Germany make history
Germany made history by becoming the winners of the first IFP Nations Cup of Match Poker amid the historic surroundings of London’s County Hall.
There was no cash but massive tension and bags of national pride at stake as Stephan Kalhamer led his team to the 24 points that were enough to earn them the title of the IFP’s first World Team Champions ahead of Brazil and France.
Twelve teams set out on the glory trail in a hotly contested first round which took place high above the London skyline with each table in a separate pod on the world-famous London Eye.
With six teams eliminated the remainder returned to County Hall for the final showdown with the Germans’ skill and nerve seeing the team through to a famous victory.
Teams
Team UK – Barny Boatman, Liv Boeree, Jake Cody, Sam Trickett, JP Kelly, James Akenhead and Sam Holden.
Team USA – Barry Greenstein, Antonio Esfandiari, Isaac Haxton, Ali Eslami, Jennifer Leigh, Vanessa Selbst and Matt Matros (reserve).
Team Ireland – Padraig Parkinson, Marty Smith, Andy Black, Donnacha O’Dea, Eoghan O’Dea, Cat O’Neill and Dermot Blain.
Team Denmark – Gus Hansen, Lars Bonding, Theo Jorgensen, Mads Wissing, Mads Andersen, Simon Ravnsbaek and Pernille Ravn.
Team France – Fabrice Soulier, Nicolas Levi, Jean-Paul Pasqualini, Hugo Lemaire, Lucille Cailly and Clement Thumy.
Team Germany – Hans Vogl, Konstantin Buecherl, Sebastian Ruthenberg, Moritz Kranich, Time Reese, Tobias Reinkemeier and Sandra Naujoks.
Team Brazil – Andre Akkari, Alex Gomes, Felipe Ramis, Christian Kruel, Thiago Nishijima, Caio Pimenta and Daniela Zapiello.
Team Holland – Rolf Slotboom, Marcel Luske, Noah Boeken, Rob Hollink, Fatima Moreira de Melo, Jorryt van Hoof and Koen de Bakker.
Team Spain – Jose Obadia, Raul Paez, Juan Maceiras, Raul Mestre, Leo Margets, Oscar Blanco and Tomeu Gomila.
Team Australia – Mel Judah, Tony G, Gary Benson, Vesko Zmukic, Mike Guttmann, Marsha Waggoner and Jackie Glazier.
Team Japan – Takuo Serita, Mari Fukunaga, Gen Watanabe, Takuyu Suzuki, Kinichi Nakata, Tsuneaki Tafeda and Kiyomi Tagawa.
Team Zynga – Jennefer Gallenberger, Brian Turnbull, Margaret Hailey, Roei Shalev, Roger Ellis, Geoff Kinnune and Ricky Greer.
Final standings
| 1st | GERMANY |
| 2nd | BRAZIL |
| 3rd | FRANCE |