3-Bet: Kevin Andriamahefa, Fabian Gumz & Anthony Comand Win Live Titles

Today, we bring updates from recently concluded live tournaments from the WSOP Circuit Grand Victoria Casino, WPT Prime Slovakia, and WSOP Circuit Montreal.

At the WSOP Circuit Grand Victoria Casino Main Event, Kevin Andriamahefa (cover image – left) ignited the felt, outplaying a massive 606-player field to snag his first-ever WSOP Circuit ring and a scorching $173,593 payday. David Kowal, hot on his heels, fought valiantly, pocketing a cool $107,290 for his runner-up finish.

Across the Atlantic, in Bratislava’s Card Casino, seasoned German grinder Fabian Gumz (cover image – centre) painted the town red! He clinched his first World Poker Tour Prime title at the €1,100 WPT Prime Slovakia Championship, besting 732 hopefuls. His comeback win (his first since 2018) was underscored by a jaw-dropping €117,980 payday, including a coveted $10,400 seat at the 2024 WPT World Championship in Vegas. Maor Zaharagi put up a valiant fight in the final duel, ultimately taking home €72,000 for his runner-up finish.

Over at the WSOP Circuit Montreal, Anthony Comand (cover image – right) waged a marathon battle in Event #2: $400 Monster Stack at the Playground Poker Club. After a gruelling 13-hour final day grind, he emerged the last man standing, outlasting a monstrous 1,174-entry field to capture his first circuit ring and a hefty $49,735 prize. Griffin Clifford gave him a run for his money, landing a runner-up finish worth $37,480. A four-way deal near the end ensured payouts worth celebrating for Nicholas Doumkos (3rd for $35,695) and Joshua James (4th for $38,635).

Kevin Andriamahefa Clinches Victory at WSOP Circuit Grand Victoria Casino Main Event ($173,593)

Kevin Andriamahefa scored a massive $173,593 victory and his first WSOP Circuit ring, outlasting 606 challengers in the WSOP Circuit $1,700 Main Event at the Grand Victoria Casino! Amidst the clash of chips and cheers of the crowd, Andriamahefa triumphed in a thrilling climax. David Kowal put up a valiant fight, ultimately taking home the runner-up spot and a notable $107,290 prize.

Grand Victoria Casino heralded Andriamahefa’s remarkable victory on Twitter, celebrating his significant achievement.

Congratulations to Event 11 Winner Kevin A.! The Main Event, had 606 entries, a $918,090 prize pool and ended with a first career ring and the $173,593 grand prize! pic.twitter.com/I2UhGbbF1U

— GrandVictoriaCasino (@GVC_Elgin) April 16, 2024

Reflecting on his path to victory, Andriamahefa credited his disciplined mindset, explaining, “I try not to think ahead and let those thoughts come in.” His brother, also present, shared in the excitement, exclaiming, “It’s about time!”

The final duel with David Kowal was a rollercoaster. An early surge from Kowal nearly derailed Andriamahefa, but a few crucial hands turned the tide. “He’s a great guy, great player,” Kowal remarked, “Couldn’t be happier for him.”

The event was also notable for Sye Hickey’s relentless push and Daniel Aloia’s early dominance being overturned by Andriamahefa. Brett Reichard, cheered on by his son Josh Reichard, a 2023 WSOP Circuit Grand Victoria Event #13: $400 No-Limit Hold’em winner, strove to increase their family’s ring count but fell short, still achieving a career-best finish.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Kevin Andriamahefa – $173,593
2. David Kowal – $107,290
3. Brett Reichard – $78,458
4. Daniel Aloia – $58,127
5. Sye Hickey – $43,637
6. Grad Zbigniew – $33,201
7. Joseph Elpayaa – $26,606
8. Michael Estes – $20,022
9. Dylan Wilkerson – $15,876

Fabian Gumz Triumphs at WPT Prime Slovakia Championship (€117,280)

Fabian Gumz, a seasoned German poker pro, clinched his first World Poker Tour (WPT) Prime title at the €1,100 WPT Prime Slovakia Championship held at Card Casino Bratislava. Gumz not only took home the top prize of €117,980, which includes a coveted $10,400 seat to the 2024 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, but also marked his victorious return to the live tournament scene—his first win since 2018.

The World Poker Tour celebrated Gumz’s significant win on X (formerly Twitter) by sharing the exciting news with followers.

Congratulations to Fabian Gumz (@br0k_as_f0x_), our @WPTPrime Slovakia Champion! 🇸🇰🏆

Gumz navigated the 732 entry field @cardcasino_svk and battled against Maor Zaharagi heads-up to take home the title and €117,280 including a seat to the @WPT World Championship @WynnLasVegas!… pic.twitter.com/c7vEaq5mju

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) April 15, 2024

The tournament saw a robust turnout with 732 entries. In an exhilarating final table, Gumz faced off against Maor Zaharagi in head-up play, with Zaharagi taking a respectable second place and €72,000.

Early rounds at the table saw quick eliminations of notable players, including 2020 SPF Main Event champion Alexey Mishuk and Lukasz Adamczewski. As the intensity heightened, notable contenders, including Dennis Gerschengoren, and Event #3: €1,350 Mini Main Event champion and third-place finisher in Event #8: €2,500 Short Deck Hold’em, Emil Bise were swiftly eliminated, paving the way for Gumz’s ascent.

Drama peaked during the final hands; Gumz knocked out Iulian Tataru in fifth place after securing a flush against Tataru’s . Continuing his dominant streak, Gumz then eliminated chip leader Andras Matrai with a striking nine-high straight.

The table dwindled down to three when Jozef Cibicek‘s jack-seven couldn’t hold up against Zaharagi’s king-nine.

The final head-up battle was brisk, spanning just 13 hands, with Gumz overpowering Zaharagi’s ace-three, cementing his victory and etching his name in WPT history.

Watch the intense moments of the final table in the recap below:

Final Table Results (EURO)

1. Fabian Gumz – €117,280 ($125,902)
2. Maor Zaharagi – €72,000 ($77,783)
3. Jozef Cibicek – €53,000 ($57,257)
4. Andras Matrai – €40,000 ($43,212)
5. Iulian Tataru – €30,000 ($32,409)
6. Emil Bise – €23,000 ($24,847)
7. Dennis Gerschengoren – €17,700 ($19,121)
8. Lukasz Adamczewski – €13,700 ($14,800)
9. Alexey Mishuk – €10,800 ($11,667)

Anthony Comand Wins WSOP Circuit Montreal Monster Stack ($49,735)

In a marathon thirteen-hour final day battle at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit in Montreal, Anthony Comand triumphed as the champion in Event #2: $400 Monster Stack at the Playground Poker Club. Comand outplayed a massive field of 1,174 entrants to claim his first WSOPC circuit ring and a substantial cash prize of $49,735. In a gripping finale, he faced Griffin Clifford, who put up a strong fight to finish as runner-up with $37,480.

A four-way deal saw Nicholas Doumkos (3rd for $35,695) and Joshua James (4th for $38,635) also rake in bigger payouts.

Celebrating his victory, Comand, known by his Reddit username “kornylol” in the r/poker community, shared his excitement online: “I just bested 1,200 people in the $400 monster stack over two days at a playground in Montreal for my first-ever WSOP circuit ring. Biggest single cash of my career to date, I cannot believe how good it feels to get this validation. LETS F****** GO!!!”

The event significantly exceeded its initial $200,000 guarantee, featuring standout performances from players like Jordan Schneible, who led for much of the day, and Joshua James, who took a late chip lead. After Schneible was knocked out, the tournament saw a two-hour stretch without eliminations despite numerous close calls for several players.

Sergey Hovakimyan was the next to fall, finishing in ninth place, followed by Wing Seto, Wei Zhang, and Boyan Shi, who were eliminated in quick succession. Following Brian Bond’s exit in fifth place, the remaining four players paused to negotiate an ICM chop, each securing around $35,000, with an extra $16,155 set aside for the winner.

In the event`s final stretch, Comand and Clifford rapidly accumulated chips, while James and Doumkos dwindled. Despite starting the heads-up with a 2:1 disadvantage, Comand quickly shifted the momentum.

The decisive hand saw Clifford push all-in with king-five against Comand’s pocket fours. Comand clinched the victory with a full house, securing the top prize and a coveted invitation to the Tournament of Champions in May, along with his WSOPC ring.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Anthony Comand – $49,735*
2. Griffin Clifford – $37,480*
3. Nicholas Doumkos – $35,695*
4. Joshua James – $38,635*
5. Brian Bond – $16,000
6. Boyan Shi – $13,000
7. Wei Zhang (CA) – $10,750
8. Wing Seto – $8,700
9. Sergey Hovakimyan – $6,800
10. Jordan Schneible – $4,900

*denotes a four-way deal

Images and Content Courtesy: WSOP and PokerNews