Germany has taken on the poker world in style this year. First Pius Heinz is crowned this year’s World Series of Poker champion, and now the International Federation of Poker has announced that Germany is the winner of the first Nations Cup.
The team was led by Stephan Kalhammer and included the likes of Sebastian Ruthenberg, Moritz Kranich, Hans Martin Vogl,Sandra Naujoks, and Tobias Reinkemeier.
The Nations Cup was held in London as part of the London Mind Sports Festival and featured a twist on the usual no-limit hold’em tournament style with opponents dealt exactly the same cards in exactly the same position on neighboring tables. Germany proved they played the cards the best by accumulating 24 points to win the event. There was no cash prize up for grabs in this event but a whole heap of national pride was on the line.
France and Brazil were tied on 22 points but Brazil’s higher chip count ensured a runner-up finish, with France in third and the Zynga poker team in fourth. Holland followed in fifth and Spain in sixth.
Today sees the beginning of The Table, a $500,000 freeroll to be played by regular no-limit Texas hold’em rules with an invite-only field of 130 including celebrities and poker’s top professionals. Stay tuned as tomorrow the first official world champion will be crowned.
