2026 WSOP Europe Hands of the Week: Crushed By Quads & Bye-Bye Martin Kabrhel
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The 2026 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) ran from March 31 to April 12, 2026, in Prague. The festival awarded 15 gold bracelets and served as the official kick-off for the new, unified $1 Million WSOP Player of the Year competition.
While there, PokerNews provided live updates from the Event #5: €5,300 WSOPE Main Event NLHE European Championship, which attracted a record 2,617 entries and awarded €13,085,000 in prize money. Throughout the tournament, PokerNews captured some big, interesting, and game-changing hands, some of which are highlighted below.
Casino Bye Bye
In Level 17 (5,000/10,000/10,000), reporter Maxime Taldir captured a hand involving one of poker's biggest characters.
“Martin Kabrhel has more time banks than chips,” WSOP Live wrote as Kabrhel had just 22,000 under the gun. He began talking in an attempt to use as many time banks as possible, but after more than five minutes, a floor staff member warned him not to abuse the situation.
WSOP tournament director Andy Tillman stepped in to handle the situation as Luca Stevanato was more and more frustrated watching Kabrhel use all 18 of his time banks. Stevanato was told to stay calm as Kabrhel continued to take his extra time.
After more than ten minutes, Kabrhel eventually raised to 21,000, leaving himself just 1,000 behind. Stevanato then raised to 60,000 from the cutoff, and after using his final time bank card, Kabrhel made the call.
Martin Kabrhel: Q♣8♠
Luca Stevanato: 4♦4♣
Kabrhel flopped a pair on 8♣10♦5♦7♠J♣ to double up.
In the next hand, Kasperi Ilkka opened to 20,000 from under the gun. Kabrhel in the big blind raised to 68,000 and Ilkka called. He bet 25,000 on the Q♣3♠J♥ flop and Kabrhel check-called off his last 1,000.
Martin Kabrhel: A♠A♣
Kasperi Ilkka: A♦10♣
Kabrhel found aces at the right moment. The 8♥2♠ runout changed nothing, and he doubled up again.
However, his show came to an end moments later with 8♦8♥ against A♦10♦ on 7♦5♥A♣Q♦Q♠, and he was eliminated in 278th place for €10,000.
Okamoto Crushed by Quads
In Level 27 (50,000/100,000/100,000), reporter Sava Krink caught the bustout of two-time WSOP Women's champ Shiina Okamoto. It began when Vasileios Panagiotidis opened from early position to 200,000, and Okamoto responded with a three-bet to 650,000, which Panagiotidis called.
The flop came 8♦J♣J♥, and Okamoto check-called Panagiotidis’ 400,000 bet.
The turn brought the J♦, and Okamoto took the lead with a 900,000 bet, only to see Panagiotidis call once again.
On the 7♥ river, Okamoto used a time bank card before firing a huge 2,500,000 bet. Panagiotidis quickly shoved all in, and Okamoto made the call without hesitation. She showed A♥A♠ for a full house, jacks over aces, but Panagiotidis had J♠10♠ for quad jacks, scooping the massive pot and ending Okamoto’s deep run.
Obrestad's WSOP Return Comes to an End
In Level 27 (50,000/100,000/100,000), reporter Calum Grant watched Sondre Stormyr open to 200,000 from early position and was called by Rokas Asipauskas from the button. Annette Obrestad, the first-ever WSOPE champ from back in 2007, shoved for 540,000 from the small blind. Stormyr made it 1,200,000, folding out Asipauskas, and the cards were tabled.
Annette Obrestad: 2♦2♣
Sondre Stormyr: K♥J♦
Obrestad was immediately drawing to two outs, as Stormyr paired up on the J♠8♦4♦ flop. The 7♣ turn left her with one card to come. The final card would not be her saving grace, as the 10♦ completed the board.
Obrestad's return to the WSOP would end in a fantastic 34th-place finish in the record-setting 2026 WSOP Europe Main Event.
For more on Obrestad, check out her one-on-one interview on the PokerNews Podcast.
Player 183... Eliminated
On Day 5 of the tournament, just 24 players remained in Level 29 (80,000/160,000/160,000) when Maxime Taldir captured a big hand. On a board of 9♥6♥2♦8♦4♥ with roughly a million chips in the pot, Steven Jones in the small blind bet 875,000.
Rokas Asipauskas raised all-in with a bigger stack, and Jones went deep into the tank. "You want to talk about it? It would be a crazy bluff," he said.
After using several time banks, he eventually called off his last 2,650,000 with 9♣6♠ for two pair. Asipauskas revealed 7♥3♥ for a flush, and Jones, who you might remember as the third-place finisher in Season 2 of Squid Game: The Challenge, immediately left the stage in 24th place.
Kudzmanas Makes Superb Call
On Day 6 in Level 37 (500,000/1,000,000/1,000,000), just six players remained when Calum Grant reported that Hengtao Zhu opened to 2,000,000 from the hijack and Marius Kudzmanas called from the big blind.
Kudzmanas check-called a bet of 1,500,000 on the J♦9♠4♠ flop before the 3♦ turn checked through to the 3♠ river.
Kudzmanas then led out for 1,700,000 but faced a huge decision when Zhu moved all in for 11,000,000.
Kudzmanas used several time extensions before finally making the call for the cards to be tabled. Zhu was bluffing with A♠K♦, while Kudzmanas made a superb call with 5♣4♣. Zhu was eliminated in sixth place for €320,000.
Negreanu's Breakdown
For more big hands from the 2026 WSOP Europe, check out this video from Daniel Negreanu, who broke down various hands from Day 1 of the Main Event.
