Vyacheslav Zhukov Wins 2011 World Series of Poker $10,000 Omaha Eight-or-Better Championship

The winner of the 2011 World Series of Poker $10,000 Omaha eight-or-better championship is Vyacheslav Zhukov, who toppled of 202 players to take home $465,216 in prize money early Thursday evening.

The 22-year-old Russian pro had to wade through an elite final table which included Steve Billirakis, Richard Ashby, Mikael Thuritz, Josh Arieh, and eventual runner up George Lind.

Lind and Zhukov battled it out for more than three hours, as Lind came back from a severe short stack to take a commanding chip lead, before falling short once again. The back-and-forth battle finally came to a close when there were just over 10 big bets in play.

Here is a look at the elimination hands, as featured in Card Player’s live updates:

Josh Arieh Eliminated in 9th Place ($42,514)

Josh Arieh opened for a raise from the cutoff, Vyacheslav Zhukov reraised the button, Mack Lee called from the big blind and Arieh called all in.

The flop came 8 5 2, Lee bet, Zhukov raised, Lee three-bet and Zhukov called.

The turn was the Q, Lee checked, Zhukov bet and Lee called.

The river was the 5, Lee checked, Zhukov bet and Lee calld.

Arieh turned over K K 8 4 for two pair (kings and fives), but was behind Zhukov’s better two pair, A A Q 10 (aces and fives). Arieh had no qualifying low hand and was eliminated in 9th place ($42,514) while Zhukov won the high pot with two pair and Lee raked the low pot with A 7 3 3.

Mikael Thuritz Eliminated in 8th Place ($54,837)

Steve Billirakis raised from early position, Mikael Thuritz called all in with the short stack from the small blind and Richard Ashby called fromn the big blind.

The flop came K 8 7, Ashby bet and Billirakis called.

The turn was the 2, Ashby checked, Billirakis bet and Ashby called.

The river was the 3, Ashby checked, Billirakis bet and Ashby called.

Billirakis turned over A K 4 3 for a high hand of top two pair and a low. Ashby showed A 7 4 4, for the same low hand. Billirakis took three-quarters of the pot while Ashby raked one quarter and Mikael Thuritz was eliminated in 8th place ($54,837).

Jason Steinberg Eliminated in 7th Place ($71,148)

Richard Ashby raised from the cutoff and Jason Steinberg called from the big blind.

The flop came 10 10 9, Steinberg checked, Ashby bet, Steinberg check-raised and Ashby called.

The turn was the 3, Steiberg bet, Ashby raised and Steinberg called all in.

Ashby turned over A 9 4 3 for the lead while Steinberg showed Q 9 5 4. Both players flopped top two pair, but Ashby was ahead with the ace-kicker. There was no qualifying low hand.

The river was the 4, no help for Jason Steinberg who was eliminated in 7th place ($71,148).

Guillaume Rivet Eliminated in 6th Place ($92,908)

Mack Lee opened for raise and both Richard Ashby and Guillaume Rivet called.

The flop came 10 7 2, Rivet bet, Lee called, Ashby raised, Rivet three-bet all in, and both players called.

The turn was the 9, Lee checked the side pot, Ashby bet and Lee called.

The river was the K, Lee checked, Ashby bet and Lee folded. Ashby turned over A K 7 3 for top two pair and the nut low while Rivet mucked A – Q – 6 – 5. Guillaume Rivet was eliminated in 6th place ($92,908).

Mack Lee Eliminated in 5th Place ($122,054)

Steve Billirakis raised from the button, Mack Lee called from the small blind and Richard Ashby called from the big blind.

The flop came J 7 4, it was checked around to Billirakis who bet, Lee called and Ashby folded.

The turn was the K, Lee bet, Billirakis raised enough to put him all in and Lee called.

Lee showed A K 8 5 for top pair and an inside straight draw while Billirakis turned over A J 5 4 for top two pair.

The river was the Q, no low and no help for Mack Lee who was eliminated in 5th place ($122,054).

Richard Ashby Eliminated in 4th Place ($161,379)

Steve Billirakis raised the button, Richard Ashby three-bet the big blind and Billirakis called.

The flop came 8 7 2, Ashby bet and Billirakis called.

The turn was the 4, Ashby bet, Billirakis raised enough to put him all in and Ashby called.

Ashby showed A Q 5 2 for a made low while Billirakis turned over 6 5 4 2 for a made straight (high) and a low draw.

The river was the A, giving Billirakis a better low to scoop the pot and eliminate Richard Ashby in 4th place ($161,379).

Steve Billirakis Eliminated in 3rd Place ($214,697)

Steve Billirakis came into the final day as the short stack with just over six big blinds and after getting scooped by Vyacheslav Zhukov in a previous pot, Billirakis was down to his last 75,000 when he was forced all in from the big blind.

Vyacheslav Zhukov limped from the button and George Lind completed the small blind for the side pot.

Both players checked the side pot to a showdown on a board of Q 8 5 J K.

Billirakis turned over A J 8d 6 for two pair while Zhukov showed K K Q 4 for top set, eliminating Steve Billirakis in 3rd place ($214,697).

George Lind Eliminated in 2nd Place ($287,554)

George Lind led the counts going into Level 32 and after splitting a huge all-in pot at the beginning of the level, things started to go the other way for him. He lost the chip lead to Vyacheslav Zhukov shortly after, and ultimately lost the match on this final hand of the night.

Lind button-raised, Vyacheslav Zhukov reraised from the big blind and Lind called.

The flop came K Q 4, Zhukov bet, Lind raised, Zhukov shoved and Lind called all in.

Lind showed 9 8 6 4 for a pair of fours while Zhukov showed A J 7 3 for the draw.

The turn and river were the 5 and the 2, giving Zhukov a backdoor wheel on the river to scoop the pot. George Lind was eliminated in 2nd place while Vyacheslav Zhukov went on to claim the gold bracelet for Event #11 and the $465,216 grand prize.

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

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