017 | Marti Roca de Torres | €1,115,207 | 529 |
| 2018 | Jack Sinclair | €1,122,239 | 534 |
| 2019 |  Alexandros Kolonias | €1,133,678 | 541 |
| 2021 |  Josef Guláš | €1,276,712 | 688 |
| 2022 | Omar Eljach | €1,380,129 | 763 |
| 2023 | Max Neugebauer | €1,500,000 | 817 |
| 2024 | Simone Andrian | €1,300,000 | 768 |
For more coverage on the 2024 WSOP Europe events, you can check out our previous articles here.
* Images and hands courtesy of WSOP.
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