Alex Bilokur turned into a poker freight train here at Event #28: $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em, completely dominating heads-up play as he turned a nine-to-one chip deficit into $398,567 and his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet. Bilokur already sported a solid poker resume with nearly $3 million in tournament cashes, including taking down a PCA High Roller event in 2012. Now, the Russian has added the pinnacle of poker tournament accomplishments to that list of successes.
We began the day with 10 players, quickly saying goodbye to Dan Shak after he ran his aces into Chino Rheem's set. Rheem held the chip lead as the official final table began.
Rheem was unable to hang onto his chip lead, bleeding off chips until busting in fourth just after Ismael Bojang took fifth. Rheem flopped top two but sent his stack over to the bottom set of Matt O'Donnell on a flop. It looked like that was going to be the pot of the tournament, as O'Donnell had his last two opponents covered multiple times over.
When O'Donnell ousted Alexander Venovski in third, it looked like heads-up play was a mere formality as O'Donnell had just over 4.3 million to Bilokur's just under 500,000. However, Bilokur completely took over the match with a small-ball style, continually limping buttons and inducing aggression from O'Donnell when Bilokur held superior hands. After just over 100 hands, he'd claimed the championship.
Thanks for tuning in to PokerNews' coverage of another championship event here at the 2014 WSOP.
The PokerNews Podcast crew covers several huge stories, including the PokerStars sale, Mike Matusow's penalty, and the decline of pot-limit hold'em. They are then joined by defending Main Event champion Ryan Riess to talk about his banner, his recent run bad, and much more.
Hand #100: Alex Bilokur made it 60,000 from the button before Matt O'Donnell raised to 210,000.
Alexander Venovski then pushed in for just a little more and after Bilokur folded O'Donnell made the call. It was for Venovski at risk against for O'Donnell and the flop absolutely stunned him.
O'Donnell had flopped a straight and after the turn and river Venovski was sent home.
We are now heads up with O'Donnell holding a massive chip lead.
Matt O'Donnell appears poised to take down the bracelet.
Hand #90: Alex Bilokur raised to 65,000 from the small blind. Matt O'Donnell reraised to 165,000, He won the pot.
Hand #91: Alexander Venovski got a walk.
Hand #92: Venovski limped the small, and Bilokur checked the big blind. Venovski bet 30,000 on the flop and was called. On the turn, both players checked to see the . Venovski bet 75,000 and won.
Hand #93: Bilokur raised to 65,000 in the small blind, and O'Donnell defended. Bilokur bet 70,000 on the pot. O'Donnell raised to 170,000 and got called. On the turn, O'Donnell bet 320,000 and Bilokur again check-called. Bilokur checked a final time on the river, O'Donnell cut out 740,000, one of the largest wagers we've seen this tournament. Bilokur called, and O'Donnell showed for top pair to drag the massive pot.
Hand #59: Matt O'Donnell raised to 50,000 and was called by Alexander Venovski, Alex Bilokur, and Chino Rheem. A rather scary flop hit: , and action checked to O'Donnell, who continuation-bet 100,000. Venovski folded, Bilokur called and Rheem announced a raise, sliding out 600,000 stack by stack. O'Donnell shoved all in for 984,000, and BIlokur began tanking. Finally, he folded. Rheem got it in there.
Rheem:
O'Donnell:
The hit the turn, and Rheem called for a 10 to chop the pot. The emerged throuh, and Rheem shook hands with the other players.
Hand #56: Chino Rheem potted it from the small blind and won the pot.
Hand #57: Chino Rheem made it 84,000 total from the button and took down the blinds.
Hand #58: Chino Rheem made it 60,000 and Matt O'Donnell raised. Rheem moved all in for 434,000 total and O'Donnell called. It was for Rheem versus O'Donnell's and after the board made Rheem two pair, he doubled up.
Hand #38: Alexander Venovski opened to 50,000 in the small blind, and Todd Brunson defended. Venovski bet 60,000 on the flop before calling Brunson's shove.
Brunson:
Venovski:
Two bricks fell: and , and Brunson was done in sixth after missing his straight and overcards.
Hand #34: Ismael Bojang raised to 40,000, and Buddiga called in the big blind. On the flop, Buddiga checked and Bojang bet 40,000. Buddiga called, and the turned. Two checks ensued, and a hit. Bojang bet 115,000, Buddiga shoved all in for just 114,000 more, and Bojang called. Buddiga showed a set with , but it was inferior to the turned set of Bojang: .
flop. It looked like that was going to be the pot of the tournament, as O'Donnell had his last two opponents covered multiple times over.
and after a Bilokur check, O'Donnell pushed in with 
and after the 
turn, the 
river made Bilokur a flush and the winner of the $10,000 Pot Limit Hold'em Championship.
![[user101598]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
for O'Donnell and the 
flop absolutely stunned him.
turn and 
river Venovski was sent home.
flop and was called. On the 
turn, both players checked to see the 
. Venovski bet 75,000 and won.
pot. O'Donnell raised to 170,000 and got called. On the 
turn, O'Donnell bet 320,000 and Bilokur again check-called. Bilokur checked a final time on the 
and after the 
, and Bojang busted out.
and 
.