In 2017, Sam Greenwood enjoyed a career year with more than $2.4 million in tournament earnings. The 29-year-old Canadian is close to exceeding that total already for 2018 after taking down the WPT Amsterdam High Roller. It was his third 1st place finish of the year, bringing his annual win total to $2,365,986.
Busting a World Champ
The WPT Amsterdam High Roller, which cost €6,000 to enter, attracted 65 entries who generated a prize pool of €359,385 ($444,767). Greenwood began the final table as chip leader but he faced some tough competition including 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Ryan Riess, who not long ago won his own WPT title.
The two collided in Level 20 (5,000/10,000/1,000) when they got the chips in on a J♥2♥10♦6♣ board with Riess holding Jx10x and Greenwood the A♦A♥. Riess was ahead with two pair but disaster struck when the A♣ spiked on the river to give Greenwood trips. Riess earned €16,170 ($20,012) for finishing in seventh place.
In the next level, Greenwood dispatched another tough competitor in 2016 Super High Roller Bowl champ Rainer Kempe. It happened when Kempe moved all in holding the A♠8♠ and Greenwood called with the 2♠2♣. It was a flip but Greenwood’s ducks held strong as the board ran out 4♠9♦10♦J♥5♥. Kempe added €24,260 ($30,024) for finishing in fifth place.
Closing Out
Greenwood began heads-up play with a decent chip lead over Clyde Tjauw Foe, who managed a couple double ups. Despite those, Greenwood, who was patiently grinding while watching a baseball game on his tablet, managed to close it out in Level 25 (15,000/30,000/4,000).
It happened when Foe limped holding the 9♥7♠ and Greenwood checked his option with the 7♦3♠. Both players checked the 7♥7♣3♣ cooler flop, and then action repeated itself on the J♦ turn. When the 8♥ completed the board on the river, Greenwood bet 50,000 and Foe min-raised to 100,000. Greenwood moved all in and Foe called off to bust in second place for €71,875 ($88,951).
“Heads-up I made a lot of really strong hands. Even on the final hand if I had seven-nine and he had seven-three the money goes in,” Greenwood said after the final hand.
“I’m definitely going to come back to Amsterdam at some point. I don’t know if it’ll be for poker or vacation … every time I can make it to Amsterdam and it fits within my schedule I’d love to make it.”
As for Greenwood, he earned €125,785 ($155,666) for the victory, which was his third of the year. His other two wins were April’s Partypoker Millions Grand Final Barcelona Super High Roller for $1,227,792 and January’s Aussie Millions $50K Challenge for $94,074 (it only had four entrants). In between, he also finished third in the APPT Macau Super High Roller for $449,938.
Final Table Results
1 Sam Greenwood (Canada) €125,785 ($155,666)
2 Clyde Tjauw Foe (Netherlands) €71,875 ($88,951)
3 William Givens (USA) €44,025 ($54,484)
4 Zhong Chen (Netherlands) €31,445 ($38,916)
5 Rainer Kempe (Germany) €24,260 ($30,024)
6 Thomas Muhlocker (Austria) €18,870 ($23,353)
7 Ryan Riess (USA) €16,170 ($20,012)
8 Win Emo (Netherlands) €14,375 ($17,790)
9 Raoul Refos (Netherlands) €12,580 ($15,569)
