WSOP Europe: Theodore McQuilkin Wins €1,650 Six Max NLHE
On Monday morning, 24 year old Theodore McQuilkin will back at work at the real estate company he is part-owner of. On Saturday at theWorld Series of Poker Europe however, McQuilkin did what every part-time poker player dreams of – won his first World Series of Poker bracelet.
McQuilkin beat out 239 other players to win Event #4 (€1,650 Six Max NLHE) and €88,043 ($102,211 US). This was McQuilkin’s first WSOP cash on either side of the Atlantic.
“I’ve been playing a bit on the circuit for like a year and I’ve been running bad,” said McQuilkin. “I am not poker professional, but I love playing poker. It’s a real passion.”
When the final table began, Jerry Odeen had the chip lead and McQuilkin was fourth in chips with a less than average stack. It didn’t take long for McQuilkin to get to work though.
On the fifth hand of final table play, McQuilkin raised to 52,000 from UTG before Maksym Shulga moved all in for 440,000 the small blind. McQuilkin called quickly and turned over 
while Shulga was drawing thin with 
. The board ran out 
to eliminate Shulga in sixth and propel McQuilkin up the chip counts.
It took nearly two hours before another player was sent packing. Petr Setka raised to 90,000 from the button and Jan Bednar defended the small blind. Both players checked through the 
flop. The turn was the , Bednar checked, Setka bet 130,000, Bednar raised to 325,000 and Setka moved all in for 985,000. Bednar called and tabled 
for the nut flush while Setka showed 
for two pair. The river was the 
and Setka was eliminated in fifth place.
Just one hour later, McQuilkin busted another player. Odeen raised to 100,000 from the button, McQuilkin re-raised to 350,000 from the big blind, Odeen moved all in for 1,500,000 and McQuilkin called. Odeen tabled 
while McQuilkin tabled . The 
flop kept McQuilkin ahead and after the 
turn and 
river produced any help for Odeen, he was out in fourth place.
A little over an hour later McQuilkin was an innocent bystander as Jan Bednar picked up his first elimination of the final table. Bednar raised to 155,000 and Andrej Desset called all from the big blind and showed . Bednar was ahead with 
and all-but locked up the hand after the 
flop. The turn was the 
and the river was the 
to eliminate Desset in third and send Bednar to play heads-up against McQuilkin.
With a 2.5-1 chip lead, it didn’t take long for McQuilkin to finish off his final opponent. On the second hand of heads up play, McQuilkin raised to 165,000 from the button and Bednar moved all in for his last 1,830,000 and McQuilkin called. Bednar turned over but was unhappy to see McQuilkin show 
. The board ran out 
to give McQuilkin flush and his first WSOP bracelet, eliminating Bednar in second place.
“It was like the toughest field I have ever played,” said McQuilkin. “Every table was very hard, each decision was very very hard.”
Final Table Payouts
- Theodore McQuilkin – €88,043
- Jan Bednar – €54,410
- Andrej Desset – €35,714
- Jerry Odeen – €24,046
- Petr Setka – €16,618
- Maksym Shulga – €11,797