Sergey Sergeev Wins the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond $2,200 High Roller for $49,518
Sergey Sergeev was one of three players looking up at a massive chip deficit when Level 22 began in the World Series of Poker Circuit $2,200 High Roller at Chicago's Horseshoe Hammond.
That 40-minute level never even saw its finish, as Sergeev went on a half-hour heater that ended with him earning his first gold ring.
The Russian eliminated his final three opponents in quick fashion as the final table came to an abrupt end and resulted in Sergeev cashing for the biggest score of his career. Sergeev took home $49,518 for the win.
"I was very lucky," said Sergeev. "It feels incredible."
Sergeev ousted Sami Shurbajii (3rd - $20,526) in three-handed play, and the heads-up battle against Jorden Helstern (2nd - $30,605) didn't last long, as Sergeev made quick work of his final opponents.
Final Table Results
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sergey Sergeev | Russia | $49,518 |
| 2 | Jordan Helstern | United States | $30,605 |
| 3 | Sami Shurbaji | United States | $20,526 |
| 4 | Tom Brachowski | United States | $14,277 |
| 5 | Mike Moncek | United States | $10,312 |
| 6 | Pete Maizy | United States | $7,746 |
| 7 | George Pappas | United States | $6,061 |
| 8 | Kevin Andriamahefa | United States | $4,949 |
Twelve in the Money
Day 2 started with 33 runners including two dozen survivors from Day 1 and nine players who registered late before the beginning of Day 2 deadline.
Those players competed for 12 money spots, and the money bubble broke on Level 17, the fifth 40-minute level of the day. Jake Bazeley (14th) and Michael Hahn (13th) were the last two eliminated before the money.
David Moses (12th - $3,778), Todd Sladek (11th - $3,778), and Frederick Conforti (10th - $4,225) were the next three to go, sending the final nine to the unofficial final table.
Daniel Sepiol went out in ninth ($4,225) shortly after the final table formed, and the official eight-handed final table was in place.
Brachowski Starts Strong , Sergeev Finishes Stronger
Tom Brachowski, who entered the final table in the middle of the pack with a 32-big-blind stack (261,000), won a trio of big pots in short-handed play, all resulting in eliminations, and found himself the first to go over the one-million chip mark.
Brachowski was responsible for the knockouts of George Pappas (7th - $6,061), Pete Maizy (6th -$7,746) and Mike Moncek (5th - $10,312). By the time Brachowski eliminated Moncek he held 1,270,000 chips, nearly three-times the stack of the closest competitor.
That big lead evaporated in the span of a few hands at Level 22, however, with Sergeev taking three pots off Brachowski in a matter of minutes. The third and final of those battles saw Sergeev win a 1.6 million pot, with his set of twos besting Brachowski’s pair of aces.
The big hand sent Brachowski out in fourth place for a $14,277 payday.
That hand was the start of the rapid rise of Sergeev into first place, which ended with the Russian taking home his first WSOP Circuit ring.