Omar Eljach wins the 2022 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event

(PRESS RELEASE) -- 2022 continues to be a banner year for the world’s most prestigious poker brand and the 13th annual WSOP Europe delivered on that trend. The event officially set a record with the most Main Event entrants in its 13-year history, a combined $18,140,282 prize pool, and Sweden’s Omar Eljach emerging victorious after outmaneuvering France’s Jonathan Pastore in a marathon heads-up match to earn the €1,380,129 top prize.

This marks Eljach’s second WSOP bracelet win, his first came during the 2022 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas at Event #46 for a total prize of $771,765. The 763 players that took a stab at the WSOP Europe Main Event were part of poker history and even as snow fell in the Czech Republic, the rousing turnout at Kings Casino built on the WSOP’s red-hot year.

“The records being set at WSOP events are a testament to the health of the sport of poker,” said World Series of Poker Senior Vice President and Executive Director, Ty Stewart. “We couldn’t be more excited about what we’re seeing in our tournaments, and we’d like to thank all of the players for their passion in competition. Here’s to more record-breaking fields in 2023.”

The success of WSOP Europe follows the wildly successful 53rd annual World Series of Poker, which debuted in its new home on the Las Vegas strip this summer, and WSOP Online 2022 this fall. Highlighted by GG Poker’s Online Main Event, WSOP Online raised the bar again becoming the second-largest online poker tournament of all time, with a field of 4,984 and a staggering total prize pool of $23.67 million.

A series of notable names decided to make the trip to King’s Casino for a chance to win a coveted WSOP bracelet. Among them was international poker star Daniel Negreanu, in the hunt for his seventh career bracelet, and 2018 Player of the Year Shaun Deeb. Five-time bracelet winner Shaun Deeb was close to earning his sixth bracelet but fell short with a third-place finish at the Final Table of the Main Event.

All bracelet winners at WSOP Europe punched a ticket to the invitation-only “Tournament of Champions,” a $1 million freeroll event to be held during the 2023 World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas.

WSOP Europe Highlights

€550 Colossus – WSOP Europe attracted players from all over the world

Nine countries and three continents were represented at the final table of the largest event of the series – the €550 No-Limit Hold’em Colossus. The event drew a massive field of 2,982 entrants, cracking the Top 20 list of largest live poker tournaments in 2022.

€1,650 No-Limit Hold’em – Unexpected winner in diverse player fields

Germany National Team soccer player Max Kruse outlasted 413 entrants in the €1,650 No-Limit Hold'em Six-Max event to earn his first WSOP bracelet. Despite the VfL Wolfsburg striker’s successful athletic career, the German values the WSOP bracelet as one of his top accomplishments.

€10,350 Main Event – Record-breaking field in 13th annual WSOPE Main Event

The 763 players that took a stab at the Main Event were part of poker history, breaking the record for Main Event entrants at the WSOP Europe Main Event. Sweden’s Omar Eljach emerged victorious to earn the massive €1,380,129 top prize.