Some players just have a knack for the big stage. Martin Kabrhel is one of them. The Czech high-stakes pro has just added another chapter to his already wild poker legacy, capturing his fifth WSOP bracelet in the €10,000 Pot Limit Omaha Mystery Bounty at WSOP Europe. And he didn’t just win the title—he also raked in a jaw-dropping €62,500 in bounties on top of the first-place prize.
This was a tournament that had it all: a star-studded field, a unique format, and a dramatic heads-up finish against one of the UK’s best. Let’s jump in!
The Event: €10,000 PLO Mystery Bounty at WSOP Europe
The €10,000 PLO Mystery Bounty wasn’t just another high-roller event—it was a showcase for the evolution of modern tournament poker. Mystery Bounty formats have exploded in popularity, and for good reason: they add a layer of chaos, sweat, and pure adrenaline that you just don’t get in a standard payout structure.
Here’s how it works: every time you bust a player, you get to draw a random envelope containing a bounty prize. Some are small, some are absolutely massive. In this event, the bounties ranged from a few thousand euros to six-figure jackpots, and the total bounty pool was a huge part of the overall prize money.
The field was stacked, the action was wild, and every all-in could mean a life-changing payday—regardless of your chip stack.
The Road to Victory: Kabrhel’s Path Through the Field
Kabrhel is no stranger to deep runs, but this one was special. He navigated a minefield of elite PLO talent, picking up bounties left and right. By the time the final table was set, he’d already locked up a massive chunk of the bounty pool, but the real work was just beginning.
The final table was a who’s-who of European and international PLO crushers:
- Robert Cown (UK): A two-time WSOP bracelet winner and one of the most respected PLO players in the world. He would ultimately finish runner-up after a hard-fought heads-up battle.
- Dirk Gerritse (Netherlands): A rising PLO star from the Netherlands who is known online under the screen-name VeniVidi1993.
- Santhosh Suvarna (India): A regular in the high-stakes scene, always dangerous.
Kabrhel played his usual aggressive, unpredictable style—never afraid to put opponents to the test, and always hunting for the next bounty. By the time he reached heads-up play with Cown, he’d already secured the biggest bounty haul of the event.
The Heads-Up Battle: Kabrhel vs. Cown
The final duel was a classic. Cown, known for his technical precision, tried to slow down Kabrhel’s relentless aggression. But in the end, it was the Czech pro who found the right spots, closed out the match, and claimed the bracelet.
The final hand?
Martin Kabrhel limped and Robert Cowen checked. They saw the A♦️5♦️3♥️ flop. Cown checked, Kabrhel bet 100,000, which Cown check-raised to 610,000. Kabrhel raised him all in and Cowen called off with his remaining stack:
Robert Cown: A♣️T♥️7♣️5♣️
Martin Kabrhel: Q♥️6♠️4♣️2♣️
The Payouts: Who Got Paid and How Much
Here’s how the final table payouts shook out (not including bounties):
Player Spotlight: Martin Kabrhel
If you’ve played or watched high-stakes poker in Europe, you know the name. Martin Kabrhel is one of the most polarizing and successful players on the circuit. He’s known for his hyper-aggressive style, relentless table talk, and a knack for getting under his opponents’ skin. But love him or hate him, you can’t argue with the results.
After the win, Kabrhel was characteristically candid: “I got super lucky, but I also played my best. The bounties make every hand a sweat, and I love that pressure. Five bracelets is a dream, but I’m not done yet.“
The Bigger Picture: PLO, Bounties, and the Modern WSOP
The rise of Mystery Bounty events has injected new life into the tournament scene, especially in PLO. The format rewards aggression, creativity, and risk-taking—qualities that define the modern PLO crusher. For fans and players alike, it’s just more fun. Every all-in is a sweat, and every elimination could mean a massive payday.
WSOP Europe continues to push the envelope, and the €10K PLO Mystery Bounty is proof that high-stakes PLO is only getting bigger, wilder, and more entertaining.
Key Takeaways
- Martin Kabrhel won his fifth WSOP bracelet in the €10,000 PLO Mystery Bounty at WSOP Europe.
- He collected €62,500 in bounties—on top of the first-place prize.
- The final table featured elite players like Robert Cown (runner-up) and Dirk Gerritse.
- The Mystery Bounty format added extra drama and huge payouts to every elimination.
- Kabrhel’s win cements his status as one of Europe’s most successful and entertaining high-stakes pros.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Martin Kabrhel is a Czech professional poker player, known for his aggressive style and five WSOP bracelets.
This win marks his fifth career WSOP bracelet.
In a Mystery Bounty, players who eliminate others draw random bounty prizes—some small, some massive—adding extra excitement and variance to the tournament.
He collected €62,500 in bounties, in addition to the first-place prize.
Conclusion: A Champion’s Statement
Winning a single WSOP bracelet is a dream for most. Winning five, and doing it in a wild, high-stakes PLO Mystery Bounty, is the mark of a true champion. Martin Kabrhel’s performance was a masterclass in aggression, adaptability, and seizing the moment. The PLO world is only getting tougher, but Kabrhel just proved—again—that he’s still at the top of the game.
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