A Quiet Presence Takes the Biggest Spotlight
The room was buzzing from Martin Kabrhel’s usual theatrics, but the player who ended up defining the day barely said a word. Throughout the R$500,000 Super High Roller Main Event at the BSOP Super High Roller Series, Zdenek Zizka stayed almost entirely silent. No commentary, no reactions, just steady decisions that carried him through a field of 36 elite competitors.
By the time the last hand fell, that quiet approach delivered the biggest result of his career. The Czech player secured the R$6,000,000 top prize, marking a breakthrough moment in what has already been a remarkable year.
A Year That Keeps Getting Bigger
Zizka closed out the tournament in a measured heads-up battle against Brazilian standout Felipe Boianovsky, who had earlier captured the festival’s 50K title. Even after the win, Zizka seemed unsure how to process it all. “To be honest, I completely don’t know what it means yet,” he said. “It just means like another great piece from another new country, and it will definitely mean a lot.”
Competitive instincts are nothing new to him. Zizka first made his name as a backgammon prodigy. He rose to grandmaster status, finished runner-up at the 2022 Backgammon Championship and wrote a strategy book titled The Zizka Method. Poker, however, is a much more recent pursuit. His first recorded cash came only two years ago, and before this season he had never booked a result worth more than $20,000.
This year changed everything. He collected a WSOP bracelet by defeating Shaun Deeb in a $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em event, reached three WSOP Europe final tables and passed the $1 million mark in 2025 earnings before arriving in Brazil. Today’s victory nearly equals all of his previous live cashes combined. Despite the momentum, he still sees the game simply. “To be honest, I have no idea. I always just try to do my best and that’s all the game,” he said. “I like the game since I was a little kid, so I just enjoy playing everything.”
Final Table Shifts
The eliminations came quickly at the start. Gabriel Tavares was the first to fall when his queens ran into Kabrhel’s kings. Ottomar Ladva followed after calling off with jacks and watching Zizka reveal a set of threes.
Four-handed play brought a noticeable change in rhythm. Zizka and Boianovsky controlled most pots, while Renan Bruschi and Kabrhel stayed selective. A well-timed river call with third pair pushed Zizka back in front, and another pot backed by a bottom set widened the gap.
The loudest moment erupted soon after. Kabrhel, down to a short stack, moved in with nines. A set on the flop sent him into celebration, only for the turn to bring a jack that swung the pot to Bruschi. The room erupted as he exited to loud boos.
Three-handed play produced a series of reversals. Bruschi doubled through each opponent. Boianovsky made a straight against Zizka. Then a three-way all-in sent the match into its final phase. Zizka’s sevens held, cracking Boianovsky’s nines, while Bruschi bowed out in third.
The Final Duel
Boianovsky entered heads-up with a narrow edge, but Zizka soon took over after calling down a missed draw. From there he tightened the pressure. The last hand came when Boianovsky shoved with ace-nine. Zizka called with pocket tens and held through a clean board to claim the title.
Kabrhel was the first to congratulate him. It was Zizka’s first time in Brazil, and he said the experience was strong enough to bring him back next year to defend the trophy.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (R$) | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zdenek Zizka | Czechia | R$6,000,000 | $1,200,000 |
| 2 | Felipe Boianovsky | Brazil | R$3,800,000 | $760,000 |
| 3 | Renan Bruschi | Brazil | R$2,700,000 | $540,000 |
| 4 | Martin Kabrhel | Czechia | R$2,000,000 | $400,000 |
| 5 | Ottomar Ladva | Estonia | R$1,500,000 | $300,000 |
| 6 | Gabriel Tavares | Brazil | R$1,193,600 | $238,700 |
