![[user252447]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Anton Afanasev opened the action from early position for 400 and Mikhail Dubeiko next to him three-bet to 1,450.
Action folded to Dmitrii Katalymov in the big blind who cold-four bet to 5,450 and that swiftly put an end to the hand as Afanasev and Dubeiko quickly mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
36,000 | |
|
|
33,000 |
With only two levels in the books so far today on Day 1B the field size has already surged past 500 and shows no signs of slowing just yet.
The tournament clock shows 241 entries to day, of which 235 remain. Couple with the 276 entries yesterday it means that a total of 517 players have entered the PokerStars Festival Sochi Main Event.
And, with four levels left of late registration as well as the special turbo edition of Day 1C to go, the number of entrants looks set to swell even further.
On a 
river Nikita Barausov checked to Ivan Skoblov who bet around half pot or 4,500 into a pot of 9,000.
Barausov quickly called, and visibly winced when Skoblov showed 
for a full house. Barausov tapped the table and was left with just over half starting stack midway through the second level of the day.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
37,000 | |
|
|
16,000 |
Moscow resident and Konstantin Puchkov breeds and trains horses and apparently names all of his horses after poker terms.
Puchkov started playing on the international poker circuit 2007 and went 21 WSOP events before his first cash resulted in his first bracelet and fittingly it was in a H.O.R.S.E event in 2010 defeating "Sugar Bear" Al Barbieri for $256,820.
Puchkov’s best finish to date is his 13th place finish at EPT Barcelona Main Event for € 81,700.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on his progress to see if he can find another big score here in Sochi at the PokerStars Festival.
Today saw the exciting announcement that Russia's luxury holiday resort of Sochi, as well as the Sochi Casino & Resort will once again play host to the PokerStars Championship. The flagship tournament brand will return for a 10-day poker festival from March 20-29, 2018.
It follows on from the PokerStars Festival Sochi currently taking place, as well as the inaugural PokerStars Championship event in Sochi, held in May 2017. The stop will bring a number of must-play tournaments and will be one of the largest international poker events in Russian history.
The RUB 66,000 buy-in (approx. US$1,142) PokerStars National Championship will warm-up players for the RUB 192,000 buy-in (approx. US$ 3,322) PokerStars Championship Sochi Main Event, which will also carry a RUB 150,000,000 (approx. US$ 2,500,000) guarantee.
“It’s great to see PokerStars return to Sochi for a third time. It shows that there’s a real appetite from players for a world-class event in the area,” said Team PokerStars Pro Igor Kurganov. “The venue is beautiful and there’s plenty to do away from the felt. I can’t wait to ski early in the day and play poker as après-ski. It will be an incredible stop!”
PokerStars Championship Sochi will feature the following events:
PokerStars National Championship: March 20-23, RUB 66,000 (approx. US$1,142)
PokerStars Championship Sochi Main Event: March 23-29, RUB 192,000 (approx. US$ 3,322) Guarantee RUB 150,000,000 (approx. US$ 2,500,000)
High Roller: March 27-29 RUB 617,000 (approx. $10,674)
Sochi Cup: March 27-29 RUB 19,000 (approx. US$329)
Away from the tables, players will have the chance to meet Team PokerStars Pros, enjoy the variety of tourist activities Sochi has to offer, attend the Player Party and take home free PokerStars merchandise.
Level: 2
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
The full board of 
was on the table between Konstantin Puchkov and Alexsandr Krasuntsev. Puchkov bet 1,525 into a pot of 2,200 and Krasuntsev threw out a single chip to call.
Puchkov showed 
for a missed flush draw and Krasuntsev studied the board before flipping over 
for pocket aces and took down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
34,000 | |
|
26,000
-4,000
|
-4,000 |
|
||
The PokerStars MEGASTACK attracted 1,384 entries which is the largest ever field for a poker tournament in Russia.
A huge RUB 13,424,800 prize pool was generated and after a final table eight-way deal the winner, Sergey Terentiev, took home the title, trophy and RUB 1,304,650.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
30,000 | |
|
|
||
|
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
"перетасовывать и обрабатывать" as they say in these parts.
With 177 players in their seats play is underway for Day 1b.