Many see this event as a bit of fun, away from the serious action of the bracelet events. Sure it may take a little stress from the players for a while, but they take it very seriously and it gives a fair few bragging rights to the pros. This Caesar's cup played at the Crown Casino in Melbourne forms part of the WSOP Asia Pacific series and defending champions Team Americas were looking to hold on the trophy that they claimed from the Europeans at the WSOP Europe. They had some stiff competition in two teams that consisted of some outstanding players, and it was in fact Sam Trickett's Team Europe that got their hands on the title of Caesar's Cup Winners. The new Team APAC were also in the mix, led by the Aussie Joe Hachem and they added an extra man to the foray when ex Australian cricketer Shane Warne popped up!
This was the first ever three team event and as reigning champions Team Americas were given a bye directly into the final, meaning that it was Team Europe Vs Team Asia Pacific in the first battle. The teams played in a best of three scenario with the first two matches played as a team with two players from each team sharing a stack. Then if required a third round of one on one play would be enough to find a winner. It all got underway with Joe Hachem and Richard Yong taking on Philipp Gruissem and Marvin Rettenmaier and the Europeans won the match, albeit by coming from behind after the first hand and having to call a timeout. Not to be deterred Team APAC fought back, winning the second match and squaring things up nicely with the legendary Shane Warne helping out Jackie Glazier to beat Sam Holden and Sam Trickett. the whole thing came down to a game between Dominik Nitsche and five-time WSOP champ Jeff Lisandro. Nitsche got given a good game but eventually came out on top setting up a final between The Americas and Europe.
The Final - Team Europe Vs Team Americas
Captain Ivey had no choice but to send out Negreanu and Esfandiari for the first game as they had to dash back to get playing in the Main Event, and they were up against Europe's Trickett and Nitsche. Due to the quick fire blind increases both teams dwindled quickly to around 10 times the big blind and on the final hand it was Nitsche who made the move and Negreanu quickly called showing pocket 7's. It was a coin flip of a hand and the Europeans just took it with a pair of 8's. Next up were the heavyweights of Ivey and Hellmuth for Team Americas and Rettenmaier and Gruissem for the Europeans and it didn't take long for Ivey and Hellmuth to come out on top, meaning that we would go to a third match. The Caesar's Cup went down to one game, and that was between Greg Merson and Sam Holden. Holden secured the victory for Europe with two big hands, beating Merson's 10's with a full house and then seeing off Merson's pair of 8's. So Europe regain the trophy and who knows when the next one will take place as it's not been put on the schedule just yet, but we are sure it will be very soon.
