2011 World Series of Poker

Event #36: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em
Day: 4
Event Info

2011 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Mikhail Lakhitov
Winning Hand
k2
Prize
$749,610
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,500
Prize Pool
$3,944,850
Entries
1,734
Level Info
Level
32
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
15,000

Mikhail Lakhitov Claims the Gold Bracelet

Level 32 : 60,000/120,000, 15,000 ante
Mikhail Lakhitov 1st Place.
Mikhail Lakhitov 1st Place.

Day 4 began with uncertain expectations, returning five players with big blinds and bigger stacks, no one was sure how it would turn out. After only one and half levels it was Mikhail Lakhitov that would be the last man standing with a new piece of jewelry.

At the start of play the five players were very conservative, mostly taking turns stealing the blinds and antes. But it would be Eddy Sabat that was the first to go. Sabat was crippled against Thomas Miller when his {A-Diamonds} {7-Clubs} failed to outrun {J-Hearts} {10-Spades}. He was left with less than one big blind and was knocked out the next hand by Thomas Middleton.

Miller was the next to go when his {A-Diamonds} {J-Clubs} couldn't run down Mikhail Lakhitov's pocket queens. Three handed play didn't last long after Middleton lost most of his chips to Hassan Babajane. Then Babajane lost them to Lakhitov, giving the Russian a mighty chip lead.

Middleton was out in third place when his pocket tens were bested by Lakhitov's {A-Spades} {K-Diamonds}. Middleton's rail was much more subdued than last night, most of them looking worse for the wear.

Heads up play only lasted a few hands with Lakhitov having a 9,000,000 chip lead. Lakhitov moved all in preflop and Babajane called. The board ran dry for both players and Lakhitov's king high was good enough. Day 4 was clearly Lakhitov's day, virtually never dipping below the stack he came in with, and scoring all but one knockout.