Event #9: €1,100 NLH Bounty Hunter
Day 2 Completed
2021 World Series of Poker Europe
Event #9: €1,100 NLH Bounty Hunter
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2021 World Series of Poker Europe
Buy-in
€1,100
Prize Pool
€392,600
Entries
604
Level
32
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
300,000
Players Left
1
Sergiu Covrig Wins First WSOP Bracelet in Event #9: €1,100 NLH Bounty Hunter (€79,282)
Level 32
: 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
A new gold bracelet winner has been crowned as Romania's Sergiu Covrig prevailed in heads-up against Michael Strauch to claim his first WSOP hardware in the early morning hours at the King's Resort in Rozvadov.
An additional day was needed to determine the champion in the latest 2021 World Series of Poker Europe competition and Covrig came out on top of a field of 604 entries in Event #9: €1,100 NLH Bounty Hunter. The tournament sailed past the €200,000 guarantee and distributed €392,600 in cash prizes along with all the collected bounties.
Covrig is the second Romanian to win live poker's most coveted prize and claimed a cash prize of €79,282 for his efforts. The only other countryman to join the winner's circle so far was Alexandru Papazian, who has two titles to his name.
Final Table Result Event #9: €1,100 NLH Bounty Hunter
| Place | Name | Country | Prize (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sergiu Covrig | Romania | €79,282 |
| 2 | Michael Strauch | Germany | €49,006 |
| 3 | Tim Novotny | Germany | €34,452 |
| 4 | Pablo Finini | Switzerland | €24,627 |
| 4 | Romain Le Dantec | France | €17,905 |
| 6 | Nicola D'Anselmo | Italy | €13,243 |
| 7 | Mykhailo Sezonenko | Ukraine | €9,969 |
| 8 | Pierre Trauer | Germany | €7,639 |
| 9 | Nebojsa Ankucic | Serbia | €5,961 |
The 35 year old has been based in Bucharest for the last few years. He started playing poker nine years ago and has taken it more seriously throughout the last six years, during which he collected several five-figure cashes. Covrig earned his biggest live poker tournament cash at the King's Resort, a venue he previously visited a few times already.
"Actually, my friends only told me now, that's pretty cool," Covrig said when he found out he was only the second-ever Romanian to win one of the coveted WSOP gold bracelets. "The bracelet means a lot. If I play for a trophy and the guy in heads-up offers me money to take the trophy, I give it to him but the bracelet is special. In the end we started playing for the bracelet and I am very happy I won."
His poker playing friends made the trip to the Czech Republic and were on the rail despite the early morning hours. Covrig was one of the finalists who insisted on the early restart as he wanted to enter Event #11: €1,650 NLH 6-Max because that "seems like a really good and fun tournament."
The chase for a potential second victory of the ongoing festival will be on hold for just a short while. "I gonna chill a bit for the emotions to go away and will then jump in," the Romanian said in the interview after his victory. He also plans on entering the €10,350 WSOPE Main Event, especially after today's result.
Action of the Final Day
On his way to victory, Covrig collected five bounties on Day 1 and added another two on the short-lived final day, which concluded in under one hour. He also kept the own bounty to give his bankroll another small boost on top.
In the very first hand after the restart, there was already an all-in and call when Nicola D'Anselmo jammed his pocket fives into the pocket sevens of Covrig. The Italian found no help and Covrig jumped into the lead. He then tangled with Romain Le Dantec and doubled the Frenchman before doubling right back a few hands later to get back on track.
The third all-in confrontation between Covrig and Le Dantec was a classic coin flip in which the pocket jacks of the Romanian flopped top set and Le Dantec was drawing dead with ace-king on the turn. Moments later, Pablo Finini came up short against Tim Novotny and that left three hopefuls to battle for the title.
Novotny had his kings cracked by the ace-king of Michael Strauch and lost the remainder to Strauch a few minutes later.
Heads-up play got underway with a two-to-one lead for Strauch but Covrig doubled into the lead when his ace-king prevailed against ace-seven. It was all over shortly after when the nine-seven suited of the Romanian got there to beat an ace of Strauch and the third WSOP gold bracelet for Romania was sealed.
Covrig will be back in action in the hours to come as the live poker action at the King's Resort in Rozvadov continues with Day 1 of Event #11: €1,650 NLH 6-Max. Another six gold bracelets are up for grabs during the ongoing 2021 WSOPE festival and the PokerNews live reporting team will provide updates from each tournament.
Sergiu Covrig Wins First WSOP Bracelet in Event #9: €1,100 NLH Bounty Hunter photos
Michael Strauch Eliminated in 2nd Place (€49,006)
Level 32
: 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
The button shove by Sergiu Covrig with the covering stack was called by Michael Strauch to reveal the following showdown.
Michael Strauch: 
Sergiu Covrig: 
Nothing changed on the 
flop but the 
turn improved Covrig to queens and nines. He needed to dodge an ace and spades and did so thanks to the 
river. Strauch's tournament came to an end in 2nd place for €49,006 while Covrig claimed the top prize of €79,282 and his first gold bracelet.
A recap of today's action is to follow.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
18,150,000 | 5,450,000 |
|
Busted |
Covrig Doubles in Roller Coaster Runout
Level 32
: 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Sergiu Covrig raised the button and Michael Strauch three-bet to 2,100,000. The jam by Covrig followed and Strauch asked for a count. It was 6,200,000 in total and Strauch turned around in his seat to ponder about the decision. He then called with the superior stack and both players revealed an ace.
Sergiu Covrig: 
Michael Strauch: 
The 
flop was no threat yet for the Romanian but the turn gave Strauch the lead. However, it was Covrig's rail that celebrated as the 
river completed the turnaround once more and sent Covrig on top.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,700,000 | 6,700,000 |
|
|
5,450,000 | -6,700,000 |
Covrig Loses Some; Wins it Back
Level 32
: 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
In a limped pot to the 
flop, Michael Strauch checked and Sergiu Covrig bet 300,000. Strauch then check-raised to 700,000 and that won the pot for the German.
Covrig then received a walk and in the next hand, he raised the button for Strauch to call. The 
flop was checked by Strauch and Covrig's bet won it uncontested.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,150,000 | -400,000 |
|
|
6,000,000 | 400,000 |
Heads-Up Action Underway
Level 32
: 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
The two players are back in their seats and the action has recommenced.
Heads-Up Counts
Level 32
: 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
There are seven minutes and 42 seconds remaining and Michael Strauch will enter heads-up against Sergiu Covrig play with a lead of more than two-to-one.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,550,000 | 50,000 |
|
|
5,600,000 | -620,000 |
Tim Novotny Eliminated in 3rd Place (€34,452)
Level 32
: 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Tim Novotny pushed all-in for 2.5 million on the button and Michael Strauch called out of the big blind.
Tim Novotny: 
Michael Strauch:
The 
flop gave Strauch sixes and fives while Novotny retained his chances at a comeback with the two overcards and a flush draw. Nothing changed on the turn and the 
river sent Novotny to the rail in 3rd place for €34,352.
There will now be a short break prior to the heads-up play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,500,000 | 3,350,000 |
|
Busted |
Strauch Doubles Through Novotny
Level 32
: 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Sergiu Covrig raised the button to 600,000 and Michael Strauch pushed from the small blind. Tim Novotny moved all-in over the top and Covrig folded.
Michael Strauch:
Tim Novotny: 
On a board of 
, Strauch hit running cards to the broadway straight and he doubled for 4,125,000. "I love you," he told the dealer and he leaped into the lead in three-handed play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,150,000 | 4,450,000 |
|
|
6,220,000 | -1,280,000 |
|
|
2,750,000 | -3,750,000 |