Elio Fox wins WSOPE Main Event

Elio Fox wins WSOPE Main Event

Friday, 21 October 2011

Elio Fox is the World Series of Poker Europe 2011 Main Event champion. The American started the day as chip leader, got the breaks when he really needed them and eventually triumphed over Englishman Chris Moorman to take home a first prize of €1,400,000 and the all important bracelet.

Hopes were high for more British success with Moorman, Jake Cody and Max Silver all amongst the final eight in Cannes. 2010 UKIPT Dublin winner Max Silver was the first of the final table to leave though, losing a flip with AK against Moorman's pocket tens. Fox must have started to believe it was really his day after eliminating Jake Cody in seventh. The Lancastrian looked in great shape holding Jacks over the New Yorker's Tens but running cards for a straight sent the triple crown winner to the rail.


Canada's Shawn Buchanan was the next to go, his pocket tens overturned by Dermot Blain's A4. The Irishman didn't last much longer though, when his KQ lost to Brian Roberts' AJ. The almost tag team eliminations continued with Roberts the next to bow out at the hands of Chris Moorman.


An untimely bluff sent Germany's Moritz Kranich out in third leaving online legend Moorman and Fox to battle it out for the bracelet with the American holding an almost two to one chip lead. A baby flush helped Fox confirm his dominant position and he sealed the win soon after when his A10 held up against Moorman's A7.


The former economics student was gracious in victory, telling WSOP.com, “I ran really well. I think I am pretty good at poker. But people put too much stock into somebody winning a tournament and I think that all the time when the media talks about a new player winning some tournaments …. there’s a lot of luck in tournaments. Short-term results in tournaments really does not matter that much. There are a lot of great players with no wins to their name and some mediocre players with a lot of wins to their name. But, I was really fortunate to run this well. I certainly hope it continues.”


And what will he do with his new found fortune? “I really do not have expensive tastes. I do not buy expensive stuff. I just want money to travel and play poker with and doing what I love.”


One man disappointed with the result was James Bord. Last year's WSOPE winner had earlier said, “"I don't think an American can win the bracelet; Europeans are now far superior. We used to look up to the U.S. players back in the day, but those days are now long gone. I'm prepared to put my money where my mouth is and refund any losing bets up €500 if an American wins."


Fox's victory means he has to pay up.


The final table positions and payouts were as follows:


1 Elio Fox €1,400,000
2 Chris Moorman €800,000
3 Moritz Kranich €550,000
4 Brian Roberts €400,000
5 Dermot Blain €275,000
6 Shawn Buchanan €200,000
7 Jake Cody €150,000
8 Max Silver €115,000


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Tags: WSOPE 2011 Main Event, Elio Fox, Max Silver, Jake Cody, Chris Moorman, Dermot Blain, Moritz Kranich, Shawn Buchanan