Ivan Ivanov crashes out in 15th after high-stakes poker showdown

A high-risk all-in gambit backfired as Ivanov's pocket eights clashed with Nieto Martin's nines. The Spanish pro's deep-run streak continues unbroken.

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2026 March 23 . 10:02 PM

1 min read

The image shows a group of people sitting around a table playing poker, with a wall, window, door,... — The image shows a group of people sitting around a table playing poker, with a wall, window, door, and various objects in the background. At the bottom of the image, there is text that reads "Draw Poker - Laying for 'em Sharp".

Ivan Ivanov crashes out in 15th after high-stakes poker showdown

A high-stakes showdown at the poker table ended with Ivan Ivanov's exit in fifteenth place. The clash saw him win €2,000 after a dramatic all-in against Jose Maria Nieto Martin. Both players held strong hands, but only one survived the hand.

Ivan Ivanov pushed all-in for 420,000 chips from under the gun. Jose Maria Nieto Martin, seated in the hi-jack position, made the call. Ivanov revealed pocket eights (8♣ 8♦), while Nieto Martin showed a stronger pair of nines (9♠ 9♦).

The better hand held, and Ivanov was left with no chips. His elimination left Nieto Martin with an increased stack of 2,300,000. This wasn't Nieto Martin's first deep run in a major tournament. In March 2026, he placed 17th in the Irish Open Main Event, earning €28,500. Over the past two years, he also secured 5th in the 2025 EPT Barcelona Main Event (€320,000) and 12th in the 2024 WSOP Europe Main Event (€95,000). His total winnings from high-profile events now exceed €750,000.

Ivanov's run ended with a €2,000 payout, while Nieto Martin advanced with a stronger chip lead. The Spanish player continues to build on a record of consistent deep finishes in major poker tournaments.