Congratulations to Vlad Darie, Winner of the WPT Vienna Main Event (€170,800+ a WPT Tournament of Champions Seat)

After six days of drama, almost 32 levels of play and one epic heads-up battle, Vlad Darie became the first WPT Main Event winner from Romania when he beat the Hungarian overnight chip leader Zoltan Gal to the WPT Vienna title here in the capital of Austria. Darie captured not just the title, but also €170,800 including a WPT Tournament of Champions seat.

It was a fitting finale to the Main Event, as there were shocks, suck outs and excitement in every orbit. From the roller coaster ride of Britain’s Matt Davenport to the ultimately doomed attempt of German Dietrich Fast’s to bag his second WPT title, there were thrilling twists aplenty at the final table.

With six players kicking play off at 2pm local time, it took 28 hands for us to lose a player, with the short-stacked Greek pro Giorgios Zisimopoulos out in 6th for €31,500 when he called Darie’s all-in from the small blind. Darie had marginally more than Zisimopoulos, and a pocket pair of eights, while the Greek player had and needed help which never came.

Two hands later, we were down to four when Dominik Bosnjak’s was spiked on the flop by Dietrich Fast’s , an ace ‘in the window’ ending the final Austrian player’s chances of a home victory.

Dietrich Fast missed out on a second WPT title when he ran his into Zoltan Gal’s and busted in 4th Place for €53,450.

Britain’s Matt Davenport had been short-stack and chip-leader as well as everything in between all day, but left in 3rd when he lost two frankly indescribable hands to Vlad Darie. Darie, unpredictable all day, found himself with a shot at a maiden Romanian title, albeit going into the duel down in the heads-up:

Zoltal Gal – 4,710,000
Darie Vlad – 2,335,000

Heads-up swung both ways, and included five all-in and at risk hands doubling against the odds, but eventually, 74 hands into heads-up play, it was Darie who had the run-out in his favor yet again to win the title, his hitting a six on the flop and holding to eliminate Zoltan Gal, who had and ended up losing when favorite a rueful smile on his face as he congratulated his opponent.

Gal took home €109,430 for finishing second, and Darie collected the first-place prize of €170,800 including the WPT Tournament of Champions seat. Here is the full final table payout.

1. Vlad Darie – € 170,800 + a WPT Tournament of Champions Seat
2. Zoltan Gal – € 109,340
3. Matt Davenport – € 70,800
4. Dietrich Fast – € 52,450
5. Dominik Bosnjak – € 39,360
6. Georgios Zisimopoulos – € 31,500