Jack Sinclair Avenges 2017 Defeat to Win 2018 WSOPE Main Event

November 5th, 2018 | by Jason Reynolds

British pro Jack Sinclair has overcome the disappointment of a near miss in 2017 to win his first bracelet and $1.2 million at the 2018 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE).

British pro Jack Sinclair has avenged his 2017 WSOP defeat by winning this year’s WSOPE Main Event. (Image: WSOP.com)

In clinching the WSOPE title November 2, Sinclair not only beat 2013 WSOP Main Event champion Ryan Reiss but avenged his seventh-place finish in 2017’s Big Dance.

Entering the final day inside the Czech Republic’s King’s Casino fourth in chips, Sinclair caught a break early courtesy of Milos Skrbic.

Sinclair Doubles and Dominates

Using his newfound chips as leverage, the Englishman proceeded to push the pace as the final stages of the €10,350/$11,700 tournament loomed. By the time the aforementioned Skrbic and Riess had exited in fifth and fourth respectively, Sinclair took control.

First to fall in the three-way battle was Krasimir Yankov. After raising from the button with pocket fives and receiving two callers, the Bulgarian thought he was in good shape when the flop came Q♦7♦5♠.

However, after a raise and a call pushed Laszlo Bujtas out of the pot, Sinclair put his opponent all-in as the K♠ fell on the turn. When the cards were revealed, the Englishman’s set of sevens were well clear of Yankov’s three fives, meaning the 6♠ on the river was enough to set up a final showdown.

With the chip lead in his position, Sinclair looked confident heading into the heads-up match against Bujtas. Things quickly changed, however, as the Hungarian grabbed the chip lead with some well-timed moves.

Queen Makes Sinclair WSOPE King

As the action dragged on, it was back-and-forth between the two finalists before a pair of queens ended it. With no other option but to move all-in on the button with J♠7♠, Bujtas found himself looking to the poker gods for help after Sinclair called with Q♥9♣.

Within three cards, the Brit’s marginal lead was extended significantly thanks to the Q♣. Despite a consolatory 7♣ on the river, Bujtas was unable to recover and exited stage-left to collect his prize as Sinclair joined James Bord as the second British player to win the WSOPE main event.

1^st Jack Sinclair – $1,277,013

2^nd Laszlo Bujtas – $789,227

3^rd Krasimir Yankov – $546,231

4^th Ryan Riess – $384,363

5^th Milos Skrbic – $275,055

6^th Ihor Yerofieiev – $200,233

7^th Koray Aldemir – $148,327

8^th Bulcsu Lukacs – $111,842

9^th Stoyan Obreshkov – $85,868

Commenting on his victory, an elated Sinclair said that he learned a lot from the 2017 WSOP Main Event final table but didn’t let his previous disappointment cloud his judgement.

“I thought about [the 2017 WSOP final table] once at the final table when I had jack-four off-suit against Laszlo. Vegas was my first ever time playing a $10K and the first time in Vegas in general. The whole thing has been so surreal from the start of my poker career until now,” Sinclair told PokerNews on November 2.