Earlier his summer, Russia’s Nadar Kakhmazov topped a field of 3,273 entrants to win the MSPT Venetian for $395,888 after a heads-up deal with Brayden Gazlay. The tournament not only proved to be one of the biggest no-limit hold’em events of the summer, but also the largest ever for both the MSPT and The Venetian.
Less than three weeks later, the 29-year-old Kakhmazov was at it again by winning a gold bracelet at the 2017 World Series of Poker (WSOP). It came when he bested a field of 574 players to win Event #36: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed for $580,338.
"I am very happy," Kakhmazov told WSOP officials after the win. "I have wanted to do this for three years, but every time I lose two big pots, deep in the tournament. I played some other events, but had not won much for prizes, but now it's good this year.”
Indeed, 2017 has proved to be a life-changing year for Kakhmazov. Prior to May, he had just $162,144 in tournament earnings. His heater began in May when he placed eighth in the PokerStars Championship Sochi Main Event for $62,743, which gave him some cash to travel to Vegas. The rest, as they say, is history!
In his WSOP win, Kakhmazov began heads-up play with a 3:1 chip lead against Chris “Big Huni” Hunichen. In what would be the final hand of the tournament, which took place in Level 30 (50,000/100,000/15,000) on Hand #114 of the final table, Hunichen raised to 225,000 holding the Q♣2♣ and Kakhmazov called with the Q♥7♥.
When the flop came down 6♥10♥Q♦, Kakhmazov checked and Hunichen bet 225,000. Kakhmazov responded with a check-raise to 650,000, Hunichen called, and the dealer burned and turned the 10♣. Kakhmazov returned to checking and Hunichen bet 975,000. Kakhmazov then check-raised all in, and Hunichen asked for a count.
“Why you want count?” the PokerNews live updates quotes Kakhmazov as saying. “I have more than you. Want to know what I have? … If you fold and show, I will show you.”
Eventually Hunichen called off the 2.69 million he had behind and was looking for some help to chop the pot. Unfortunately for him, the 6♠ paired the board on the river and Kakhmazov’s seven kicker played.
Kakhmazov joins Nick Jivkov as the only player with both a MSPT title and WSOP gold bracelet. Jivkov’s win came back in 2014 when he topped a field of 426 entrants to take down the MSPT Meskwaki for $104,974. His bracelet came back in 2012 when he won Event #5: $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em for $189,818.
Final Table Results
1 Nadar Kakhmazov (Moscow, Russia) $580,338
2 Chris Hunichen (Columbia, SC) $358,677
3 Kenny Hallaert (Hansbeke, Belgium) $238,855
4 Sam Soverel (West Palm Beach, FL) $162,257
5 Faraz Jaka (San Jose, CA) $112,484
6 Christian Rudolph (Germany) $79,611