WSOP Paradise 2023: Greece’s Nikolaos Lampropoulos Bounces Back From Less Than 1 BB to Win Event #5: $25K High Roller PLO ($871,600)

Nikolaos Lampropoulos (cover image) triumphed in Event #5: $25,000 High Roller PLO at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise, held at The Bahamas’ Atlantis Resort & Casino. Overcoming 140 entrants in this high-stakes PLO event, the Greek player clinched his first bracelet and a substantial $871,600 prize. American pro Dan Shak finished as the runner-up, missing out on the bracelet yet again but taking home a commendable $537,900.

Nikolaos Lampropoulos strikes gold in the $25K PLO High Roller!

The Greece native maneuvered a field of 140 players to earn the $871,600 top prize and his first gold bracelet.

Interview & Event Recap: https://t.co/W28tC8hkJR pic.twitter.com/6774JKLdTo

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) December 9, 2023

Lampropoulos’ victory was marked by a remarkable comeback. With 22 players left, he faced a significant setback, dwindling to less than one big blind. Yet, he managed multiple double-ups, culminating in a swift heads-up victory over Shak.

Shak, with a smile, acknowledged their success before the duel began, saying, “We both already won.” Despite this, Lampropoulos’ incredible rally was the highlight. The decisive moment came when both players flopped two pairs with redraws on the turn, leading to all chips being pushed to the center. Lampropoulos then secured the win by spiking a flush on the river.

For Lampropoulos, the bracelet wasn’t the primary goal. Winning a hefty $871,600, he expressed a pragmatic view in his winner interview: “I don’t really care about the bracelet and all, [nor] the fame, I care about cash, and this one was really good,” he said, emphasizing the financial reward over the prestige.

Lampropoulos received enthusiastic support from a small yet lively group of compatriots, whom he regards as “Hold’em pros,” Ioannis Angelou-Konstas, part of this group, finished 16th with $47,600. This support proved to be a significant morale booster for Lampropoulos, who also has connections with several high-stakes PLO cash game experts from Greece.

Reflecting on the support he received, Lampropoulos shared, “It is a fantastic atmosphere, I think I was the only one with friends on the rail for this final table and it was very good that they supported me so close nearby, chanting Niko Niko when I won a big pot.” He further confirmed his participation in upcoming events, stating, “I will certainly compete in the upcoming $5,000 Main Event Championship and the $10,000 PLO Championship.”

The $25,000 High Roller PLO event at the WSOP saw early eliminations of poker luminaries like Chino Rheem, Shaun Deeb, Alex Foxen, Chris Brewer, and Daniel Dvoress, with Adam Hendrix and Keith Lehr narrowly missing the money. Jeffrey Davoud‘s dramatic exit as the bubble boy against Michael Moncek, who later finished 6th for $172,300, was a key moment.

The final table showcased poker elites like Imad Derwiche (3rd for $397,700), WSOP bracelet winner Tyler Brown (4th for $297,400), and four-time WSOP bracelet winner Nick Schulman(5th for $225,000), Day 1 cheap leader Michael Moncek (6th for $172,300), Matthew Wantman (7th for $133,500), and four-time WSOP bracelet winner Yuri Dzivielevski (8th for $104,700).

The event drew 140 players, generating a $3,500,000 prize pool, with the top 21 finishers earning a minimum of $43,500.

In the tournament’s final stages, Nikolaos Lampropoulos secured a key double-up against Moncek and eliminated Dzivielevski. Derwiche ousted Wantman, while Shak won a three-way all-in against Moncek and Lampropoulos, turning kings into a full house. Schulman was eliminated by Brown, who then lost his chips in a bluff and exited.

The tournament, brimming with high-stakes action and emotional swings, culminated in a rapid eight-minute heads-up, leading to Lampropoulos winning the WSOP gold bracelet just before midnight.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Nikolaos Lampropoulos – $871,600
2. Dan Shak – $537,900
3. Imad Derwiche – $397,700
4. Tyler Brown – $297,400
5. Nick Schulman – $225,000
6. Michael Moncek -$172,300
7. Matthew Wantman – $133,500
8. Yuri Dzivielevski – $104,700

Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP & PokerNews

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