At just 22-years old, Fedor Holz has accomplished more than most can even dream of in the poker world. After closing out 2015 with a win at Bellagio in WPT Alpha8 Las Vegas, earning more than $1.5 million, the young German kicked off 2016 with a bang, winning the largest buy-in World Poker Tour event in history.
Holz topped a field of 52 entries and a final table that included poker superstars Phil Ivey, Mike McDonald, Dan Colman, Steve O’Dwyer, David Peters, and Paul Phua to win the Triton Super High Roller Series Cali Cup and $3,463,500 at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Manila, Phillipines. In addition to the massive score, Holz earned yet another Aurae Solid Gold MasterCard with $10,000 loaded onto it and Executive Lifestyle benefits.
Holz, whose online moniker is appropriately “CrownUpGuy,” now boasts more than $7.2 million in career lifetime tournament earnings.
“It’s so unreal. I was so close so many times [before WPT Alpha8],” Holz said after his victory. “It makes it even more special when you play against the best and win.”
When cards got in the air on Day 2, late registration was officially closed and there were 33 players remaining from the 52 official entries. Stanley Choi was the official bubble boy, finishing in ninth place, and giving the remaining eight players a piece of the more than $10 million prize pool. Tom Dwan, Isaac Haxton, Andrew Robl, John Juanda, Philipp Gruissem, Keith Gipson, Brian Rast, Stephen Chidwick, Dominik Nitsche, Richard Yong, and Qin “The Chairman” Si Xin were just a few of the world-class players who played the event, but failed to earn a cash.
The tournament was played out six-handed, so it wasn’t until Mike McDonald finished in eighth place ($351,320) that the final table was formed. Ivey, who bagged the chip lead at the end of Day 1, was out in front, holding about 20% of the chips in play.
The WPT Champions Club Member, 10-time bracelet winner, and overall legend of the game hit a bad run of cards at the final table, however, and finished in fifth for $656,500. It was Holz who did most of the damage after his K-Q topped Ivey’s pocket queens. Holz then finished the job after his A-Q topped Ivey’s Q-J after the last of his short stack got into the middle.
Holz sent Ivey home in fifth and used those chips and momentum to emerge as the chip leader after a few orbits of four-handed play. Holz really separated himself from the pack when he eliminated Steve O’Dwyer in fourth place.
When O’Dwyer hit the rail in fourth, Holz held almost 70 percent of the chips in play and he never looked back from there, cruising to victory in less than 30 hands.
Final Table Results
1. Fedor Holz – $3,463,500
2. David Peters – $2,309,000
3. Devan Tang – $1,405,000
4. Steve O’Dwyer – $953,700
5. Phil Ivey – $656,500
6. Dan Colman – $502,000
7. Paul Phua – $401,600
8. Mike McDonald – $351,320
For their scores, Peters and O’Dwyer rocketed up the all-time money list as well. Peters now has more than $9.5 million in career lifetime earnings, while O’Dwyer crossed the $13 million threshold.
The WPT National Philippines Main Event is off and running at Solaire. For continuing coverage straight from the tournament floor, be sure to follow our live updates team.
Players and VIP guests in Manila Bay were welcomed with an extravagant, poolside bash at WPT National Philippines. Check out our video coverage below: