German professional soccer player Max Kroes has been competing at the highest levels of the sport known in most parts of the world as “football” for more than a decade and a half. When not competing on the pitch, the current VfL Wolfsburg striker is a frequent poker contender on the tournaments, with live results going back to 2014. His first money came in a three-to-seven low ball event that year World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, where he finished third to fall just a few points away from winning a bracelet. More than eight years after that debut, Kruse has finally managed to claim a victory in the bracelet event, beating a field of 413 entries in 2022. WSOP . World Series of Poker Europe 1650 Euros for a Maximum Six-Limit No-Limit Hold’em event.
“I’m overwhelmed. It’s the best feeling to finally win WSOP . World Series of Poker bracelet. I’ve wanted to win for 10 years, and that of course makes me proud,” said Kroos WSOP . World Series of Poker reporters.
Kruse earned $134,152 as champion. He now has $411,480 in career course earnings accumulated on just 18 registered cash registers.
In addition to the title and money, Kruse also earned 720 card player Player of the Year points as Champion. This was his second POY– This year’s qualifying score, having placed seventh in the $1,500 Lowball event from a tie to seven in the series for $14,078.
The top 62 players made money in the event, with notables such as Felipe Ramos (60th), Roland Israelashvili (54th) and two-time bracelet winner Oleksiy Kovalchuk (13th), but were unable to make it to the official final table.
Bracelet winner Jose “Nacho” Barbero finished sixth for $20,236 late on the penultimate day before play was halted and an extra day deemed necessary. The Final Five returned with Dorian Melchers in the lead and Kroos in second for the chip.
Orhan Sen (5th – $27482) was the first to fall, with the A-7 hitting the A-8 from the Melchers and failing to improve. Leonid Yanovsky was next sent to the railroad, with the A-8 outselling Kruse’s A-3 after all the chips went into the front. Yanovsky earned $38,010 to finish fourth.
Farid Jetin was in his final table number 12 of the year, winning three titles so far. His run ended when he pushed 18 big blinds from the button with a K.
9 And he got a call from the Melchers on the big blind with A
8Melchers trip aces, floundered and Gettin drawing dead. Gaten earned $63,874 and 480 points for his third-place appearance. With a total of 5,233 points and more than $1.3 million so far POY Its earnings, Jateen now occupies third place in 2022 POY Race arrangement, sponsored by Global Poker.
The Melchers took a more 2:1 lead in a singles match with Kruse. Kruse closed the gap a bit early, only to bring back some ground he had set up. In the end, he wins a healthy pot with the higher pair to advance in time for the event’s final hand. Kruse open the button with 22
Melchers paid A.
s. Kruse made the call to set up a coin flick for the vast majority of chips in play. Board ran out 1065s2, with the Melchers jumping forward on the turn, only to have Kruse River take a set for the win. Melchers took $87,059 as a runner-up.
Here is a look at the payments and POY Points awarded on the final table:
| place | player | earnings | POY points |
| 1 | Max Cross | $134,152 | 720 |
| 2 | Dorian Melchers | $87,059 | 600 |
| 3 | Farid Jatin | 63,874 dollars | 480 |
| 4 | Leonid Yanovsky | 38,010 dollars | 360 |
| 5 | Orhan Sin | $27482 | 300 |
| 6 | Jose Barbero | $20,236 | 240 |
Photo provided by WSOP . World Series of Poker.
