There seems to be a rule of thumb materialising in the high stakes scene: increase the stakes, and Mikita Badziakouski suddenly develops the senses of a Bloodhound.
The Belarusian had only cashed once in the British Poker Open (BPO) before Event #9: £50,000 No-Limit Hold’em strolled into view (fourth in a £25k), but he’s secured the most significant single payout thus far, defeating 18-entrants to win the £486,000 first prize.
For once, a Badziakouski win is not the story. With Sam Greenwood and Stephen Chidwick failing to make money in Event #9, Sam Soverel won the 2019 BPO title with the £100,000 to come (not that it will be a dead rubber).
Soverel picked the locks to five of the nine final tables securing a third, two seconds, and two wins, to utterly dominate the series. It’s also going to land him in good stead in his bid to defend his Poker Central High Roller of the Year trophy. Soverel arrived in London with the lead, and he’s done nothing but extend it.
Let’s see how Soverel and Badziakouski faired as the stakes doubled.
Final Table Chip Counts
1. David Peters – 815,000
2. Mikita Badziakouski – 525,000
3. Christoph Vogelsang – 415,000
4. Stephen Chidwick – 290,000
5. Charlie Carrel – 190,000
6. Cary Katz – 63,500
7. Sam Greenwood – 60,000
8. Ali Imsirovic – 32,000
The Action
Ali Imsirovic came into the final table on fumes, and it seems no amount of meditation was going to produce a divine intervention from the Poker Gods. The reigning Poker Master stuck it in on a flop of Tc8c2s, holding Js7h, and Stephen Chidwick, called a won with KdJd to eliminate Imsirovic, who immediately bought back in, as registration was still open.
Registration closed.
Sam Greenwood’s hopes of winning the BPO title remained intact after doubling through Badziakouski. It was a flip with Greenwood’s pocket sixes beating QsJs.
Then we lost Stephen Chidwick, and with it, the man from Deal’s chances of winning the BPO Championship.
Imsirovic opened to 12,000 from the cutoff, Chidwick three-bet to 55,000 from the small blind, the chip leader, David Peters, called in the big blind, and Imsirovic folded. The flop of Kc8h7d hit the board, Chidwick bet 30,000 and Peters called. The action checked through the 3d turn, and we had the 9c on the river. Chidwick checked, Peters moved all-in, and Chidwick called. Peters showed pocket aces for the win, with Chidwick flashing pocket tens.
Then we lost Cary Katz.
Imsirovic opened to 15,000 in early position; Charlie Carrel moved all-in for 225,000 on the button. Catz called for his last 61,000 in the big blind, and Imsirovic folded. Carrel’s pocket treys would go on to beat the QsJs of Catz in a flip.
Matthias Eibinger doubled through Peters when AcTc beat pocket kings thanks to an ace on the flop.
Then we lost Carrel in seventh place.
Peters opened to 18,000, and both Greenwood and Carrel joined him on a flop of AcJh2s. Carrel, who held AdJc for the top two-pair hand, bet 18,000. Greenwood folded, and Peters called. Peters held QsTs, and the Kc on the turn gave him a Broadway straight. Carrel bet 65,000, and Peters called. The 5h landed on the river, and Carrel moved all-in. Peters called and extended his lead.
Greenwood doubled through Vogelsang when KhQh beat pocket treys.
Imsirovic exited in the sixth place.
The Bosnian moved all-in for five big blinds holding AhJs, and Peters called and chopped him up holding Kc9c.
Then we lost Eibinger.
After losing AJdd to the AKss of Badziakouski for a chunk, Eibinger moved all-in holding KhJc, and Greenwood called and felled him with Ad9s to take us to the bubble.
Greenwood made it 40,000 to play with AsKs, and Badziakouski joined him with 9c8c. The flop was QcJc5h. Greenwood had the lead, but the Belarusian was a marginal favourite with the flush and straight draw. Greenwood moved all-in, and Badziakouski called and hit his flush on the turn sending Greenwood packing. Greenwood’s demise meant that come hell or high water; Sam Soverel would be the BPO Champion with one event remaining.
Peters was ripe for the win going into three-handed play until this happened.
Vogelsang jammed for 630,000, holding AcQs, and Peters was in there with pocket deuces. The board ran out doubled-paired, counterfeiting Peters’ pocket pair, and the hand and the chip lead went to Vogelsang. Then Peters moved all-in holding AhJh, and Vogelsang called, and eliminated him, holding two black aces.
Heads-Up
Vogelsang held the heads-up chip lead for a single hand.
Badziakouski and Vogelsang both checked on a flop of Kh9s5h with Badziakouski holding Qh9h for middle pair and the flush draw, but Vogelsang was ahead with Kd6d for top pair. The 6d on the turn extended Vogelsang’s lead, giving him a two-pair hand. Badzuakouski bet 100,000 and then called when Vogelsang raised to 310,000. Badziakouski filled-up when the 8h hit the river – Vogelsang bet 190,000, Badziakouski moved all-in, and Vogelsang called, shipping another 435,000 over to his opponent.
Vogelsang doubled when pocket aces beat QsJc, but Badziakouski still held a big lead.
Then it ended.
Badziakouski moved all-in holding Ts9h, and Vogelsang called holding Td8d. The board changed nothing, and Badziakouski was our winner.
ITM Results
1. Mikita Badziakouski – £486,000
2. Christoph Vogelsang – £270,000 3. David Peters – £144,000