Millionaire Made: Yuliyan Kolev Turns $1,500 Into $1.1 Million At The World Series of Poker

Winne winner, hen… bucket?

Yuliyan Kolev defeated a area of 7,961 entries within the 2022 World Series of Poker $1,500 buy-in no-limit maintain’em ‘Millionaire Maker’ occasion, incomes his second WSOP gold bracelet and the highest prize of $1,125,141. The Bulgarian closed out the victory to safe the seven-figure payday whereas sporting an upside-down KFC bucket on his head. Kolev’s supporters on the rail additionally donned the distinctive headware, reportedly in homage to a preferred Bulgarian musician.

Kolev had gained his first WSOP title lower than a 12 months earlier, taking down the $777 buy-in ‘Lucky 7’s’ occasion on-line final fall for the gold and $146,163. With this newest win, he grew to become the primary participant from his residence nation to win a number of bracelets. This newest win got here with a bit extra pleasure, on condition that it befell below the brilliant lights on the primary closing desk and was broadcast on PokerGO.

“The feeling is so much stronger because all of your friends are here and they watch you play,” Kolev mentioned. “And the pressure is much more.”

Kolev now has greater than $2.8 million in lifetime event earnings from 89 recorded cashes. He had 4 prior six-figure scores to his title, however this was his first seven-figure payout.

In addition to the title and the cash, Kolev additionally earned 1,320 Card Player Player of the Year factors for the win. This was his first POY-qualified rating of the 12 months, however it alone was ample to see him climb inside attain of the highest 100 within the 2022 POY race standings, that are sponsored by Global Poker.

The large turnout for this event resulted in a prize pool of greater than $10.6 million. That cash was paid out among the many high 1,196 finishers. Plenty of massive names made deep runs, together with three-time bracelet winner Ryan Leng (fortieth – $29,070), five-time bracelet winner and two-time World Poker Tour champion Michael Mizrachi (twenty seventh – $35,573), and WSOP and WPT champion James Calderaro (twenty sixth – $43,849).

This occasion ran over the course of six days, with two beginning flights after which 4 extra days of motion. The closing day started with simply 5 gamers, with just a few gamers being eradicated from the official nine-handed closing desk the earlier evening in an effort to arrange a short-handed showdown on the PokerGO broadcast. Among the ultimate tablists to hit the rail late on day 4 was the UK’s Nicholas Marchington, who completed seventh within the 2019 WSOP principal occasion for greater than $1.5 million. His run on this occasion resulted in ninth place ($108,704) when his Q-J suited was unable to outrun the A-3 suited of Tyler Gaston.

Gaston took the chip lead into the ultimate day of play, whereas Kolev sat in second chip place regardless of having been right down to a single chip earlier on day 4. He gained a number of all-ins to rebuild his stack, together with flopping a set when his pocket eights bumped into the pocket jacks of an opponent.

Kolev overtook the lead within the early final-fay motion, after which prolonged his benefit when his J-8 beat out the Q-7 of quick stack Dominic Brazier. Both gamers flopped a pair, however Brazier’s queens had been forward heading into the flip. Kolev rivered jacks as much as remove Brazier in fifth place ($301,346) and slim the sphere to 4.

Kolev was quickly concerned in one other massive pot. He moved all-in with Q-4 and was known as by Yita Choong within the massive blind, who held pocket sevens. A queen on the flip left Choong in want of a river seven. The Australian was despatched residence with $395,545 when a deuce rolled off the deck.

Gaston’s run on this occasion got here to an finish in third place ($522,705). he obtained all-in on a J75 flop along with his J10 main the Q10 of Oren Rosen. The 9 on the flip gave Rosen extra outs with an open-ended straight draw. Rosen hit the Q on the river to win with a pair of queens.

With that heads-up play started with Kolev main Rosen. The closing showdown for the bracelet didn’t final all that lengthy. Roughly 20 minutes after Gaston was despatched residence, Rosen raised on the button with QJ. Kolev three-bet from the large blind with AA. Rosen known as and the flop got here down Q83. Kolev wager 10 million and Rosen known as. The 3 on the flip prompted Kolev to maneuver all-in. Rosen went into the tank earlier than finally making the decision. He was in hassle, and solely a queen on the river may preserve his hopes of a bracelet on this occasion alive. The 9 on the top was of no assist to Rose, although, and he was eradicated in second place ($695,390). This was, by far, the biggest event rating but for the Israeli participant.

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

Winner picture credit score: PokerGO / Antonio Abrego.

You can observe the 2022 World Series of Poker on Card Player’s sequence touchdown web page, sponsored by Global Poker, the quickest rising on-line poker site on the earth. Check out the sequence schedule, in addition to occasion recaps, information, and participant interviews.