Professional poker often involves huge sums of money - but for the players, it's much more than money that counts: it's the bracelets that symbolise long-term triumph at a major tournament and are always immediately mentioned in the same breath as the best players on the scene. Comparable to the medals at the Olympic Games, they have a high value both materially and emotionally and exude a special aura. They usually remain in the possession of their winners. Now, however, German poker icon Eddy Scharf has announced that he will sell his WSOP Gold Bracelets at the end of his career.

The news hit the poker scene like a royal flush: Eddy Scharf, two-time WSOP bracelet winner and one of the most influential figures in German poker, has not only announced his retirement from active play, but has also announced that he is selling his coveted gold bracelets. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets are considered the highest honours a professional can achieve - they are the ultimate symbol of success and excellence at the poker table, comparable to gold medals in sport. They symbolise triumph over hundreds or even thousands of competitors in the world's most prestigious tournaments and are a testament to strategic skill, mental strength and nerves of steel.

Eddy Scharf was one of the first German players to make a name for himself on the international poker scene. In an era when the current status of the classic card game in Germany was barely imaginable, he managed to assert himself against the world's elite. His victories at the WSOP in 2001 and 2003 were real trailblazers for many German talents. Incidentally, the WSOP is now part of GGPoker. He has won the prize money in WSOP events a total of 19 times, including a remarkable 15th place in the 2004 Main Event. As a member of the renowned ‘FullTiltPoker’ team and through his work as a TV commentator on Sport1 and DSF at the time, Scharf made a significant contribution to the popularisation of poker in Germany at other levels. His (eponymous) astute analyses and blunt comments made him an unmistakable voice in the scene. With the release of the ‘DSF Poker School’ on DVD, he laid the foundation for many interested people's poker knowledge.

Now, at the age of 70, Scharf is retiring from poker. When asked why, he explains that he can no longer identify with today's poker world and is allergic to bad beat stories - a clear allusion to the changes in the gaming culture and mentality of the new generations. His decision to also sell his two WSOP Gold Bracelets not only marks the end of an impressive career. It is also a symbolic farewell to material mementos that have an almost sacred aura in the poker world.

Where did Scharf win the bracelets?

Eddy Scharf demonstrated almost unparalleled dominance, particularly in the Limit Omaha poker variant, and established himself as one of the leading experts in this strategically demanding game. He probably also had special rituals to prepare for matches - just like Quirin Heinz, an up-and-coming German poker pro who recently gave an insight into his everyday life.

  1. 2001: He celebrated his first major triumph at the World Series of Poker in 2001 in Event #6 - an Omaha tournament with a buy-in of USD 1,500. In a field of 143 players, he prevailed against a large number of renowned professionals. His beaten rivals at the final table included the likes of WSOP Main Event champion Tom McEvoy (9th place), multiple bracelet winner Allen Cunningham (8th place) and renowned poker author David Sklansky (5th place). In the heads-up duel, Scharf finally defeated Michael Davis and secured the first WSOP Gold Bracelet as well as the prize money of USD 83,810.
  2. 2003: Scharf did not rest on his laurels afterwards. In 2003, he repeated his triumph in Event #16 of the WSOP - another limit Omaha tournament with a buy-in of 1,500 US dollars. This time he skilfully navigated his way through a field of 119 participants and overcame even stronger competition at the final table. He relegated poker legends such as Steve Zolotow (5th place), multiple bracelet winner Men ‘The Master’ Nguyen (4th place) and eleven-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth (3rd place) to the back of the field. In the final heads-up, he prevailed against the Welsh professional Dave Colclough. With this victory, he secured 63,600 US dollars and his second WSOP Gold Bracelet.
Eddy Scharf is truly a defining figure:
Scharf's successes in Omaha are particularly notable, as this variant requires a deep understanding of complex strategies, pot odds and hand combinations. His repeated success against the elite of the poker world emphasises his analytical skills and feel for the game. The fact that he triumphed at a time when the fields were smaller but the density of top players was higher emphasises his achievements. His victories thus contributed significantly to raising the profile of German-speaking players on the international stage and paved the way for future generations in professional poker. Last but not least, he helped to bring the game out of the dark back rooms and into the limelight here in Germany. Speaking of back rooms: a large-scale illegal poker round has just been broken up in Munich.

And where can you buy the bracelets?

Although Eddy Scharf is presumably very financially secure, he has decided to offer his two WSOP gold bracelets for sale.

  • Scharf emphasises that the bracelets from the early 2000s are made of 18-carat gold, while their modern-day counterparts are considered ‘tin’ in comparison.
  • The current gold value of both bracelets is around 13,000 euros. The private offers from the poker industry and from players who have never won a bracelet themselves have already significantly exceeded this material value.

So far, the two coveted WSOP bracelets have not appeared on a public platform. Given their prestige, it is of course unlikely that they will be traded on popular online marketplaces such as eBay.

  • Instead, it can be assumed that Scharf is most likely to offer them at renowned auction houses such as Heritage Auctions or Catawiki.
  • They may even go under the hammer in a TV format such as the regularly broadcast XXL special of the ZDF programme ‘Bares für Rares’, where exceptional collector's items are presented to a wide audience.
People who are seriously interested in these unrivalled rarities of poker history should probably contact Eddy Scharf directly. In view of their rarity and significance for the scene, the bracelets are not only of great material value, but also bear witness to a special era and a life story. It is therefore quite possible that Scharf does not simply want to give them away anonymously, but wants to make sure that the next owner will appreciate them.

Conclusion

The chapter of an impressive poker career is closing: Eddy Scharf is not only retiring from the active game, but is also parting with his two prestigious WSOP gold bracelets. His extraordinary successes in the Limit Omaha poker variant, his contributions to the popularisation of poker in Germany and his unmistakable character have made him a true legend. The bracelets, symbols of his strategic skills and his historic victories against the elite of the poker world, are now waiting for new owners. Perhaps one of you feels called upon to acquire a piece of poker history?

Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/poker-card-game-casino-cards-4701833/

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