Aleksejs Ponakovs Denies Phil Ivey, Wins WSOP $100,000 High Roller

Aleksejs Ponakovs was already an achieved and revered participant coming into the 2022 World Series of Poker, with thousands and thousands in event earnings and a excessive curler bracelet he earned final fail on in the course of the WSOP Online collection. The 30-year-old Latvian poker skilled’s success had primarily come on-line, although. In reality, he had not but secured a title within the stay area earlier than making his method to Las Vegas this summer time. He crossed that aim off of his to-do listing in model, defeating 10-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Ivey heads-up to take down the 2022 WSOP $100,000 no-limit maintain’em excessive curler occasion for his second profession bracelet and a career-best payday of $1,897,363.

“I never had victory in live tournaments,” Ponakovs informed PokerGO reporters after popping out on high. “Finally I did it. Nothing could be better at the moment.”

Even although he was up in opposition to a dwelling legend of the sport with the title on the road, Ponakovs was not afraid to sq. off in opposition to Ivey, who had 31 stay titles and greater than $35.4 million in profession scores underneath his belt earlier than getting into this occasion.

“I’m battling the best players all over the world, all the time. It’s another legend, but still beatable,” he stated.

In addition to the bracelet and the cash, Ponakovs additionally scored 720 Card Player Player of the Year factors for the win. This was his second stay final-table end of the 12 months, having additionally positioned fourth within the €100,000 buy-in occasion on the Triton Series Madrid competition in May for $932,400 and 540 factors. With 1,260 whole factors, Ponakovs now sits in a hundred and twentieth place within the 2022 POY race sponsored by Global Poker.

This six-figure buy-in event drew a complete of 62 entries, constructing a prize pool of $5,998,500 that was paid out among the many high 10 finishers. The bubble burst early within the afternoon on day 2, with reigning WSOP major occasion champion Koray Aldemir being knocked out in eleventh place by Ponakovs to make sure the remaining gamers all earned not less than $162,623 for his or her efficiency on this occasion.

Ponakov’s additional added to his stack by busting Eric Worre (tenth – $162,623) when his pocket queens held in opposition to Ok-J. Pocket queens had been additionally the successful hand within the subsequent huge preflop confrontation. This time, bracelet winner Ben Heath held QQ in a three-way all-in that spelled the tip of two-time bracelet winner Nick Petrangelo (ninth – $181,068) and Masashi Oya (eighth – $210,485). Petrangelo had gotten his previous couple of huge blinds in with J-9 preflop, whereas Oya moved all-in after the flop within the aspect pot with the however flush draw. Heath’s overpair remained greatest by the tip to see him surge up the leaderboard.

Heath continued to climb because of his OkJ besting the Q8 of bracelet winner Mikita Badziakouski after all of the chips went in on a 863 flop. The 5 flip was of no assist to Heath,butthe 2 river gave him a successful flush to knock Badziakouski out in seventh place ($255,001). The Belarusian star elevated his profession earnings to greater than $37.8 million with this money.

Talal Shakerchi picker up pocket aces in opposition to the pocket kings of Ponakovs, however was unable to carry after the chips went in. Ponakovs flopped high ten and turned quad kings to depart Shakerchi drawing lifeless heading into the river. He was awarded $321,437 after his aces had been cracked to depart simply 5 contenders remaining.

Play was initially scheduled to final three days on this occasion, however the determination to play right down to a winner on day two was made when the ultimate 5 had been set at roughly 6:00 PM native time. The PokerGO stay stream was moved ahead a day because of this, with Ponakovs holding the lead and Ivey in second chip place when the motion obtained again underway for the printed.

Recent $1,500 restrict maintain’em bracelet winner Michael Moncek is seemingly not afraid to push his boundaries. He received that occasion regardless of not having ever performed restrict maintain’em earlier than getting into. He then determined to parlay a big chunk of the $145,856 he received in that occasion into this six-figure buy-in excessive curler. He managed to outlive to the ultimate 5, however was ultimately eradicated when his A-4 suited misplaced to the pocket tens of Ben Heath. He earned $420,944 for his deep run, greater than doubling his lifetime stay event earnings within the course of.

Gregory Jensen was the following to be eradicated on this occasion. The co-Chief Investment Officer on the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates had solely performed in a single excessive curler occasion earlier than getting into this occasion. He completed sixth in that event, the 2013 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $100,000 occasion, and donated all $286,200 that he earned to victims of the varsity capturing in Newtown, Connecticut, which is situated roughly half an hour from his hometown of Westport. In his closing hand on this event, Jensen min-raised holding AJ from the button and was met with a three-bet to 1,650,000 from Heath and his QQ. Jensen responded with an all-in transfer for five,275,000. Heath made the short name and the large pocket pair held to ship Jensen residence in fourth place ($571,896).

Ivey was the shortest of the three remaining gamers however managed to leap into the lead when he obtained all-in with a king-high flush draw in opposition to the pocket aces of Heath and received. Heath’s stack dwindled additional earlier than he ultimately shoved from the large blind with A8 after Ponakovs and Ivey had limped. Ivey made the decision for 11 huge blinds whole with QJ and the board got here down 653Q9 to remove Heath in third place ($805,024). The British participant now has greater than $12/7 million in lifetime cashes.

With that, Ivey took roughly a 4:3 lead into heads-up play with Ponakovs. He prolonged his benefit when he picked off a bluff from the Latvian. Ponakovs was quickly capable of shut the hole in an fascinating hand the place his low two pair from the flip had been probably counterfeited on the river with jacks pairing on the board. Ivey guess as a bluff on the tip, solely to have Ponakovs shove all-in after loads of consideration. Ivey launched his air and Ponakovs took down the essential pot.

Ponakovs regained the lead when he made journeys kings in a wholesome pot. He moved forward just some arms earlier than the ultimate deal of the event. Ponakovs min-raised to 800,000 with A9 on the button and Ivey three-bet to 2,800,000 holding 86. The flop got here down J73 and Ivey checked. Ponakovs checked behind and the 9 gave Ivey an open-ended straight draw. He checked once more and Ponakovs guess 3,000,000. Ivey check-raised all-in for round 11,000,000. Ponakovs went into the tank earlier than making the decision. Ivey wanted a 5 or a ten o the river to remain alive on this occasion. The 8 was of no assist and Ivey was eradicated in second place ($1,172,659). He now has greater than $36.5 million in earnings to his title, inserting him in tenth place on poker’s all-time cash listing.

Ivey has now made 9 closing tables and received two titles in 2022, with almost $4.5 million in earnings to this point this 12 months. As a consequence, he now sits in eighth place within the total POY standings heading into the second half of the 12 months. He additionally scored 400 PokerGO Tour factors, sufficient to maneuver into third place on that leaderboard.

Here is a have a look at the payouts and rankings factors awarded on the closing desk:

Photo credit: PokerGO / Antonio Abrego, Enrique Malfavon.

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