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Nevada Poker Rooms Generate $120 Million In 2018

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According to a record by David Schwartz of the UNLV Center for Gaming Research, Nevada’s online poker revenue was just around 40 percent of what sports wagering generated to the state in 2018.

Poker rooms in Nevada generated $120.083 million in 2018. The number is up slightly from 2017 when the state generated $118.455 million from the poker tables, but still pales in comparison to the document $301 million generated from sports wagering in 2018.

Poker profits naturally surges every year throughout June as well as July due to the World Collection of Poker happening at the Rio. The average monthly profits in 2018 was simply over $10 million, but online poker areas took in $17.483 million in June as well as an additional $11.966 million in July.

June 2018 was the state’s second-best month ever for texas hold’em revenue. It was covered just by July 2007 when the state’s texas hold’em rooms generated $17.661 million in earnings.

The average variety of texas hold’em tables running in the state was 600 monthly. Many thanks to added tables in the Rio throughout the WSOP, the ordinary variety of tables surged to 688 throughout those months. January, April, July, September and October all saw year-over-year earnings decline from 2017.

Nevada casino poker went to its top between 2006-2008 when online poker areas in the state were creating a typical monthly profits of $13 million, however has actually constantly faded in contrast to sporting activities wagering. Even its finest year in 2007, when the state generated $167.991 million in profits from poker, was still just over fifty percent of 2018’s sporting activities wagering take.

Bryn Kenney Wins Aussie Millions Main Event

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American Bryn Kenney has done his finest to inject some enjoyable back right into casino poker on course to winning the 2019 Aussie Millions main event.

Challenging against 821 other hopefuls, Kenney began the last table inside Melbourne’s Crown Online casino trailing the general leader, Mike Del Vecchio. In ferreting out his challenger and also winning the Aussie Many millions title on February 3, Kenney did his ideal to captivate and engage those around him.

Striving for Fun and Financial Gain in Equal Measure

Talking to Pokernews after his success, the professional gamer said that a lot of his peers were taking the AU$ 10,600/ US$ 7,655 centerpiece as well seriously.

“I like to talk with people who I don’t know about. We’ve kind of been going in the wrong direction with players taking it too seriously and making it not fun for people who are here to have fun,” Kenney said.

In addition to bringing some life to the table, the ultimate winner additionally played the part of death squad. After seeing Hamish Cranshaw exit in 7th, Kenney got his contribute with pocket jacks.

Calling with A ♣ K ♦, Gyeong Byeong Lee required a pair to prevent annihilating his pile. Help Never shown up, leaving the South Korean with just 4 big blinds as well as Kenney with a new heap of chips to collaborate with.

As Kenney’s confidence grew, Matthew Wakeman as well as Clinton Taylor dropped by the wayside, leaving the American with an opportunity to broker an unique bargain. With greater than $26 million in competition incomes and also several titles, including WSOP and WPT wins to his name, Kenney had the experience over his opponents.

But with Del Vecchio holding the chip lead and a burning need to win the title, negotiations were tough. At some point, after Andrew Hinrichsen indicated his contract, the final 3 came to a deal that enabled Kenney to scoop just over $923,000.

Kenney Cruises to Historic Aussie Millions Win

In addition to scooping one of the most money, Kenney persuaded his tablemates to allow him take the win uncontested. Regardless of the unusual request, Del Vecchio as well as Hinrichsen concurred, meaning the American included another trophy to his collection without a battle.

2019 Aussie Millions Main Event Final Table Payouts

Place Winner Country Prize ( in AUD) Prize (in USD)
1 Bryn Kenney United States AU$1,272,598* $923,269*
2 Mike Del Vecchio United States AU$1,272,162* $922,953*
3 Andrew Hinrichsen Australia AU$1,097,739* $796,410*
4 Clinton Taylor Australia AU$483,000 $350,417
5 Matthew Wakeman Australia AU$380,300 $275,908
6 Gyeong Byeong Lee Korea AU$309,000 $224,180
7 Hamish Crawshaw New Zealand AU$242,000 $175,571

*denotes a deal

In winning Down Under, Kenney not only boosted his career earnings yet engraved his name in background. By dominating the 822-player area, Kenney went beyond the success of 2018 victor Toby Lewis by winning the largest Aussie Millions main event in history.

For the champion, the environment in Australia is the primary factor the celebration remains to be a success as well as, additionally, why multiple documents have actually fallen this year.

“During the whole tournament every time I’m on a break maybe 2-3 people want to take a picture. That’s how poker should be, watching and having a good time. It’s the best tournament stop in the world,” Kenney told reporters after his victory.

CardsChat Poker Ambassador Jeff Gross Leaves Team PokerStars

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CardsChat texas hold’em ambassador Jeff Gross could not reach a common agreement with PokerStars. Hence, the Twitch banner as well as the world’s largest on-line casino poker website are parting methods after simply under 2 years.

Gross uploaded a “bye-bye” video clip on YouTube to his former company. He leaves on good terms and also informed CardsChat he intends to proceed his expert relationship with Jason Somerville, a PokerStars Group Pro participant, and also his Run it Up brand.

Departure was ‘Mutual’

Jeff Gross represented PokerStars for almost 2 years. But that relationship has actually run its course. He thanked those he collaborated with in a YouTube video clip.

Gross told CardsChat, “we can not reach a mutual arrangement on terms to proceed progressing,” regarding his decision to leave the online poker site.

Several that comply with Gross on Twitch and also social media sites understand his partnership with PokerStars has led to numerous professional possibilities. That includes his Twitch network and collaboration with Somerville as well as Run it Up.

“I love being a part of Run it Up,” Gross said in his YouTube video. “It’s unclear where that will go with me and how that will work, whether we’ll still be working together or not.”

After releasing the video, Jeff verified with CardsChat that he has spoken to Somerville regarding the possible problem of interest. But he still isn’t certain what the future has in shop.

“We will figure it out,” he said. “But it’s totally open.”

On YouTube, Gross allowed his fans recognize the separation from PokerStars doesn’t suggest he’s mosting likely to stop streaming. In fact, the opposite is true.

“We’re not going anywhere,” he informed viewers. “We’re going to kick up the content. I’ve got a lot of fun projects planned.”

He ended his video clip by saying “thanks to PokerStars.” It’s clear this break up wasn’t as bitter as Shaq and Kobe.

PokerStars Losing Star Power

PokerStars’ lineup is starting to look a little bit like the Chicago Bulls in 1998 after Michael Jordan retired and also Scottie Pippen signed with the Houston Rockets.

Jason Mercier, Vanessa Selbst, and Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier were already out in the past year, as well as now Gross. Fortunately, nonetheless, is the biggest celebrity of them all– Daniel Negreanu– isn’t going anywhere soon. Chris Moneymaker, Liv Boeree, as well as Somerville are also still fixed.

So, it’s not like the Group Pro lineup is void of any kind of skill. Yet, aside from Moneymaker and Negreanu, the casino poker boom period stars are gone.

Still, PokerStars continues to dominate the on-line poker market. But if they aren’t careful, Partypoker may ultimately capture up.

Matt Savage On The Time He Almost Messed Up Chris Moneymaker’s Bluff On Sammy Farha

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Poker Stories is a long-form audio podcast series that features casual interviews with some of the game’s best players and personalities. Each episode highlights a well-known member of the poker world and dives deep into their favorite tales both on and off the felt.

Matt Savage got his start in the poker industry as a chip runner at Garden City Casino, and worked his way up the ranks to dealer at Bay 101, and eventually, tournament director. The San Jose-native saw a need in poker for a standardized set of rules, and with the help of Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, and Dave Lamb, formed the Tournament Directors Association. Savage was named tournament director for the World Series of Poker when he was just 34 years old, and served in that position during the onset of the poker boom from 2002 to 2004.

In the years since, Savage has continued to work tournaments at his home casino of Bay 101 and also at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, which is currently hosting the L.A. Poker Classic. He’s also seen his role with the World Poker Tour increase since he was named Executive Tour Director. Savage was heavily featured in the 2007 poker movie Lucky You, and also has a WSOPfinal-table score of his own, finishing fifth in the 2009 $1,500 stud eight-or-better event. He was the inaugural member of the Poker Room Manager’s Hall of Fame, and has been nominated for the Poker Hall of Fame the last few years.

Highlights from this interview include trying to get unplugged, why you don’t need a 16 lb. ball anymore, a disdain for homework, working since 14, going from chip runner to floorman, auditioning at Bay 101, being forced out of the box, the baby faced TD at the WSOP, being proactive with Men Nguyen and John Bonetti, Hellmuth steals the spotlight, how he almost screwed up the infamous Moneymaker/Farha bluff, running out of chips in the main event, proposing to his wife at the final table, how $400,000 went ‘missing’ from the main event prize pool, why he’s the real star of Lucky You, a testy scene with Robert Duval, John Juanda’s grudge, Dick Corpuz: king of the soul read, and why poker needs a museum.

Poker Player Richard Seymour Misses Pro Football HOF Cut, Watches Former Team Win Super Bowl

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A panel of citizens rejected to induct Richard Seymour, now an online poker gamer, into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend break. However the veteran New England Patriots protective electrician remained in participation to witness his previous group win its 6th Super Bowl because 2002.

The seven-time Pro Bowler was on the area for three of those national championship. On Saturday, he wanted to obtain the phone call from Canton letting him understand he becomes part of the 2019 HOF course. Instead, he got a little “dissatisfaction.”.

Good News, Bad News

Saturday certainly wasn’t a gratifying day for Seymour. Yet the bitter taste rapidly resorted to jubilation a day later as he enjoyed his former team again hoist the Lombardi Prize.

A panel of voters met this weekend break to select conscripts for the HOF course of 2019. Chiefs limited end Tony Gonzalez and Ravens safety and security Ed Reed, in their first year of qualification. were relatively locks. And also the specialists were correct. Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, also in his initial year of eligibility, signed up with the club.

What began with an elite group of 15 potential inductees was to 12. The list then shrunk also further when five gamers, consisting of Seymour, were cut. The online poker gamer, as always, handled it with course.

Seymour’s former teammate, cornerback Ty Regulation, however, was picked. He signs up with the 3 abovementioned gamers, facility Kevin Mawae, safety Johnny Robinson, previous Broncos owner Rub Bowlen, and Dallas Cowboys exec Gil Brandt.

After getting the bad news, Seymour transformed his focus to Sunday’s large video game in Atlanta. Prior to the video game, he talked to previous teammate Tom Brady in the tunnel. And after that he experienced the group he fought for from 2001-2008 loss the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in the most affordable racking up Super Dish in history.

Brady has actually been under center for each of those six titles. He’s an excellent first-ballot Hall of Popularity choice 6 years after he retires. Seymour wishes when that day comes he’ll be welcoming his former quarterback to the club instead of being stuck on the sidelines.

NFL Star No Slouch on the Felt

Seymour retired from the NFL in 2012 as a seven-time Pro Dish option– 5 with New England and two in Oakland. He videotaped 57.5 sacks as a combo protective tackle/end. His true stamina was as a run-stuffer, utilizing his 310-pound frame and also athleticism to block openings.

However he was in some cases forgotten on a group loaded with celebrities, particularly next to fellow tackle Vince Wilfork, who will be up for HOF induction in a few years. That might have hurt his HOF leads, although he still has a likelihood of entering within the next couple of years.

Now that his football profession is long over, Seymour has moved on to texas hold’em. As well as he’s adjusted fairly well. The previous NFL celebrity has over $530,000 in career cashes. That includes a 3rd area finish in a $25,000 money player at the 2018 PCA ($ 376,360).

Seymour paid two times at the 2017 WSOP and has 2 tiny cash money on the Globe Poker Trip. He definitely doesn’t require to make any cash playing poker. He might manage to money the people that money texas hold’em players. But he takes pleasure in the game as well as the online poker area is much better for having a celebrity enthusiastic regarding online poker.

Cary Katz Wins 2019 Aussie Millions AU$100,000

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The 2019 Aussie Millions $100,000 AUD ($72,799 USD) Obstacle no-limit hold ’em extremely high-stakes gambler event drew a total of 42 access, the third-largest area in case’s 14-year background. The strong turnover constructed a prize swimming pool equal to $2,963,520 USD, which was awarded to the top 6 finishers.

In the end, the largest share was granted to Cary Katz, who earned $1,066,867 USD for his 19th online tournament title. The American business person as well as founder of Online poker GO currently has $18,463,931 in life time live tournament earnings, enough to see him climb into 25th place on poker’s all-time money list.

AU$100,000 Challenge Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize (AUD) Prize (USD)
1st Cary Katz United States $1,481,760 $1,066,867
2nd Johannes Becker Germany $946,680 $681,610
3rd Abraham Passet Germany $617,400 $444,528
4th Rainer Kempe Germany $452,760 $325,987
5th Jack Salter United Kingdom $329,280 $237,082
6th Kristen Bicknell Canada $288,120 $207,446

 

Katz made his way to the unofficial final table of nine players in fourth chip position, with Germany’s Johannes Becker as the runaway chip leader with more
than double the next largest stack. Katz and Becker got involved in a massive preflop confrontation not long after the final table was set, with Katz four-betting all-in holding KHeart SuitKClub Suit and Becker calling with the ASpade SuitAClub Suit. Katz was on the wrong side of the sick cooler but managed to spike a king on the flop to win the hand and double into the lead.

Alex Foxen was the last player eliminated outside of the money. He three-bet shoved for 12 big blinds with the ASpade Suit2Heart Suit over the top of the button raise of Becker, who called with pocket eights. Neither player improved and Foxen was sent to the rail empty-handed.

Kristen Bicknell was the next to go, with her ADiamond Suit2Diamond Suit losing to the KSpade SuitQHeart Suit of Rainer Kempe. The two-time WSOP bracelet winner took home $207,446 USD as the sixth-place finisher.

Katz won a preflop race to knock British poker pro Jack Salter out in fifth place ($237,082 USD). Katz’s AClub SuitQSpade Suit outran Salter’s pocket eights, making two pair on the flop and holding from there.

Despite having knocked out Bicknell, Rainer Kempe ended up as the fourth-place finisher. His ADiamond SuitQDiamond Suit could not outrun the pocket kings of fellow German Abraham Passet, and Kempe was sent to the rial with $325,987 USD. This was already his fifth final-table finish of 2019, with three titles won along the way. With 2,754 Player of the Year points and $2,123,802 in year-to-date earnings, Kempe currently sits in fourth place on the POY leaderboard.

Johannes Becker picked up pocket queens and called the all-in of Passet during three-handed action. Passet’s ADiamond Suit10Heart Suit was in trouble, and though he paired his ten on the river, it was not enough to win him the pot and he was awarded $444,528 USD as the third-place finisher.

Becker chipped up to 3,895,000 after that hand but was still well behind Katz’s 6,605,000. Becker closed the gap a bit early in the heads-up match, but Katz was able to regain control after making a straight against Becker’s two pair. By the time the final hand arose Katz had built roughly a 17-to-1 chip advantage. He moved all-in from the button with the 9Heart Suit9Diamond Suit and Becker called for his last 6 big blinds or so with the KClub Suit2Club Suit. The board ran out 8Spade Suit8Diamond Suit5Spade Suit2Heart SuitJClub Suit and Katz’s nines held up to earn him the pot and the title. Becker took home $681,610 USD as the runner up.

Kyle Cartwright Wins Main Event At Tunica

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The recent ring winner in the World Series of Poker Circuit is Kyle Cartwright, who has actually removed the Tunica Main Event for $198,451! This first place finish adds another ring to his already stacked resume, currently having eight in complete, with nearly $1,750,000 in career WSOP cash money. He will certainly also be securing a 2019 Global Casino Championship seat, on top of all that chilly tough cash.

An overall of 639 access collaborated for the Tunica main event, as well as just 8 of the enrollment slips offered, made it to Day 3. Cartwright began the day third on the leader board, yet managed to start piling chips early in the day, winning pot after pot, a little each time. He really took off after getting rid of Damjan Radanov during a blind on blind hand, taking down the pot with a greater kicker for his ace.

Cartwright played aggressive small-ball poker through the majority of the day, constantly getting in with the most effective of it and folding when he had the worst. He made an extremely marginal quantity of errors, as well as even those were offseted by his reading capacity that was on complete display, during the final day of this event.

The win meant a lot for Carwright, “I’ve been travelling now for a while, so anytime you get a win, i mean they are so hard to win, these tournaments”. This is his 72nd cash, eighth ring, and fourth main event victory, but there was still room for one more first for Cartwright, “This is the first time she (His Mom) has watched me play live poker, It was great having my family here!”

The Arlington,TN, native took second in the Main Event at Harrah’s Cherokee (North Carolina), in November and just earlier this week finished as the runner-up in the $600 Big Blind Ante, here in Tunica. ” Man, I am feeling great! I was on a string of seconds there for a minute, and its nice to get a win”

A single person that he seemed to have actually a continued reading was Steve Klein, catching him in multiple hands with a minimum of a few fingers in the cookie container. The initial two days of the tournament apparently were not rather as very easy having fun versus Klein states Cartwright,” That man heads-up guy, he owned me for two days directly I could not beat him! So i believed without a doubt in the final hand that was a flip, that he for sure would certainly get it, yet somehow i came through and won”

Klein would out up a heated fight with Cartwright for as lengthy as possible, yet eventually would need to find an area to increase up. The minute came and the two were all in on a traditional flip, sailboats for Klein as well as ace 10 for Cartwright. Klein handled to discolor the very first four cards to hit the board, however as so many before him, he would fall to the unavoidable river card, and also Cartwright would certainly be crowned the current circuit main event champ.

The event started on Friday, getting hold of 243 access on Day 1A. Cartwright would be the biggest pile of the 30 that bagged by the end of the night. The second starting trip drew in 396 access as well as Johnny Landreth emerged as the Day 1B huge stack of the 77 that advanced, in addition to the general leader heading right into Day 2. The 2nd day played 10, 60-minute levels of play, before tagging and also landing for the last day. Just 8 returned for the final day, as well as it was Jim Naifeh leading the way. After four degrees of play, only two remained, and also it would take two hours for Cartwright to remove Klein for his eighth ring.

That covers it up for the January drop in Tunica of the 2018-19 WSOP circuit period. There will be a second stop in Tunica, beginning April 25 till May 6, and as constantly will certainly have a large turn out of gamers.

Official Final Table Results:

1st – Kyle Cartwright – $198,451
2nd – Steve Klein – $122,802
3rd – Johnny Landreth – $90,071
4th – Jim Naifeh – $66,982
5th – Darren Martin – $50,486
6th – Damjan Radanov – $38,559
7th – Jon Bennett – $29,836
8th – Joseph Hebert – $23,389
9th – Michael Sanders – $14,928

WATCH: Nearly Felted Poker Player Turns $50 Into Almost $10K

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A regular on “Live at the Bike” known in the Los Angeles area as “Weez,” made one of one of the most insane returns in livestreamed low-stakes poker background. The area grinder,, in a $5/$5 no-limit hold ’em cash money game, rotated $50 into virtually $10,000.

He didn’t rotate it up totally from the online poker video game. A little aid from a video game in the gambling enterprise pit initially obtained him back in the game.

From Rags to Riches

As the old saying goes, all you need is a chip and also a chair. So, if you’re ever short-stacked, don’t obtain too depressed. You never know when a heater is coming. Simply ask Weez.

Weez had a rough beginning to his session. He lost a $3,000 pot to a runner-runner straight. And after that he unloaded his remaining $915 shortly after when his A-Q encountered pocket kings.

The routine gamer as well as occasional commentator on Live at the Bike got up from his chair and left the room at Bicycle Casino. He after that headed straight to the casino pit with the continuing to be $50 he had on him. After losing a couple of grand, what’s another $50? It turned out to be an excellent choice.

Weez spun that money up to around $1,800 and proceeded to return to the poker game. That turned out to be an even better decision.

Soon after his return, he limp-shoved for $1,175 with A-K and got a call from K-J. The best hand held up and his upward trend continued. After giving some of those chips back, he picked up pocket kings and got his opponent to jam with A-J. Again, the best hand held up, this time for a $4,465 pot.

He won another massive pot with a set of queens against bottom set (threes). A few hands later, he had gone from $50 to nearly $10,000.

As Major League Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra famously said, “it ain’t over till it’s over.”

Phil Hellmuth Wins 2019 Borgata Winter Poker Open Heads-Up

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Recently, Phil Hellmuth has cut down on his schedule of live poker tournaments played beyond the World Series of Poker. The all-time leader in WSOP bracelets had actually moneyed in just one live tourney since winning his record-furthering 15th win at the series in the $5,000 turbo no-limit hold ’em event on July 11, 2018.

Hellmuth damaged the drought and got his 2019 off to a strong begin by taking down the Borgata Winter Poker Open $1,590 no-limit hold’em heads-up event. The ‘poker Brat’ beat an area of 64 entries in event to gain $37,248.

Hellmuth virtually really did not make it to the finals. As reported on the Borgata Winter Poker Open blog, Hellmuth was linked 1-1, and down to just 3,700 to Ryan Hall, who had 26,300 at his high-point in the choosing match. Hellmuth was able to fight back from that big deficiency, however, to establish a final-round face-off with Joseph Cappello, whom had beat World Poker Tour champion as well as online heads-up sit-n-go legend Olivier Busquet.

Hellmuth took the first match in the best-of-three showdown, getting all-in on a 10Heart Suit7Heart Suit5Spade Suit9Club Suit board with the 10Club Suit9Diamond Suit for two pair. Cappello had 10Diamond Suit6Heart Suit and was in need of help heading into the river. The 5Heart Suit secured the first match for Hellmuth.

The second match saw Cappello build a 2:1 lead before Hellmuth was able to mount a comeback. By the time the final hand arose Cappello was down to just a handful of big blinds. He moved all-in with the QHeart Suit7Heart Suit and Hellmuth called with the KHeart Suit9Club Suit. The board came down JDiamond SuitJClub Suit4Spade SuitASpade Suit3Club Suit and Hellmuth’s high card earned him the pot and the title. Cappello was awarded $18,624 as the second-place finisher.

Hellmuth took to Twitter to celebrate the win and the fact that he was able to take a break in between matches to enter day 1A of the World Poker Tour main event at the series and run up an 88,500 stack.

Final Table Results

Position Player Prize
1 Phil Hellmuth $37,248
2 Joey Cappello $18,624
3 Ryan Hall $9,312
4 Olivier Busquet $9,312
5 Steven Sarmiento $4,656
6 Mike Vela $4,656
7 Dylan Gang $4,656
8 Chris O’Hara $4,656

Denys Shafikov Wins First-Ever WPT Russia

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Ukrainian poker player Denys Shafikov signed up with last evening the special club of WPT Main Event champs after coming through a 503-strong field to take down the WPT Russia RUB198,000 Main Event.

The gamer claimed roughly $255,259 in prize money and the tournament trophy. Shafikov was thus crowned the victor of the first-ever WPT Russia. The major poker series spent the initial days of the year at Casino Sochi in the Russian city of Sochi, bringing high quality texas hold’em action to among Russia’s most popular poker destinations.

As mentioned above, the Main Event drew 503 entries who generated a prize pool of $1,358,200. It took seven days of action for the winner to be determined. The tournament was capped yesterday at the host casino with the six-handed final table.

As discussed above, the Centerpiece attracted 503 access who generated a reward swimming pool of $1,358,200. It took 7 days of activity for the victor to be determined. The tournament was capped yesterday at the host gambling establishment with the six-handed final table.

Shafikov entered that ending stage of the competition as the chip leader as well as totally bulldozed his means with the final table to at some point catch the prize and also the coming with top payout.

Shafikov held 5.335 million in chips at the beginning of the final day of play. He was well in advance of the remaining players, with Aleksey Gortikov being his closest rival at the time with 3.36 million. Yauhen Kontush with 2.66 million completed top three of the pre-final table chip counts graph.

Mikhail Galitskiy with 1.98 million, Oleg Pavlyuchuk with 1 million, and Nikolay Fal with 785,000 were the other 3 gamers to make it right into the finale.

Final Table Action

Shafikov had already built a solid advantage over his opponents by the start of the final table and he only extended the existing gap as action progressed during the last day of the tournament.

The player was responsible for three of the five final table eliminations, busting Galitskiy in 5th place and Fal in 4th place. Pavlyuchuk was the player to leave the tournament in 6th place early into Sunday action.

By the time the field was whittled down to just the final three, Shafikov had a controlling stack and dominated action. Kontush exited the race in third place to leave it to Shafikov and Gortikov to battle it out for the title and the first-place prize.

The two-handed match began with the eventual champion holding a massive advantage over his final opponent. However, Gortikov fought fiercely to narrow that gap and be able to attack the title. The duel lasted more than 60 hands during which chips swung back and forth, but Shafikov never really lost his foothold.

On what turned out to be the final hand in play, Shafikov raised from the button with pocket nines and Gortikov moved all in with [Ac][7c]. Shafikov called to see the board deliver [Ks][3h][2d][9s][4h] and earn him the title and the first-place prize. Gortikov had to settle for the $171,236 second-place prize.

From Russia all the way to Atlantic City, attention is now on the WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open and its $3,500 Main Event which kicked off on Sunday.

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