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

Russian Pro Takes Home Bracelet and $749,610

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Credit: World Series of PokerThe 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 ASpade Suit 10Diamond Suit against Padgett’s AHeart Suit 2Club Suit.

The board came 9Diamond Suit 8Club Suit 4Diamond Suit 3Diamond Suit QDiamond Suit, 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)
Conrad Monica

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

Monica lead with 8Spade Suit 8Heart Suit against Middleton’s AClub Suit 9Club Suit.

The board came 10Club Suit 2Spade Suit 2Club Suit 10Heart Suit ADiamond Suit, 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 10Diamond Suit 10Club Suit against Berkey’s ADiamond Suit 10Heart Suit.

The board came AHeart Suit 9Spade Suit 3Diamond Suit 7Heart Suit 2Club Suit, 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 AHeart Suit 5Diamond Suit against Thomas Miller’s JHeart Suit JDiamond Suit.

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

Eddy SabatEddy 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 AHeart Suit QClub Suit against Sabat’s KClub Suit 7Spade Suit.

The board came AClub Suit JDiamond Suit 2Spade Suit 9Heart Suit 7Diamond Suit, 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 QSpade Suit QHeart Suit for the lead while Miller showed ADiamond Suit JClub Suit for the draw.

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

Thomas MiddletonThomas 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 10Heart Suit 10Diamond Suit against Lakhitov’s ASpade Suit KDiamond Suit.

The board came KSpade Suit 9Spade Suit 5Diamond Suit JSpade Suit 5Spade Suit, 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

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 KHeart Suit 2Diamond Suit against Babajane’s QDiamond Suit 8Diamond Suit.

The board came ADiamond Suit 6Diamond Suit 4Heart Suit4Spade Suit 10Club Suit, 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.


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