Vladimir Shchemelev burst onto the World Series of Poker stage in 2010 when he finished runner-up in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship. Although he had made a WSOP final table previously, his second-place finish on the national stage in the PPC proved to be a sign of things to come for the 44-year-old banker, as Shchemelev has amassed 27 WSOP cashes since then. Among those cashes have been eight more final tables made. He won his first bracelet in 2013 and has added a second piece of jewelry with his win in Event #32: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Mix.
When asked how winning his second bracelet felt in comparison to his first, Shchemelev said through a translator, "Very calm. Not as much pressure as the first time. The first bracelet was tough. It took me like nine final tables before I won my first bracelet. It was important for me to win my first bracelet, so I was kind of nervous. Today, I was very calm."
His first bracelet came in Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, one of the three variants of Omaha Hi-Lo in this event, along with Limit Omaha Hi-Lo and Big O. When asked which game he felt was his best, Shchemelev (via translator) said "I hate them all," drawing huge laughs from his rail. "I am kidding. I am very comfortable with all the games."
Shchemelev bagged a modest stack on Day 1 and was 72nd in chips of the remaining 224 players entering Day 2. He cruised into the money from that point and was 7th of 29 players remaining for Day 3. He steadily ascended the chip counts and was second when the final table was reached. He and eventual runner-up Howard Smith traded the chip lead back and forth throughout the final table before the inevitable heads-up battle began. Shchemelev began at a slight chip disadvantage but quickly took the chip lead. Smith battled back to get things even, but Shchemelev scored the victory shortly thereafter.
Vladimir Shchemelev called from under the gun, Howard Smith called from the button, Nikolai Yakovenko called from the small blind, and Igor Sharaskin moved his last 75,000 chips into the middle from the big blind. Shchemelev announced, "Pot," and pushed 285,000 into the middle. Smith quickly announced a pot-sized four-bet, and Shchmelev folded, leaving Sharaskin and Smith heads-up.
Sharaskin:
Smith:
The flop fell to give Sharaskin Broadway and a commanding lead. The on the turn kept Sharaskin out in front, but the river gave Smith jacks full of queens to scoop the pot and end Sharaskin's run in this tournament.
Usman Siddique raised from under the gun to 54,000, Howard Smith called from the cutoff, and Vladimir Shchemelev called from the big blind.
The flop came , and all three players checked.
The fell on the turn, and Shchemelev made a pot-sized bet of 174,000. Siddique moved all in for roughly 400,000, Smith folded, and Shchemelev called to put Siddique at risk.
Shchemelev:
Siddique:
Both players turned Broadway, but Shchemelev had a redraw to the nut flush. The river was just what Shchemelev was looking for, and he scooped the pot to eliminate Siddique.
Yueqi Zhu raised to 80,000 from the hijack, Vladimir Shchemelev three-bet to 120,000 from the cutoff, Nikolai Yakovenko called from the big blind, and Zhu called all in for 92,000.
The flop came down , and Yakovenko check-called a bet of 40,000 from Shchemelev. The turn was the , and Yakovenko check-folded to Shchemelev's bet of 80,000.
Zhu:
Shchemelev:
Shchemelev had nut-nut, the river was the , and Zhu was eliminated in sixth place.
Igor Sharaskin raised to 80,000 from under the gun, Jesse Simonelli called all in for 60,000, and Erle Mankin called from the big blind.
The flop came , and Mankin checked. Sharaskin bet, and Mankin called. The turn brought the , and Mankin checked again. Sharaskin bet, and Mankin called. The fell on the river, and Mankin checked a third time. Sharaskin bet again, and after brief consideration, Mankin called for the remainder of his stack.
Sharaskin tabled for aces up, which beat Simonelli's for jacks up. Mankin mucked, and Sharaskin scooped the pot to eliminate both players.
Rock Howard moved all in for his last 39,000 chips from under the gun, Nikolai Yakovenko three-bet to 81,000 from the small blind, the big blind folded, and the two players tabled their hands.
Howard:
Yakovenko:
The board ran out , giving Yakovenko a straight and the nut low to scoop the pot and eliminate Howard.
On a hand that extended into the break, Nikolai Yakovenko raised to 26,000 from the cutoff, Igor Sharaskin called from the button, Matthew Sanner called from the small blind, and Rock Howard called from the big blind.
The flop fell and Sanner shoved for 57,000. Howard called, Yakovenko called, Sharaskin raised all in for 340,000, Howard called, and Yakovenko tank folded.
Sanner:
Howard:
Sharaskin:
"Wow, I was the only one with ace-deuce?" commented Yakovenko after the hands were tabled.
The turn and river completed the board, giving Sharaskin kings full of fives to double through Howard and eliminate Sanner.
Vladimir Shchemelev capped an orbit of Omaha-8 by winning a few pots in succession before eliminating Tai Nguyen.
Following the river of a board, Tai Nguyen committed his remaining 62,000 from the small blind with for trip tens with an ace kicker. Vladimir Shchemelev, however, tabled from the cutoff for an ace-high flush to eliminate Nguyen in 11th place.
and Smith checked. Shchemelev bet 50,000, Smith check-raised pot to 230,000, and Shchemelev called.
and Smith bet the pot of 500,000. Shchemelev raised, Smith called all in for roughly 700,000 and the hands were tabled.
, giving Shchemelev the flush to scoop the pot and eliminate Smith in second place.
to give Smith a straight and a live four to send Yakovenko to the cage.
to give Sharaskin Broadway and a commanding lead. The 
river gave Smith jacks full of queens to scoop the pot and end Sharaskin's run in this tournament.
, and all three players checked.
, and Yakovenko check-called a bet of 40,000 from Shchemelev. The turn was the 
, and Yakovenko check-folded to Shchemelev's bet of 80,000.
, giving Yakovenko a straight and the nut low to scoop the pot and eliminate Howard.
and Sanner shoved for 57,000. Howard called, Yakovenko called, Sharaskin raised all in for 340,000, Howard called, and Yakovenko tank folded.
board, Tai Nguyen committed his remaining 62,000 from the small blind with 
from the cutoff for an ace-high flush to eliminate Nguyen in 11th place.