$1,100 NLH MPP Open | 2022 Mediterranean Poker Party

08-23-2022 21:36 UTC+3

Vadzim Godzdanker Wins The $1,100 MPP Open For $150,000 At The Luxon Pay Mediterranean Poker Party

Chris Bean

Level 39 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

Vadzim Godzdanker has won the Event #1 $1,100 MPP Open at the Luxon Pay Mediterranean Poker Party for a cool $150,000. The Belorussian victory came after a colossal heads-up battle with Italy's Alessio Isaia as the chip lead swung back and forth between the two players.

After 90 minutes of heads-up play, the winning moment came when Godzdanker shoved with king-nine suited and was called by Isaia's ace-jack off.

Godzdanker hit a king on the flop and had to dodge Isaia's 12 outs on the river to secure the win to the absolute delight of Godzdanker's wife who screamed so loud the chandeliers shook in the beautiful poker arena at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel and Casino in North Cyprus.

Start of the day chip leader Selahaddin Bedir ultimately finished in third place after being chip leader for most of the day. After losing some big pots the Turkish high-roller was eliminated after running ace-queen into Godzdanker's ace-king and could not improve.

Event #1 $1,100 MPP Open - Luxon Pay Mediterranean Poker Party

Place	Name	Country	Prize
1	Vadzim Godzdanker	Belarus	$150,000
2	Alessio Isaia	Italy	$94,000
3	Selahaddin Bedir	Turkey	$63,000
4	Ben Hershkovich	Israel	$46,000
5	Frederick Anastasiades	Cyprus	$35,000
6	Eleftherios Sinnos	Cyprus	$28,000
7	Timur Margolin	Israel	$23,000
8	Raoul Iancovici	Romania	$18,000
9	Iosebi Laperashvili	Georgia	$14,000

Winner's Reaction

Speaking to PokerNews via a translator Godzdanker could not believe that they had won the tournament. " I don't understand how I won, but I am sure the elation will come in time."

The champion was the chip leader of the turbo flight which was held on Sunday evening and played on until 4 a.m. local time on Monday morning. PokerNews asked if they managed to get any sleep before starting again at noon on Monday. Godzdanker revealed, "I relaxed in my room watching Manchester United versus Liverpool which helped me get off to sleep."

Godzdanker is a regular player at Casino Sochi where he won a side event at EPT Sochi in 2020 and also plays in his home city of Minsk. Originally they were not planning on coming to North Cyprus until they were convinced by a group of friends to come. PokerNews asked how he was enjoying the Merit Royal Diamond Resort "I have loved my time here, I enjoy the good food, the scenery the beautiful mountains, and the sea. I am planning to come back here again and again."

Final Table Action

Iosebi Laperashvili was the first casualty of the day. Timur Margolin moved all-in on the flop with middle pair and Laperashvili called with a gut-shot straight flush draw. The remaining community cards were bricks, and the Georgian was eliminated.

Finishing in eighth place was Raoul Iancovici of Romania who was the start of day short stack. They moved all in from under the gun with king-high and ran into Bedir’s pocket aces and cashed for $18,000 their biggest ever recorded payday and moved them into the six-figure mark for live earnings.

Two-time WSOP winner Margolin had a topsy-turvy day. Starting the day seventh in chips, the Israeli briefly took the chip lead but lost a massive chunk of their stack when they ran pocket jacks into Godzdanker’s pocket kings. Godzdanker finished the job a few hands later when they caught Margolin bluffing and Margolin finished in the same position that they started the day in.

Eleftherios Sinnos stack dwindled throughout the day and ended up with less than one big blind before moving all in from the button. Bedir’s pocket sevens were the middle pin of a nine-high straight which beat the Cypriot’s pair of eights to knock him out in sixth place for $28,000. This was the second cash in the space of a month above $20,000 for Sinnos.

Fellow Cypriot Frederick Anastasiades who started the day second in chips was the next to fall from the field when they shoved with pocket fours and was called in two spots. When the cards were revealed at the showdown Ben Hershkovich turned over pocket nines to take down the pot. Hershkovich was eliminated shortly after finishing in fourth after running ace-queen into Godzdanker’s pocket jacks to take home $46,000.

This concludes the coverage of the opening event at the Mediterranean Poker Party. Stay tuned to PokerNews for further coverage from the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel .

08-23-2022 20:39 UTC+3

Alessio Isaia Eliminated in 2nd Place ($94,000)

Toogood32

Level 39 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

Vadzim Godzdanker (left) Alessio Isaia (right)

Players then went on a short break and once action resumed they wasted no time getting back to the thick of it.

Alessio Isaia limped in for 1,200,000 from the button. Vadzim Godzdanker responded by putting the Italian all in for his last 14,000,000 chips. Isaia almost beat him into the pot and cards were on their backs, folks.

Alessio Isaia:
Vadzim Godzdanker:

Isaia was ahead but it was just a 65%/35% flip. With two live cards the flop came down to put Godzdanker ahead.

A turn was flipped and a gave Isaia a lot more outs, now any club would give him the double up.

The didn't improve Isaia, knocking him out in 2nd for $94,000 and giving Godzdanker the win as his one-woman rail screamed with joy for him.

A full-recap including winners interview will be available shortly.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vadzim Godzdanker	45,000,000 14,600,000	14,600,000
Alessio Isaia	Busted

Tags: Vadzim Godzdanker Alessio Isaia

08-23-2022 20:25 UTC+3

Godzdanker Doubles Through Isaia

Toogood32

Level 38 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Alessio Isaia moved all in covering Godzdanker's 14,700,000 and the call was made with the Belarusian at risk.

Vadzim Godzdanker:
Alessio Isaia:

The run out gave heart outs to Isaia to go with his king outs, however, a river confirmed the double for Godzdanker, giving him a 2-to-1 chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vadzim Godzdanker	30,400,000 10,600,000	10,600,000
Alessio Isaia	14,600,000 -10,600,000	-10,600,000

Tags: Alessio Isaia Vadzim Godzdanker

08-23-2022 19:50 UTC+3

Not Over Yet; Vadzim Godzdanker Doubles

Toogood32

Level 38 : 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

With his last 9,400,000 committed via a button jam, Vadzim Godzdanker was ahead but at risk after Alessio Isaia called the all in.

Vadzim Godzdanker:
Alessio Isaia:

A run out meant no chop for Isaia as Godzdanker doubles back to contention.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alessio Isaia	25,200,000 -5,600,000	-5,600,000

Vadzim Godzdanker	19,800,000 5,600,000	5,600,000

Tags: Alessio Isaia Vadzim Godzdanker

08-23-2022 19:06 UTC+3

Isaia Doubles Into The Chip Lead

Toogood32

Level 36 : 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Vadzim Godzdanker raised to 1,300,000 on the button before Alessio Isaia jammed all in for his last 13,300,000. The call was made to put cards on their backs and give Godzdanker the chance to become the champ of Event #1.

Alessio Isaia:
Vadzim Godzdanker:

The run out was as clean as you like for the Italian player, a board of ensured the double, catapulting him into the chip lead. The show goes on.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alessio Isaia	27,200,000 14,800,000	14,800,000

Vadzim Godzdanker	17,800,000 -14,775,000	-14,775,000

Tags: Alessio Isaia Vadzim Godzdanker

08-23-2022 18:48 UTC+3

Selahaddin Bedir Eliminated in 3rd Place ($63,000)

Toogood32

Level 36 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Vadzim Godzdanker (left) Selahaddin Bedir (right)

Selahaddin Bedir raised to 1,300,000 on the button and action folded to Vadzim Godzdanker in the big blind who announced he was all in for Bedir's last 14,800,000 chips. The call was made and cards were on their backs.

Selahaddin Bedir:
Vadzim Godzdanker:

It was a cooler, as Godzdanker had Bedir in rough shape. The flop gave them both top pair, but Bedir needed any queen to take the lead.

The turn card was even better for Godzdanker as it took away running chop outs for Bedir.

The river was the , completing the board and eliminating the Turkish pro and arguably tournament favorite.

Godzdanker now has 72% of the chips in play as they move into heads-up play.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vadzim Godzdanker	32,575,000
Alessio Isaia	12,400,000

Selahaddin Bedir	Busted

Tags: Selahaddin Bedir Vadzim Godzdanker

08-23-2022 18:21 UTC+3

Bedir Bluffs Isaia Off Two Pair

Toogood32

Level 35 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

After the button of Vadzim Godzdanker folded, Selahaddin Bedir limped in from the small blind with and Alessio Isaia checked his option with to take the two to a flop.

A board of was dealt and Bedir lead out for 500,000. Bedir made the call.

The turn was a , giving Isaia two pair. Bedir checked it to the Italian and he fired 1,300,000. Bedir wasted not much time making the call.

was the river and Bedir checked again to Isaia, who bet 3,100,000. The response by Bedir was an all in shove, putting himself at risk as Isaia had him covered by half a million chips.

Isaia then went deep into the tank, a pained expression painted across his face as he had his hands over his face. He sipped his water, then sat back in his chair, then forward, then back again whilst tossing 30-second time extension cards towards the deal. He was thinking for a total of 5 minutes and 45 seconds, using all of his time bank cards, after which is decided on a fold, giving Bedir the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Selahaddin Bedir	19,400,000 4,925,000	4,925,000
Alessio Isaia	8,600,000 -4,700,000	-4,700,000

Tags: Alessio Isaia Selahaddin Bedir Vadzim Godzdanker

08-23-2022 18:08 UTC+3

Isaia Doubles Through Godzdanker

Chris Bean

Level 35 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Alessio Isaia in the small blind moved all in for 6,375,000 for around 12 big blinds.

Vadzim Godzdanker in the big blind asked for a count. They used one time bank card and then made the call.

Alessio Isaia:
Vadzim Godzdanker:

The Italian was behind but a jack in the window on the flop of gave Isaia the lead with two pair. The did not assist Godzdanker and Isaia is almost at parity with his two fellow competitors.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vadzim Godzdanker	17,300,000 -6,825,000	-6,825,000
Alessio Isaia	13,300,000 5,925,000	5,925,000

Tags: Alessio Isaia Vadzim Godzdanker

08-23-2022 18:04 UTC+3

Ben Hershkovich Eliminated in 4th Place ($46,000)

Toogood32

Level 35 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Vadzim Godzdanker opened under-the-gun to 1,000,000 chips and the action folded to Ben Hershkovich in the small blind who announced all in for his last 10,325,000. When the big blind folded Godzdanker eventually called, putting Hershkovich at risk.

Ben Hershkovich:
Vadzim Godzdanker:

It was a flip, but the flop gave the Belarusian 75% on the flop. The turn was the nail in the coffin of Hershkovich, the , confirming his exit and putting Godzdanker into the chip lead with over half the chips in play. The completed the board.

Hershkovich did bust a bullet in the tournament on Day 1c and reentered, telling PokerNews ''I will win the tournament now'', he said. Well you didn't win, Ben, but you came mightly close. Good game.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vadzim Godzdanker	24,125,000 11,325,000	11,325,000
Ben Hershkovich	Busted

Tags: Ben Hershkovich Vadzim Godzdanker

08-23-2022 16:32 UTC+3

Frederick Anastasiades Eliminated in 5th Place ($35,000)

Toogood32

Level 33 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

After an open from Ben Hershkovich in the cutoff to 600,000, action was on Frederick Anastasiades in the small blind, he decided to move all in for his last 1,425,000. Vadzim Godzdanker then smooth called from the big blind and Hershkovich did the same when action was back on me.

Godzdanker and Hershkovich then checked down the board of .

Frederick Anastasiades:
Vadzim Godzdanker:
Ben Hershkovich:

Hands were turned over and Hershkovich's pocket pair trumped the fours of Anastasiades, sending him to the rail in 5th place for $35,000. Hershkovich now sits very much atop of the chip counts with four players remaining.