WSOP Main Event November Nine: Vojtech Ruzicka

Throughout October, Coral Poker will run through each of this year’s November 9, who’ll appear in the 2016 WSOP main event held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel on the 30th October.

Vojtech Ruzicka, up until landing a spot in the main event, was having a terrible summer. Over the course of the year he managed to tally up just $5,000 in winnings, which by professional standards is pretty weak.

To his surprise, and joy, he managed to land a sport in this year’s main event: “I didn’t expect it, it not only saved my summer, but it’s the biggest thing to happen in my poker life. I’m so grateful.” But, where did he come from? How did he get here? While he’s one of the lesser known poker players, he certainly not one to be dismissed.

“Boring”, but only by his standards

In a recent interview Ruzicka asserted he is, in fact, a rather dull guy. ” I’m quite boring”, was all he had to say. And while on the surface he might seem like bland addition to the WSOP main event, he’s had a decent career over the last eight years.

Starting off as an online player while at university, he won his first $50,000 soon after and decided that poker was for him. “Everything went my way” he said, and so, without second thoughts, he quit studying and journeyed through the world of poker.

Losing the majority of his bankroll throughout this period, he made his statement (and reinvigorated his bankroll) by finishing runner-up in the 2011 World Championship of Online Poker, as Vojta_R, finishing runner-up to Thomas Pedersen. His prize — $710,000.

Moving from the online world to the real-life poker tables, Vojtech hit the European scene, with his first big hit being the German Championship of Poker for $161,146, followed by a fantastic run in the WSOP finals, but failing to make it all the way only managing a top-60 finish over the course of four years.

Creating his path through poker

February 2013 was to be a great year for the poker ace, landing €313,000 in the €10,300 High Roller at EPT Deauville. He then continued to grind out results, with noticible wins such as €20,300 at the EPT No Limit Hold’em Main Event and €22,300 at the UKIPT Dublin No Limit Hold’em in Decemeber 2015. Wins varied from a few thousand to a few hundred, and with total earnings just over $2.2 million, Ruzicka is the definition of a career poker player.

It was only until he landed a spot at this year’s WSOP Main Event that he finally broke the $1 million earnings mark in one tournament (the guaranteed prize), finally making has mark in the world of poker.

Currently in sixth-place, he certainly has some work to do to ensure he manages to take home the big-money. Whether the ‘boring player’ takes advantage is completely down to him, but the phrase ‘some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them’ seem appropriate for Ruzicka, as he plays in the tournament of his life.