This time last year Vangelis Kaimakamis was lamenting what could have been after he busted a World Series of Poker Europe event just two places shy of the bracelet. On Sunday he had nothing to lament after topping the 766-entry field in the €1,350 Mini Main Event to win his first career bracelet, €167,056, and a seat to the WSOP Europe Main Event.

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The eight-handed final table actually began on Saturday before stopping for the night just after the first elimination. Shahar Levi opened to 600,000 from the hijack before Leonid Yanovski moved all in for 3,100,000 from the big blind. Levi called and turned over while Yanovski showed . The [ flop kept Levi ahead and Yanovski was unable to get any help on the turn or river and he was eliminated in eighth place.

Action resumed Sunday with seven players left and it took just over an hour before one of them was sent home. From UTG, Levi raised to 800,000 and Luigi Macaluso moved all in from the button for 4,000,000. Levi called and was ahead with against Macaluso’s . The flop gave Levi top pair and Macaluso a gutshot straight draw but neither the turn or turn filled it and Macaluso was out in seventh place.

Another hour passed before a second player was eliminated and this time Levi wasn’t involved. Andrew Bak moved all in from the hijack for 6,500,000 and Jose Rivas called from the big blind. Bak showed while Rivas turned over . The flop all but locked up the hand for Rivas. The river made it official as Rivas made a full house to bust Bak in sixth.

Levi went back to work and ten minutes had found another victim. After being crippled by Levi on the previous hand, Didier Rabl moved all in from the button for 10 big blinds and was called by Levi in the big blind. Rabl was drawing with against Levi’s . The flop gave Levi a set and as the turn and river completed the board, Rabl was out in fifth place.

Kaimakamis picked up his first elimination of the day just 15 minutes later. Action folded to him in the small blind and he moved all in. Markus Jordan then called all in from the big blind and tabled . Kaimakamis was ahead with . The board ran out to give Kaimakamis a turned set and end Jordan’s run with a fourth place result.

As if on a schedule, the next elimination came just 15 minutes later. Kaimakamis raised to 1,200,000 from the button, Levi folded the small blind, and Rivas moved all in from the big blind for 11,275,000. Kaimakamis called and showed while Rivas was racing wiht . The [5[s] runout brought no relief for Rivas and he was out in third place.

Levi began heads-up play with 64% of the chips but over the next 45 minutes, Kaimakamis battled back to eventually eliminate Levi and win his first career WSOP bracelet. On the final hand, Kaimakamis raised from the button to 1,600,000 and Levi re-raised to 8,000,000. Kaimakamis moved all in and Levi called all in. Kaimakamis showed and Levi was barely ahead with . The flop gave Kaimakamis the lead and he held it through the turn river to eliminate Levi in second place.

All players finishing in the top five also received a WSOPE Main Event ticket worth €10,350 along with their prize money.

Final Table Payouts

1. Vangelis Kaimakamis – €167,056
2. Shahar Levi – €103,216
3. Jose Rivas – €72,474
4. Markus Jordan – €51,628
5. Didier Rabl – €37,321
6. Andrew Bak – €27,382
7. Luigi Macaluso – €20,396
8. Leonid Yanovski – €15,426