Czech Republic’s Pavel Plesuv Wins WPT RRPO Championship for $504K

2018 Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open 
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, Florida
Event 12

$3,500 WPT RRPO Championship (Re-Entry)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed

Entries: 898
Prize Pool: $2,873,600
November 23-28, 2018 

Pavel Plesuv, WPT RRPO Champion

The World Poker Tour came to South Florida this weekend for the 2018 Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open” Championship, a first time for this November series. The Championship had a $2 Million Guarantee which was easily surpassed and the top prize was over $500,000.

After two starting flights, three play down days, and a tough final table, the Czech Republic’s Pavel Plesuv defeated Jim Gilbert heads-up to put his name on the WPT Champions Cup.

The $3,500 buy-in tournament drew 898 entries for the biggest RRPO Championship field in Seminole Hard Rock history. They created a prize pool worth $2,873,600 and the last 113 spots were paid when they hit the money late on Day 2. Five of our former RRPO champions made it through to Day 2 including defending champ Michael Newman.

We had 52 players move on to Day 3 and Plesuv was not among the leaders. That would change as they progressed and he was fourth of 14 returning for Day 4 to play down to the WPT live-streamed final table. When the dust settled, Plesuv took his seat on the last day with the biggest stack.

The final table had an international flavor with two coming from Europe and another from South Korea. Ravi Raghavan was the only member with his name on the WPT Champions Cup but he was unable to run up his short stack. Chris Kennedy followed shortly after in fifth place and the last four settled in for a long grind.

Austria’s Marius Gierse went out in fourth place and Jeremy Joseph’s exit in third set the heads-up battle. Gilbert faced nearly a six-to-one deficit, doubled up twice, but he was unable to come back.

Jim Gilbert (left) versus Pavel Plesuv (right)

Gilbert, a Philadephia-based pro, earned $326,565 for his runner-up finish and Plesuv took home $504,820 for the win plus a seat into the WPT Tournament of Champions.

This win pushed Plesuv’s career earnings over $4,000,000 with half of it coming in 2018. He earned $925,000 for a second place finish at the partypoker Millions in Germany and another $640,000 for a win in the MSPT Las Vegas Main Event this summer. Also, this was not the first time Plesuv was heads-up for a WPT title with the lead.

“I was heads-up in WPT Prague three years ago with a big chip lead,” Plesuv said. “I lost. So I’m really excited to come back and win.”

This was Plesuv’s first trek to South Florida for our series but it will not be the last.

“The tournament was great,” Plesuv said. “I really liked the structure, the field was big and it had great organization. The property is great too.”

Congratulations to Pavel on his WPT RRPO Championship win and a huge thanks to our players for another successful series.

Final table results:

1st: Pavel Plesuv – $504,820
2nd: Jim Gilbert – $326,565
3rd: Jeremy Joseph – $240,945
4th: Marius Gierse – $179,710
5th: Chris Kennedy – $135,505
6th: Ravi Raghavan – $103,310

Championship: Pavel Plesuv Defeats Jim Gilbert Heads Up

$3,500 WPT RRPO Championship (Re-Entry)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | WPT Live Stream
Level 34: 150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining: 1 of 898

Jim Gilbert raised to 750,000 and Pavel Plesuv shoved. Gilbert called all in for 9,000,000.

It was a classic race as Gilbert tabled 9d9h agaisnt Plesuv’s AdJs.

The flop came AcQs3c and Plesuv to the lead with a pair of aces. The turn brought the Jc and Plesuv improved to two-pair.

The river was the Qh and Pavel Plesuv is the WPT Rock’n’ Roll Champion.

Pavel Plesuv –  WPT Rock’n’ Roll Champion ($504,820)
Jim Gilbert – Eliminated in 2nd Place ($326,565)

Championship: Pavel Plesuv Takes One

$3,500 WPT RRPO Championship (Re-Entry)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | WPT Live Stream
Level 34: 150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 898

Pavel Plesuv raised to 600,000 and Jim Gilbert called.

The flop came As10c9h, Gilbert checked, and Plesuv bet 500,000. Gilbert called.

The turn brought the Qd, Gilbert checked again and Plesuv put out a bet of 1,800,000. Gilbert let it go.

Pavel Plesuv – 28,675,000 (96 bb)
Jim Gilbert – 7,250,000 (24 bb)

Championship: Jim Gilbert Doubles Again

$3,500 WPT RRPO Championship (Re-Entry)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | WPT Live Stream
Level 33: 125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 898

Jim Gilbert

Pavel Plesuv shoved and Jim Gilbert quickly called all in for 3,750,000.

Gilbert tabled QdQh and was in great shape against Plesuv’s 3d3s.

The board ran out 7h6h2d2c4h and Gilberts pocket queens held to score another double up.

Jim Gilbert – 7,750,000 (31 bb)
Pavel Plesuv – 28,175,000 (141 bb)

Championship: Jim Gilbert Scores a Double

$3,500 WPT RRPO Championship (Re-Entry)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | WPT Live Stream
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 898

Jim Gilbert

Pavel Plesuv shoved and Jim Gilbert called all in for 2,775,000. Gilbert turned over Ah4d and needed to hold against Plesuv’s Jd9s.

The board ran out Kd4h2s8c10s and Gilbert wound up with a pair of fours to avoid elimination.

Jim Gilbert – 5,750,000 (30 bb)
Pavel Plesuv – 30,175,000 (151 bb)

Championship: Pavel Plesuv Has 13 to 1 Chip Lead

$3,500 WPT RRPO Championship (Re-Entry)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | WPT Live Stream
Level 32: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 898

Pavel Plesuv

Pavel Plesuv completed the small blind and Jim Gilbert checked his option in the big blind.

Both players checked the 10c4c3d flop. The turn brought the Qs, Gilbert checked, and Plesuv bet 400,000. Gilbert called.

The river was the 3s, Gilbert checked and Plesuv bet 1,500,000. Gilbert called.

Plesuv tabled 6d3h for trip threes and Gilbert mucked.

Pavel Plesuv – 33,350,000 (167 bb)
Jim Gilbert – 2,575,000 (13 bb)

Championship: Jim Gilbert Gaining Traction

$3,500 WPT RRPO Championship (Re-Entry)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | WPT Live Stream
Level 31: 75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 898

Jim Gilbert

Pavel Plesuv opened to 400,000 and Jim Gilbert called.

Both players checked the QsJh5c flop as well as the 10h on the turn.

The river brought the 4h, and Gilbert bet 750,000. Plesuv thought a while then called with 5d4h. Plesuv mucked and Gilbert took the pot.

Jim Gilbert – 7,575,000 (51 bb)
Pavel Plesuv – 28,350,000 (189 bb)

Championship: Heads-Up Counts

$3,500 WPT RRPO Championship (Re-Entry)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | WPT Live Stream
Level 31: 75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 898

Heads-up play is underway to determine the 2017 WPT RRPO Champion. Pavel Plesuv holds nearly a six-to-one advantage but Gilbert has enough chips to play back.

They will play 30-minute levels under we have a winner.

Seat 2: Jim Gilbert – 5,225,000 (35 bb)
Seat 3: Pavel Plesuv – 30,700,000 (205 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $504,820
2nd: $326,565

Championship: Jeremy Joseph – 3rd Place ($240,945)

$3,500 WPT RRPO Championship (Re-Entry)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | WPT Live Stream
Level 30: 75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 898

Jeremy Joseph

On the last hand before break, Pavel Plesuv opened to 400,000 from the small blind and Jeremy Joseph called in the big blind to the Th7c6s flop. Plesuv bet 550,000 and Joseph called before the 3h turn.

Plesuv bet 1,300,000 and Joseph raised to 3,500,000. Plesuv put Joseph all in for his last 6,050,000 and he called.

Plesuv: KdKs
Joseph: Qh9h

Plesuv was ahead with the monster and Joseph needed a heart or eight to double up. The river was Ac and Joseph was eliminated in third place to set up the heads-up battle for the title.

The final table went on break before returning to 30-minute levels.

Pavel Plesuv – 30,700,000 (246 bb)
Jeremy Joseph – Eliminated in 3rd place ($240,945)

Championship: Marius Gierse – 4th Place ($179,710)

$3,500 WPT RRPO Championship (Re-Entry)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed | WPT Live Stream
Level 30: 75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 898

Marius Gierse

Jim Gilbert opened to 250,000 from under the gun and Pavel Plesuv called from the button. Marius Gierse moved all in for 4,950,000 from the big blind to get a fold from Gilbert and called from Plesuv.

Gierse: AcQc
Plesuv: 9h9d

It was a race that Gierse needed to win to stay in the Championship but the board ran all low 7c6s3d3s6d to send him out in fourth place.

The hand pushed Plesuv further into the lead with a two-to-one advantage over the other two combined.

Seat 2: Jim Gilbert – 6,575,000 (53 bb)
Seat 3: Pavel Plesuv – 24,375,000 (195 bb)
Seat 4: Jeremy Joseph – 4,975,000 (40 bb)
Marius Gierse – Eliminated in 4th place ($179,710)