Phil Ivey Wins SHRB Europe $25K Short Deck Event

The 2021 Super High Roller Bowl (SHRB) Europe festival got off to a flying start on August 24 with the $25,000 buy-in Short Deck Hold ’em event. Phil Ivey outshone the 48-strong field to bank the SHRB Europe Event #1’s $408,000 top prize.

SHRB Europe Event #1 saw a mixture of well-known poker stars mix it up against some well-heeled Chinese grinders who chose to remain anonymous. Only one of those mystery players reached the final table, however.

Day 1 ended with only seven of the 48 starters remaining; all seven were in the money. Play on Day 1 concluded shortly after Hing Yang Chow bubbled. Chow’s Kh-6s lost to the 9d-8c of Ihor Shkiaruk courtesy of a 9c-Jd-8s-8h-Ks board.

SHRB Europe Event #1: $25,000 Short Deck Final Table Results

Place	Player	China	Prize
1	Phil Ivey	United States	$408,000
2	Stephen Chidwick	United Kingdom	$264,000
3	Mikita Badziakouski	Belarus	$180,000
4	Ihor Shkliaruk	Ukraine	$132,000
5	Chris Brewer	United States	$96,000
6	“Santi”	China	$72,000
7	Erik Seidel	United States	$48,000

Ivey sat down at the seven-handed final table third in chips, trailing fellow American Chris Brewer and British superstar Stephen Chidwick.

It did not take long for the first player to bust. Erik Seidel, fresh from winning his ninth WSOP bracelet, ran queens into aces. Seidel banked $48,000 for his efforts.

Sixth place was determined soon after Seidel’s departure. The Chinese player known as “Santi” open-shoved for 815,000 chips at the 25,000 ante level. Chidwick three-bet all-in to isolate, and the other active players folded. Chidwick showed Ah-Qs, Santi Qd-Jd, and an As-Ac-7h-9s-Tc board busted Santi.

Ivey put his foot firmly on the gas and claimed the chip lead after several clashes with Chidwick. On the other hand, Brewer was about to become the next player out of the door.

First, Ivey doubled through Brewer to leave the latter nursing 270,000 chips at the 40,000 ante level. Brewer committed his short stack with Ah-9h, and Ivey helped himself to Brewer’s chips when his Qc-Qh held.

Ivey Puts One Hand on the Trophy

Ivey had one hand on the SHRB Europe Short Deck trophy, thanks to amassing six million chips. He improved his lead by despatching Shkliaruk in fourth-place, a finish worth $132,000.

Shkliaruk jammed all-in for 2,700,000 despite Mikita Badziakouski running on fumes. He open-shoved with Ac-Qs, but Ivey snapped him off with the dominating Ah-Ks. A king on the flop of the Kd-9s-6h-9c-Qc handed the pot to Ivey.

Badziakouski’s vain attempts to climb back up the chip counts ended at the hands of Ivey. Badziakouski called all-in for 1,600,000 effective after Ivey set both the blinds all-in. Ivey turned over 9d-8s, and Badziakouski Ac-Kc. Ivey flopped two pair on the 9c-8h-6h-Td-Ad board to send his Belarusian opponent to the showers.

That hand gave Ivey an 11,300,000 to 3,000,000 lead over Chidwick in the first event of the SHRB Europe.

It was almost one-way traffic in Ivey’s favor, and nobody battled an eyelid when the 10-time WSOP bracelet winner secured the title.

The final hand saw Ivey raise all-in with Kc-Tc, and Chidwick call off his 2,400,000 stack with Ah-Qs. A Kd-9d-8s flop gave Ibey the lead, with the Td turn extending that lead. Chidwick needed a jack on the river to double, but the river was the Ac.

Chidwick took home $264,000 for his runner-up finish, leaving Ivey to collect $408,000.

Ivey The Short Deck Expert

Everyone knows Ivey has plenty of gamble in him, which is one reason for his love of Short Deck. Three of his last four victories have all come in Short Deck events. He won the $50,000 buy-in Short Deck in Sochi, Russia, for $856,050. Ivey triumphed in the $25,000 Short Deck at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in Montenegro for $604,992. Now he has an SHRB Europe title. Look out for the superstar in upcoming events in Cyprus.

Brad Johnson

You name the game, and you can bet your bottom dollar that Brad has either played it or placed a wager on it! Brad calls himself a natural gambler, and someone who gains as much enjoyment from writing about the crazy game of poker as he does playing it.

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