Mikhail Lakhitov Wins $2,500 No-Limit Holdem at 2011 World Series of Poker

The winner of the 2011 World Series of Poker $2,500 no-limit hold’em is 30-year-old Russian professional poker player Mikhail Lakhitov, who outlasted a massive field of 1,734 entrants to win his first bracelet and $749,610 in prize money.

On the fourth day of play he defeated Hassan Babajane heads up, after beginning the one-versus-one battle with a massive chip lead. Lakhitov was in survival mode at the final table on day three, but when action resumed on Friday with just five players remaining, he became a force to be reckoned with, cruising to victory in less than two levels of action.

With the win, he has more than $1 million in lifetime earnings, which includes five cashes at this summer’s Series. He previously made a final table in the $5,000 no-limit hold’em event, and with Friday’s performance has taken over the WSOP Player of the Year lead from Phil Hellmuth.

“Last year in 2010, I finished near the top in one tournament and came in eighth place,” the champion said in a press release. “I did not know there was such a thing as a gold bracelet. Later, I saw there were pictures with the winner and the bracelet. So, this year on my way to Las Vegas, I promised to my lovely wife that I would win a gold bracelet. That was my motivation.”

Here are the elimination hands, as featured in Card Player’s live updates:

Kent Padgett Eliminated in 9th Place ($53,173)

Kent Padgett came to the official nine-handed final table as the short stack and was eliminated shortly after in 9th place. On his final hand of the night, Thomas Middleton raised from the cutoff, Kent Padgett moved all in from the button and Middleton called.

Middleton lead with A 10 against Padgett’s A 2.

The board came 9 8 4 3 Q, giving Middleton a flush on the river. Kent Padgett was the first one to go in 9th place ($53,173).

Conrad Monica Eliminated in 8th Place ($68,719)

Thomas Middleton button-raised to 80,000 before the flop, Conrad Monica moved all in for 525,000 and Middleton called.

Monica lead with 8 8 against Middleton’s A 9.

The board came 10 2 2 10 A, giving Middleton top pair on the river to win the pot. Conrad Monica was eliminated in 8th place ($68,719).

James St. Hilaire Eliminated in 7th Place ($90,021)

James St. Hilaire opened for 80,000 before the flop, Matthew Berkey reraised to 200,000 from the button, St. Hilaire moved all in and Berkey called.

St. Hilare lead with 10 10 against Berkey’s A 10.

The board came A 9 3 7 2, giving Berkey top pair on the flop to win the pot. James St. Hilaire was eliminated in 7th place ($90,021).

Matthew Berkey Eliminated in 6th Place ($119,528)

Matthew Berkey started the level on the short stack and got it all in before the flop for about 1.4 million with A 5 against Thomas Miller’s J J.

The board came 9 4 3 6 K, no help for Matthew Berkey who was eliminated in 6th place ($119,528).

Eddy Sabat Eliminated in 5th Place ($160,949)

Eddy Sabat started the day fourth out of fifth in chips and after Thomas Miller doubled through him with J – 10 against A – 7, Sabat was left with just 70,000. On the next hand, Sabat raised all in from the small blind and Thomas Middleton called from the big blind.

Middleton lead with A Q against Sabat’s K 7.

The board came A J 2 9 7, giving Middleton top pair on the flop. Eddy Sabat was the fist one eliminated this afternoon in 5th place ($160,949).

Thomas Miller Eliminated in 4th place ($219,885)

Thomas Miller raised to 200,000 before the flop, Mikhail Lakhitov reraised to 500,000, Miller moved all in and Lakhitov called.

Lakhitov turned over Q Q for the lead while Miller showed A J for the draw.

The board came K 9 6 3 2, no help for Thomas Miller who was eliminated in 4th place ($219,885).

Thomas Middleton Eliminated in 3rd Place ($305,015)

Thomas Middleton started three-handed play second in chips with a sizable lead over Hassan Babajane, but got it all in before the flop against current chip leader Thomas Middleton.

Middleton had 10 10 against Lakhitov’s A K.

The board came K 9 5 J 5, giving Lakhitov top pair on the flop and a flush on the river to win the pot. Thomas Middleton was eliminated in 3rd place ($305,015) while Mikhail Lakhitov took a massive chip lead into heads-up play.

Hassan Babajane Eliminated in 2nd Place ($463,480)

Hassan Babajane started the final heads-up match with a severe chip disadvantage of almost 6:1, and was eliminated shortly after heads-up play began.

On the final hand of the tournament, Mikhail Lakhitov open-shoved the button before the flop and Hassan Babajane called all in from the big blind.

Lakhitov lead with K 2 against Babajane’s Q 8.

The board came A 6 44 10, offering no help to either player as Lakhitov’s king-high was good for the pot. Hassan Babajane was eliminated in 2nd place ($463,480) while Mikhail Lakhitov wins the gold bracelet for Event #36 and the $749,610 grand prize.

For all of the latest WSOP information, check out Card Player’s WSOP landing page.

Related Articles

Player Skips Main Event Day 5 For Religious Reason

Ben Lamb Wins Card Player POY Award

Tournament Poker Year in Review: January To June

Most Viewed Articles