Zdenek Zizka Marches to Poker Stardom w/ BSOP $100K Main Event Title
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While his friend and countryman was, as usual, the center of attention, it was Zdenek Zizka who made sure his name would be in the headlines today at the final table of the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) Super High Roller Series R$500,000 ($100,000 US) Super High Roller Main Event.
Zizka was everything that Martin Kabrhel was not. While the nonstop chatter of the $30K SHR winner could be heard across the room, Zizka barely uttered a word all day. Where Kabrhel’s polarizing antics were worthy of highlight reels and sparked controversy, Zizka remained stoic throughout the final table, letting his chips and cards do all the talking for him.
His approach worked, as the young Czech star continued his road to poker stardom by capturing the title from the 36-entry field and R$6,000,000 (US$1,200,000) top prize, by far the biggest score of his career.
BSOP $100,000 Super High Roller Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (R$) | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zdenek Zizka | Czechia | R$6,000,000 | $1,200,000 |
| 2 | Felipe Boianovsky | Brazil | R$3,800,000 | $760,000 |
| 3 | Renan Bruschi | Brazil | R$2,700,000 | $540,000 |
| 4 | Martin Kabrhel | Czechia | R$2,000,000 | $400,000 |
| 5 | Ottomar Ladva | Estonia | R$1,500,000 | $300,000 |
| 6 | Gabriel Tavares | Brazil | R$1,193,600 | $238,700 |
Winner's Reaction
“To be honest, I completely don’t know what it means yet,” Zizka said after defeating Brazilian superstar and $50K champ Felipe Boianovsky heads-up, still taking in the enormity of the moment. “It just means like another great piece from another new country, and it will definitely mean a lot.”
Zizka had been a star since he was a teenager, but not in poker. He was a backgammon prodigy, becoming a grandmaster and recognized as one of the best players in the world. He was runner-up in the 2022 Backgammon Championship and has branched off into coaching, even writing a popular strategy book, "The Zizka Method," for the game.
Poker was a different story. Zizka is a relative newcomer to the game, his first recorded cash coming just two years ago. Before the start of 2025, Zizka’s largest career score was for less than $20,000.
But so far this year, Zizka has become one of the top breakout players. He added a WSOP bracelet by defeating Shaun Deeb heads-up in a $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em event this summer. He also made three final tables at the WSOP Europe in September, and had cashed for more than $1 million. His win today, though, prevailing over 36 of the top players from around the world, was nearly equal to all his previous live earnings combined and firmly establishes his reputation as a name to watch in the future.
Despite all his success, Zizka hasn’t fully appreciated how much he’s learned and grown as a poker player over the past 12 months. “To be honest, I have no idea. I always just try to do my best and that’s all the game,” he said. “I like the game since I was a little kid, so I just enjoy playing everything."
Final Table Action
Gabriel Tavares was first out when his queens ran into Kabrhel’s kings before Ottomar Ladva followed shortly after, calling off with jacks only to see Zizka table a flopped set of threes.
Four-handed, Zizka and Boianovsky controlled almost every pot while Renan Bruschi and Kabrhel waited for openings. Zizka rebuilt a healthy lead after a big river call with third pair and then another pot where he again flopped bottom set.
The loudest moment of the day came next. Short-stacked Kabrhel got it in with nines against Bruschi’s jacks. A set on the flop sent Kabrhel into full celebration mode, until a jack on the turn ended his run in fourth. The room erupted, and Kabrhel exited to a chorus of boos.
Three-handed play saw the lead change repeatedly. Bruschi doubled through both opponents, Boianovsky made a straight against Zizka, and then Zizka tripled up in a three-way all-in. His sevens cracked Boianovsky’s nines while Bruschi bowed out in third.
Boianovsky carried a small lead into heads-up, but Zizka wrestled it back with a well-timed call against a busted draw. From there, the Czech star kept the pressure on. Boianovsky eventually shoved ace-nine into Zizka’s pocket tens and found no help, securing Zizka the title and the biggest score of his career.
Kabrhel was the first to congratulate him, and Zizka — in Brazil for the first time — said he plans to return next year to defend his crown.
