Flashback: Online Qualifier Stanislav Zegal Wins First WSOP Paradise Main Event
Last year, the first-ever World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise Main Event champion was crowned as Germany's Stanislav Zegal took down the $5,000 buy-in event for $2 million and his first WSOP bracelet. The GGPoker qualifier defeated heads-up opponent Michael Sklenicka of Czechia to wrap up a final day that only lasted four hours.
The inaugural WSOP Paradise Main Event at the five-star Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas drew 3,010 players for a prize pool that climbed above the $15 million guarantee. The field included dozens of online qualifiers, including Zegal, who was able to parlay his online poker prowess into a life-altering seven-figure victory.
“I was so lucky, the cards just fell my way all the time," Zegal told PokerNews. "I think I played well too, but obviously (there’s) tons of luck... This is what you call life-changing money, I guess.”
2023 WSOP Paradise Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanislav Zegal | Germany | $2,000,000 |
| 2 | Michael Sklenicka | Czechia | $1,200,000 |
| 3 | Daniel Neilson | Australia | $900,000 |
| 4 | Matt Glantz | United States | $685,000 |
| 5 | Rui Sousa | Portugal | $510,000 |
| 6 | Gabriel Schroeder | Brazil | $400,000 |
| 7 | Montgomery McQuade | United Kingdom | $300,000 |
| 8 | Luke Graham | United States | $250,000 |