Deep Sea Fisherman Vladimir Grechnikov Wins Platinum Pass to The Bahamas
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Last week, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia played host to the PokerStars Road to PSPC. The event awarded a Platinum Pass to the 2023 PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC), and it was New Jersey resident Vladimir Grechnikov, a deep-sea fisherman, who came out on top as the big winner, taking home the Platinum Pass package to the PSPC on top of the first prize of $60,000.
“Incredible man, I have no words for this, I’m totally speechless, this is a dream come true,” said the 34-year-old champ. “I watched my friend’s dad quit his job and start playing professionally, and I picked up a few books of my own, played a couple of small tournaments in basements and started playing online, and took it from there.”
The $360 buy-in Road to PSPC Philadelphia attracted 1,598 entries, which more than doubled the $200,000 guarantee by creating a $487,390 prize pool.
According to The Hendon Mob, Grechnikov now has over $200,000 in lifetime tournament earnings. His latest $59,867 prize was actually the second-largest of his career as Grechnikov previously won the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Seminole Coconut Creek Main Event for $80,268 back in April.
Road to PSPC Philadelphia Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vladimir Grechnikov | $59,867* |
| 2 | Derik Li | $57,000 |
| 3 | Anne Marie Caparros | $57,000 |
| 4 | Matthew Zimnoch | $27,440 |
| 5 | Christoph Shum | $20,587 |
| 6 | Bharat Thackar | $16,591 |
| 7 | Eric Rowen | $13,554 |
| 8 | William Beer | $10,571 |
| 9 | John Malvasio | $8,027 |
*Also won a Platinum Pass valued at $30,000.
Others to cash the tournament were Tewodros Habte (10th - $5,990), Michael Marder (13th - $4,630), Peter Palko (20th - $2,949), Alexander Wiggins (28th - $1,745), Keith Crowder (34th - $1,745), Marilyn Matthews (42nd - $1,452), and Kevin Beavers (55th - $1,111).
Just the Latest Pennsylvania Winner
Grechnikov followed in the footsteps of Pennsylvania’s Rishva Iyer, who earlier this month claimed a Platinum Pass of her own. The 24-year-old Philadelphian earned the pass by topping a field of 120 players in the first-ever $200 buy-in Road to PSPC Women's Event at Live! Casino.
"I'm like a reg here at Live! So I'm always checking the Bravo (app) for tournaments and stuff," Iyer told Team PokerStars Pro Jen Shahade in a winner's interview. "And I saw there was a Ladies Event and I was like, I can't miss this. I have to play it."
Next Chance at a Platinum Pass
Players will have another shot at a Platinum Pass on October 27 as the PokerStars Road to PSPC continues at Pittsburgh Live! In Greensburg. Another $360 buy-in tournament will run October 27-30, and while there is no guarantee attached, it’s sure to be a big field as a coveted Platinum Pass awaits the winner.
Taking place in January 2023 at the luxury Baha Mar hotel in the sun-drenched Bahamas, the Platinum Pass package, worth $30,000, grants an all-expenses paid trip comprising of the following:
- Buy-in to the $25,000 PSPC
- Six nights hotel accommodation for winner and a guest in a 5-star hotel
- Airport transfer
- $1,900 in expenses
- Platinum Pass Winner experiences during the event
Players can register for all events on-site, with more information available here.
