Belarusian high-stakes tournament crusher Mikita Badziakouski touched down a little early in Las Vegas in order to play the upcoming Super High Roller Bowl and decided to warm up with an entry into the 2021 Poker Masters Event #10 ($25,000 NLHE). By the end, he had toppled a star-studded final table that included Jason Koon, Ali Imsirovic, Seth Davies, and Daniel Negreanu to collect the $342,000 first-place prize and the first Poker Masters victory of his career.

Just a few minutes into the final table, Seth Davies found a way to pick up chips and climb up from the short stack – even if he had to get a little lucky to do it. The blinds were at 10,000/20,000 (20,000 bb ante) when Davies make it 45,000 to go from the button holding . On the button, Jason Koon picked up and made it 115,000 to go. The blinds both got out of the way and Davies opted to move all-in for 30 big blinds total. Koon quickly called, putting Davies at risk. The danger for Davies didn’t last long as the flop came , putting Davies on the verge of a big double up. Koon, with just two outs, watched as the turn came the and the river came the , crippling his already short stack. Davies chipped up to second place while Koon was left with just six big blinds. Over the next two orbits, Koon tried to find a spot to double, but 10 minutes later he was out when his couldn’t catch up to Daniel Negreanu’s . Koon’s early fifth-place exit was good for $76,000.

Ali Imsirovic has had plenty of noted success inside the PokerGO studio. But at the 2021 Poker Masters, it took until Event #10 before he made a final table appearance – one that was cut short in a clash of huge hands. With the blinds at 15,000/25,000 (25,000 bb ante), Imsirovic raised to 75,000 on the button with the . After Negreanu folded his small blind, Badziakouski looked down at the . Badziakouski, having Imsirovic covered by roughly 15 big blinds, three-bet to 275,000. The action was back on Imsirovic. With 50 big blinds total, Imsirovic four-bet to 475,000 after which Badziakouski took some time and five-bet shoved. Imsirovic snap-called and the cards were on their backs when the flop came . Imsirovic’s pocket kings were well ahead but Badziakouski had three aces and a gutshot straight draw as outs. The spiked on the turn, bringing in Badziakouski’s straight but giving Imsirovic additional flush out to go with his full house draw. But an innocent completed the board and with kings cracked, Imsirovic made his exit to collect his $104,500 payday.

Three-handed play between Badziakouski, Davies, and Negreanu wore on. Over two hours later, Badziakouski had lost his chip lead with Davies taking over while Negreanu deftly navigated the short stack. Negreanu made a series of critical pre-flop shoves to stay alive, and after a gutty hand in which he check-shoved a turn on Badziakouski with king-high (it happened to be good), Negreanu finally climbed out of the cellar. But just as Kid Poker was gaining momentum he ran into a roadblock.

With the blinds at 25,000/50,000 (50,000 bb ante) Davies called in the small blind holding . In the big blind Negreanu raised to 175,000 with his and Davies opted for a call. The flop came giving Negreanu top set and a 94% advantage in the hand. Davies checked and Negreanu checked back. The turn came the , opening the door with flush outs for Davies. Davies checked again and Negreanu followed suit once again. The river was the bringing the runner-runner flush for Davies. Davies led for 400,000, roughly half of what Negreanu had left. Negreanu couldn’t get away and flipped in a single chip for a call and ended up back on a ten big blind stack.

It was all over for Negreanu a few minutes later when, on the button, Badziakouski limped in with his and Negreanu picked up in the big blind. Negreanu shoved, Badziakouski called and the board ran out giving Badziakouski a full house and eliminating Negreanu in third place for $152,000.

After a short break, heads-up began with Davies holding a roughly two-to-one chip lead. Davies continued to apply pressure on Badziakouski, at times widening the chip gap only to have Badziakouski battle back. But at 40,000/80,000 (80,000 bb ante), Badziakouski decided to risk it all in an effort to flip the script. On the button, Davies moved all-in with the and Badziakouski looked down at the . Badziakouski took a moment, counted his chips, and suddenly said “Yea, why am I thinking? Easy.” and stuck his 22 big blind stack in the middle. The flop came missing both and keeping Davies ace-high ahead. The turn did nothing for either player and Badziakouski was down to six outs one time. But the came on the river and just like that Badziakouski soared to a hefty chip advantage that he never surrendered.

On the final hand of the event, with the blinds at 50,000/100,000 (100,000 bb ante) Badziakouski called on the button holding and Davies checked his option with his . The gave Davies top pair and he quickly checked it over to Badziakouski who bet 100,000. Davis, with just over 600,000 behind, check-raised to 225,000. Badziakouski opted to put Davies all-in and Davies stuck his stack in as a 70% favorite. The didn’t change much, but the on the river gave Badziakouski the straight and ended the hard-fought heads-up battle. Davies falls in second place and collected $228,000 while Badziakouski picked up the win and the $342,000 first-place prize.

2021 Poker Masters Event #10 Final Table Results

1. Mikita Badziakouski – $342,000
2. Seth Davies – $228,000
3. Daniel Negreanu – $152,000
4. Ali Imsirovic – $104,500
5. Jason Koon – $76,000