Whereas his buddy and countryman was, as ordinary, the focus, it was Zdenek Zizka who made certain his identify could be within the headlines right this moment on the closing desk of the Brazilian Sequence of Poker (BSOP) Tremendous Excessive Curler Sequence R$500,000 ($100,000 US) Tremendous Excessive Curler Most important Occasion.
Zizka was the whole lot that Martin Kabrhel was not. Whereas the nonstop chatter of the $30K SHR winner might be heard throughout the room, Zizka barely uttered a phrase all day. The place Kabrhel’s polarizing antics have been worthy of spotlight reels and sparked controversy, Zizka remained stoic all through the ultimate desk, letting his chips and playing cards do all of the speaking for him.
His strategy labored, because the younger Czech star continued his highway to poker stardom by capturing the title from the 36-entry discipline and R$6,000,000 (US$1,200,000) high prize, by far the largest rating of his profession.
BSOP $100,000 Tremendous Excessive Curler Most important Occasion Ultimate Desk Outcomes
Martin Kabrhel’s Inconceivable Comeback Ends with BSOP Excessive Curler Victory
Winner’s Response
“To be trustworthy, I utterly don’t know what it means but,” Zizka mentioned after defeating Brazilian celebrity and $50K champ Felipe Boianovsky heads-up, nonetheless taking within the enormity of the second. “It simply means like one other nice piece from one other new nation, and it’ll undoubtedly imply so much.”
Zizka had been a star since he was a youngster, however not in poker. He was a backgammon prodigy, changing into a grandmaster and acknowledged as among the best gamers on this planet. He was runner-up within the 2022 Backgammon Championship and has branched off into teaching, even writing a well-liked technique guide, “The Zizka Technique,” for the sport.
Poker was a special story. Zizka is a relative newcomer to the sport, his first recorded money coming simply two years in the past. Earlier than the beginning of 2025, Zizka’s largest profession rating was for lower than $20,000.
However up to now this 12 months, Zizka has turn out to be one of many high breakout gamers. He added a WSOP bracelet by defeating Shaun Deeb heads-up in a $1,000 No-Restrict Maintain’em occasion this summer time. He additionally made three closing tables on the WSOP Europe in September, and had cashed for greater than $1 million. His win right this moment, although, prevailing over 36 of the highest gamers from around the globe, was almost equal to all his earlier reside earnings mixed and firmly establishes his fame as a reputation to look at sooner or later.
Regardless of all his success, Zizka hasn’t absolutely appreciated how a lot he’s discovered and grown as a poker participant over the previous 12 months. “To be trustworthy, I do not know. I at all times simply attempt to do my finest and that’s all the sport,” he mentioned. “I like the sport since I used to be a bit child, so I simply take pleasure in taking part in the whole lot.”
Felipe Boianovsky Rides the Wave to the BSOP $50K Tremendous Excessive Curler Title
Ultimate Desk Motion
Gabriel Tavares was first out when his queens bumped into Kabrhel’s kings earlier than Ottomar Ladva adopted shortly after, calling off with jacks solely to see Zizka desk a flopped set of threes.
4-handed, Zizka and Boianovsky managed nearly each pot whereas Renan Bruschi and Kabrhel waited for openings. Zizka rebuilt a wholesome lead after an enormous river name with third pair after which one other pot the place he once more flopped backside set.
The loudest second of the day got here subsequent. Quick-stacked Kabrhel bought it in with nines towards Bruschi’s jacks. A set on the flop despatched Kabrhel into full celebration mode, till a jack on the flip ended his run in fourth. The room erupted, and Kabrhel exited to a refrain of boos.
Three-handed play noticed the lead change repeatedly. Bruschi doubled by means of each opponents, Boianovsky made a straight towards Zizka, after which Zizka tripled up in a three-way all-in. His sevens cracked Boianovsky’s nines whereas Bruschi bowed out in third.
Boianovsky carried a small lead into heads-up, however Zizka wrestled it again with a well-timed name towards a busted draw. From there, the Czech star stored the stress on. Boianovsky finally shoved ace-nine into Zizka’s pocket tens and located no assist, securing Zizka the title and the largest rating of his profession.
Kabrhel was the primary to congratulate him, and Zizka — in Brazil for the primary time — mentioned he plans to return subsequent 12 months to defend his crown.
