PLO Masters: Bernd Eschrich Wins PLO Masters at Banco Casino Bratislava

While the poker world often focuses heavily on No Limit Hold’em main events, the Pot Limit Omaha specialists had their own moment in the spotlight this weekend. During the ongoing Banco Casino Masters festival in Bratislava, the PLO Masters attracted a dedicated field of Omaha Poker enthusiasts fighting for a five-figure prize pool.

After a grueling final day and a heads-up deal, it was Eschrich Bernd who emerged victorious, defeating a tough field to claim the trophy and the top prize.

Here is the full breakdown of the event.

Do you want to improve your Pot Limit Omaha tournament skills before the next PLO mtt event? Head over to the Pot Limit Omaha training site PLO Mastermind and check out the PLO course now:

Banco Bratislava: The Home of Central European Action

Banco Bratislava has firmly established itself as one of the premier locations for live poker in Central Europe. Located in the heart of the Slovak capital, the venue is known for its massive tournament series and around-the-clock cash game action.

The current festival, the Banco Casino Masters, is primarily famous for its huge NLH Main Event. However, the organizers have made a conscious effort to cater to the growing PLO community.

The PLO Masters has become a staple side event, offering a serious structure and a significant guarantee that draws players from Austria, Hungary, Denmark, Slovakia, and beyond. For players who prefer four hole cards to two, this event is often the highlight of the week.

Tournament Recap: Crushing the Guarantee

The format for the PLO Masters was a €225 + €25 buy-in with a solid €20,000 guarantee.

Often, guarantees in side events are just marketing numbers, but this field came to play. The tournament registered 92 entries.

This strong turnout meant the guarantee was successfully met. After the standard 5% staff deduction was applied, the players were left fighting for a total prize pool of €19,665.

The structure allowed for deep play, and by the time the final day kicked off, 25 players were still in contention. However, the bubble was still looming large. With only 11 spots paid and a minimum cash of €500, more than half of the returning field would leave empty-handed. The tension in the room was palpable as the field whittled down to the final table.

The Finale: A Heads-Up Deal

The final table featured a mix of local grinders and international visitors, but ultimately, the tournament came down to a duel between two players: Eschrich Bernd and Halkier Lars Flindt.

Both players navigated the final table aggression well, securing the lion’s share of the prize pool. When heads-up play began, the stacks were relatively even, and the payouts for first and second place were originally scheduled with a wider gap.

Recognizing the variance in Heads-Up Pot Limit Omaha, the two finalists agreed to a deal. This arrangement smoothed out the payouts, ensuring both walked away with a substantial score.

• Halkier Lars Flindt took the runner-up spot for a massive €4,400.
• Eschrich Bernd claimed the title, the trophy, and the top prize of €5,165.

This win adds another flag to Eschrich’s Hendon Mob and cements his status as a dangerous operator in these low-stakes PLO fields.

Banco Casino PLO Masters Results

Here are the official payouts for the final 11 players.

*Denotes a heads-up deal.

What’s Next at Banco?

The action at Banco Bratislava doesn’t stop here. The Banco Casino Masters continues with its Main Event flights, and cash games (including PLO) are running 24/7. If you missed this edition of the PLO Masters, keep an eye on the schedule—Omaha is alive and well in Bratislava.

Lebi (Head of Content)

With over 12 years of Omaha Poker experience, Lebi is the Head of Content at PLO365. A dedicated PLO specialist, he bridges the gap between complex GTO theory and practical street poker. He leads our review team, stress-testing PLO solvers, HUDs, and training courses to ensure they meet the demands of the modern grinder. When he isn’t auditing poker room RNGs or writing strategy guides, you can find him grinding mid-stakes PLO cash games and Turbo MTTs.