Russia`s Ruslan Bogdanov Wins EPT Sochi Main Event For RUB 15,984,500

The COVID-19 pandemic has derailed the 2020 live schedule for most poker stops that had to be either canceled or pushed back. Global poker brand PokerStars’ most prominent live poker brand European Poker Tour (EPT), recently played out its first live poker series of the year at Casino Sochi.

The biggest attraction at EPT Sochi, the 175,000 RUB (~€1,900) Main Event, logged in 637 entries. Eventually, Russia’s Ruslan Bogdanov (cover image) struck a heads-up deal with Viktor Tkachenko before taking down the tourney and with it the bragging rights of becoming an EPT champion. He pocketed a whopping RUB 15.98 Million (~$212,914) paycheque – his best and only recorded live cash to date!

Bogdanov was fourth in chips at the start of the final table began but spin his stack up to win the title. In his post-winner interview, Bogdanov said, “I am very happy. There were many key moments that worked out successfully.”

Bogdanov is the fifth player from Russia to win an EPT Main Event, after Maxim Lykov, Vladimir Geshkenbein, Andrey Pateychuk, and Arseniy Karmatskiy. Bogdanov’s fellow countryman Aleksandr Denisov had also sailed his way into the final table, where he eventually settled for an eighth-place payout.

With a deal with Tkachenko in place, Bogdanov took it down in the end after Tkachenko jammed with jack-nine. Bogdanov, who held pocket sixes held through the runout to scoop the final pot of the day, and the title victory along with it.

Final Table Results (RUB)

1. Ruslan Bogdanov – RUB15,984,500*

2. Viktor Tkachenko – RUB14,490,000*

3. Gleb Ershov – RUB8,312,500

4. Sergey Aristov – RUB6,367,900

5. Egor Turubanov – RUB5,044,900

6. Vladislav Naumov – RUB3,929,100

7. Nikita Kuznetsov – RUB2,863,000

8. Aleksandr Denisov – RUB1,956,500

*denotes heads-up deal

Anatolii Zyrin (EPT National for RUB6,686,400) and Yakov Fokin (EPT High Roller for RUB 7,450,100) were the other prominent winners at the stop!

Content & Images Courtesy: PokerNews