Martin Kozlov Wins 2016 World Series of Poker $10,000 Six-Max No-Limit Hold'em Event

The $10,000 six-max no-limit hold’em event at the 2016 World Series of Poker produced one of the toughest fields of the summer, with 294 of the world’s best players generating a total prize pool of $2,763,600.

After three days of action, the title, the bracelet and the $665,709 first-place prize went to Australian poker pro Martin Kozlov. Kozlov’s previous best live tournament score came in 2010, when he finished first in the ANZPT Melbourne main event for $189,908. He now has more than $1.5 million in live tournament earnings.

In order to secure the victory, Kozlov had to overcome a tough final table that featured four WSOP bracelet winners.

“Winning this tournament is very satisfying,” Kozlov said. “It’s tough. It’s prestigious. It’s some of the best players out there.”

While Kozlov dominated the final table, most of the focus was on fourth-place finisher and poker outcast Chris Ferguson. The former Full Tilt Poker executive was frequently booed while at the final table, and a handful of poker fans celebrated his elimination by yelling obscenities as he exited the final table stage.

But despite the raucous environment, Kozlov said he wasn’t distracted.

“The crowd didn’t really affect me all that much,” Kozlov explained. “When you are playing, you get into a zone and tune that out. You just focus on the cards. You don’t think about what’s going on beyond the felt.”

It looked like the players would have to return for a fourth day, but a double elimination on the last hand of the tournament provided one of the more exciting finishes in WSOP history.

Kozlov had the button and raised to 250,000. Justin Bonomo then moved all in for 2,920,000 with pocket nines. Davidi Kitai then reraised all in for 3,850,000 with pocket sixes. Unfortunately for them, Kozlov had a real hand and made the easy call with pocket queens. The flop brought the last two queens in the deck, and Kozlov celebrated with his contingent on the rail.

Kozlov is the 12th Australian to win gold at the WSOP. Australia now has 21 WSOP titles in total.

Other notables with deep runs in this event included Nick Petrangelo (5th), Jack Salter (6th), Vanessa Selbst (9th), Paul Volpe (10th), Steve Gross (11th), Frank Kassela (12th), Brandon Steven (17th), Scott Seiver (19th), Jonathan Little (20th) and Max Silver (24th).

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at this final table:

For more coverage from the summer series, visit the 2016 WSOP landing page complete with a full schedule, news, player interviews and event recaps.

Winner photo courtesy of the WSOP.

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