Russian player Anton Vinokurov has won the Unibet Open Bucharest 2018 Main Event for a record first prize of €103,060. Vinokurov, whose victory tripled his lifetime tournament winnings, beat a tough field of 592 entries to take down the €1,100 tournament. A total of 87 players got a share of the €592,000 prize pool.
Vinokurov, who was chip leader throughout the final day, said: “I believed when I started play today as the chip leader that I must make it to the final table and finish in the top three. Then when there were five players left, I knew I would win. I felt no other players could beat me.”
Carmen Zainescu, who won the #QueenRules Ladies Event on Friday, finished third in the Main Event for a career-best cash of €44,170. Unibet Ambassador David Lappin also had a very deep run in the event, making it through to the final day and finishing 15th for €6,520. Other big names who cashed included Danish pro Martin Wendt, two-time Unibet Open champion Mateusz Moolhuizen, WSOP 2017 finalist Jack Sinclair and Unibet Ambassador Fredrik Bergmann.
Unibet Open Bucharest took place at the stunning JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel from August 2-5. It was the tour’s third visit to the Romanian capital. The field included more than 120 players who won their prize packages for the event online at www.unibet.co.uk/poker.
Molly Bloom rocks Bucharest
One of the major stars to attend Unibet Open Bucharest was Molly Bloom, whose Hollywood high stakes poker game was the subject of the Oscar-nominated film Molly’s Game. Bloom, who opened the Unibet Open #QueenRules Ladies Event, was a huge hit with players and media alike. During her visit, she took part in a press conference, #AskMolly Q&A and packed book signing session. Click to watch the YouTube video of Molly Bloom in Bucharest.
Other big names who competed in Bucharest were Unibet ambassadors Ian Simpson, Dara O’Kearney, Espen Jorstad, Daiva Byrne and Rauno Tahvonen along with two-time Unibet Open champion Dan Murariu, Swedish pro Sofia Lovgren, Unibet Open London winner Gerret van Lancker and Unibet Open Cannes champion Quentin Lecomte.
A packed schedule at Unibet Open Bucharest featured a total of 19 different tournaments. As well as the €1,100 Main Event, there was also a two-day €2,200 High Roller (won by Romania’s Alexandru Gavrilut for €38,630), a special €10,000 invitational “Battle Royale” featuring Unibet’s sponsored eSports players (won by Scott “Sco” McMillan) and an invitational Tag Team event (won by McMillan and Rauno Tahvonen).
#QueenRules Ladies Event
Romanian player Carmen Zainescu won Friday’s #QueenRules Ladies Event for €460 before finishing third in the Main Event. Zainescu, who now has well over $100,000 in live tournament winnings, beat Unibet Ambassador and popular Twitch streamer Sophia “Djarii” White heads-up. The tournament was opened by Unibet Open Bucharest’s star guest Molly Bloom.
Unibet Player of the Year
The new champion Vinokurov is now in great shape for Unibet Player of the Year. The contest, which is running throughout 2018, is the first involving players from both live and online events. Huge prizes are on offer including €2,000 Unibet Open packages as well as dozens of tickets for online satellites, entry into an exclusive draw and free entry into a €250 online freeroll. A spectacular Battle of the Champion’s play-off will take place early next year to determine the overall Unibet Player of the Year and will feature the top four live players from 2018, the top four online players and the leaderboard winner from the Unibet Deepstack Open.
Live players have been able to rack up points by entering any Unibet Open Main Event along with all Main Events during the Unibet Belgian Poker Championship, the Unibet UK Poker Tour and the Unibet Romanian Poker Series. As well as points for taking part, there are additional points for everyone who cashes and further points based on performance.
Parties
Players at Unibet Open Bucharest were treated to two great parties: a Welcome Drinks at the Marriott and the exclusive Unibet Open Bucharest Players Party at FACE Kusin club.
Unibet Open Bucharest history
Traian Bostan from Romania beat a huge field of 603 players to take home a €100,000 top prize at the first Unibet Open Bucharest in 2016. Last December it was a second Romanian victory on home soil when fellow countryman Marius Pertea won for €90,925.
Nataly Sopacuaperu, Unibet Open’s Head of Events and Sponsorship, said: “We have had a simply amazing event here in Bucharest. Certainly Molly Bloom’s attendance was one of the biggest highlights of a great week: she is a hugely engaging personality who has had a big impact on the poker community. We loved having her here at the event. Massive congratulations to our champion Anton Vinokurov and many thanks to all the players, media and staff who helped make this year’s Unibet Open Bucharest a really terrific event!
Anton Vinokurov wins Unibet Open Bucharest for €103,060; Molly Bloom is a major hit
