Sam Trickett’s Team Europe won the World Series of Poker(WSOP) Asia Pacific(APAC) Caesars Cup here yesterday defeating Team Americas in the final. Trickett’s Team Europe comprised of GPI Poker player leader Marvin Rettenmaier, Philip Gruissem, Dominik Nitsche and Sam Holden.
The format of the poker tournament was quite simple. Each team fielded five poker players; each of whom would play in 3 rounds of play. The first two rounds were team events where 2 players from each side would play against two from another. If need be, the third and final round would have a heads up between individual players. Team Americas got a bye in the first round by virtue of being defending champions.
It was Team Europe against Team Asia Pacific trying to get a place in the final. The first round was won by Philip Gruissem and Marvin Rettenmaier who defeated Team APAC captain Joe Hachem and Richard Yong. But Team APAC came from behind when they won the next round thanks to Jackie Glazier and cricketer Shane Warne who defeated Sam Trickett and Sam Holden. So it all came down to the final heads up round where seasoned pro and five time WSOP champion Jeff Lisandro was pitted against Dominik Nitsche. Nitsche, coupled his young aggressive playing style with some luck from the cards to win the round for Team APAC who advanced to the finals against Team Americas.
Team Americas opened with big guns- Daniel Negreanu and Antonio Esfandiari against Trickett and Nitsche. The Europeans won the opening hand to see the two Phils in the American team come up to save the day in the second round. Ivey, high on his 9th Bracelet win the previous day along with Hellmuth won an easy match against Rettenmaier and Gruissem.
The winner was decided by a heads up match between defending WSOP main event champ Greg Merson and Sam Holden. Holden finished best sealing the win for Team Europe.