Event 11 - $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low Championship - Live Updates

Viacheslav Zhukov has won the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Championship.

After almost three hours of heads-up play, Zhukov was finally able to deal the finishing blow to George Lind.

Not only will this be Zhukov’s first WSOP bracelet, it will be his first cash.

Zhukov entered this day as the short stack, with only 740,000.

He would need to catch some cards and play well if he was to catch up to George Lind, who had 2,860,000, and Steve Billirakis, who had $2,465,000.

And that’s exactly would Zhukov did. He won several pots early on and crippled Billirakis minutes into the tournament.

Then he finished Billirakis off with a set of kings, putting the tournament into heads-up mode.

What followed was a roller coaster of emotions and chip leads that has dominated this tournament from Day 1.

Lind and Zhukov made it 11 minutes into level 32. Blinds were 130,000/250,000 with 250,000/500,000 limits. There were only 12 big bets in play.

Zhukov delivered the finishing blow on a 4♦ K♥ Q♠ flop.

Zhukov bet and Lind raised. Zhukov responded by re-raising, Lind contemplated the call that would put him all in.

He eventually called and both players stood up.

Lind – 4♠ 8♠ 6♥ 9♥

Zhukov – A♣ 7♥ J♥ 3♠

The turn was a 5♥, giving Zhukov a flush draw and a 2♦ on the river gave him the wheel.

Zhukov cheered and went to go celebrate with the crowd while Lind put on his sunglasses and applauded Zhukov.

Lind would be the 10K Omaha Hi-Lo Championship runner-up and take home $287,554 for it.

This will be Lind’s 10^th cash at the WSOP, but this will – by far – be his largest.

His second biggest cash was in last year’s Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Championship where he finished just short of the final table, earning $43,833 for 10^th place.

Zhukov bested a field of 202 that included the likes of Mike Sexton, Shaun Deeb, Jason Mercier and Barry Greenstein.

He fought for four long days and fought even harder as today’s short stack to win and take home the grand prize of $465,216.

Level 31 is under way and chip our chip leader is changing every other hand.

With 100,000/200,000 blinds and 200,000/400,000 limits, there are only 15 big bets in play.

Almost every pot nears the 2 million chip mark.

Both players have been chopping, scooping and quartering pots for what has been an eventful heads-up match.

Both players are already guaranteed $287,554, first place is $465,216. They around even in chips and gunning for the bracelet.

Another Day, Another Quarter

Lind has been quartered again.                  

In a raised pot, Lind and Zhukov saw a 7♦ 8♠ K♣ flop. Lind check-raised Zhukov’s bet and a Q♦ came on the turn.

Lind led out this time and Zhukov called, bringing a 2♠ on the river.

Lind bet, Zhukov raised and Lind called showing K♥ 8♣ 5♠ 6♠, but it would only be good for a quarter of the pot when Zhukov showed A♣ K♠ 8♠ 4♠.

Big Street Fourth Street

In one of the biggest pots of the tournament, Lind check-raised Zhukov’s bet on a 7♠ 9♥ 4♦ flop.

Lind bet the Q♥ on the turn and Zhukov would be the one to raise this time.

Lind thought for a while, picked up a stack of greens and meddled with it for a while. He finally called  and a Q♦ come on the river, prompting Zhukov to bet after Lind checked.

Lind folded and was down to 2.6 million.

2 Scoops Please

Zhukov scooped two pots in a row, crippling Lind.

In his first scoop, Zhukov showed 3♣ 4♣ on a 7♦ 2♠ 10♣ J♣ 8♣ board for a flush and a 2-3-4-7-8 low.

That pot was worth 2 million.

Zhukov would scoop yet again in the next hand when his K♠ K♣ 9♦ 5♣ was good enough on a 3♦ 3♥ 10♥ J♦ Q♣ board.

Lind mucked his hand and was left with less than 1 million chips.

Lind Doubles

Zhukov raised from the button and the short-stacked Lind made the call.

The flop fell 2♦ 5♦ 6♦ and Lind check-raised Zhukov’s bet.

Lind called and the 4♦ came on the turn. The crowd closed in as Lind grabbed his remaining chips.

He bet, putting himself all in for 240,000. Zhukov called and showed K♠ Q♦ 5♠ 10♦, trailing behind Lind’s 2♦ 5♦ 6♦ 10♣.

Lind would double up and win another couple of pots. Both players are now about even in chips with approximately 3 million each.

Players are now in level 32 with 130,000/250,000 blinds and 250,000/500,000 bets. When they come back from their 5-minute pee break, there will be only 12 big bets in play.

We’re in level 30 of the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Championship and the stakes are high.

George Lind and Viacheslav Zhukov are fighting for their first WSOP bracelet and a $465,216 first-place prize.

Blinds are 80,000/150,000 with a whopping 150,000/300,000 limits.

With a little more than 6 million chips in play, there are only 20 big bets in play. It also means that the tides can turn very, very quickly.

Zhukov continued to chip Lind down, but, with around 600,000 left, Lind was able to bring himself back up to the chip lead.

But near the end of the level, Zhukov would snatch it right back.

Zhukov’s House

Lind raised preflop and Zhukov called, bringing a 9♦ A♠ A♣ flop. Zhukov would check-call Lind’s bets on the flop and the 6♠ turn.

A Q♣ came on the river and both players checks. Zhukov showed Q♦ Q♥ and took the pot with a full house.

Betting to Win

George Lind bet Viacheslav Zhukov out of a series of hands to take the lead.

In a large pot, Lind bet the turn on a 7♥ 9♦ 5♦#10 board and Zhukov called, bringing a J♣ on the river. Lind bet 300,000 and Zhukov folded.

A few hands later Zhukov raised and Lind called, bringing a Q♣ 9♦ 10♠ flop. Both players checked and an 8♣ came on the turn.

Lind bet and Zhukov called, bringing a 10♦ on the river. Lind placed one more bet and Zhukov folded.

A minute later Zhukov would 3-bet Lind’s button raise and bring a 9♠ Q♠ 2♦ flop.

Zhukov would bet and Lind would call, bringing a 2♦ on the turn. Zhukov bet again and Lind called.

The K♦ on the river would bring a final bet from Zhukov and a raise from Lind, Zhukov would reluctantly lay down his hand and Lind would see himself near the lead again.

Lind would win yet another 1.2 million pot on a 9♥ 3♦ A♦ 3♥ K♠ board with a final river bet, Zhukov would, again, fold.

Zhukov Back Up

Zhukov would vault himself back into the lead after winning a series of small pots. He would then take down a 1 million-plus pot.

The board read 8♣ 3♥ J♥ J♦ and Zhukov bet. Lind called, bringing a 10♥ came on the river and Zhukov would bet one more time.

Lind would fold and see his stack shrink to 2.6 million.

Zhukov would be up to 3.4 million.

Break

Players are on a 15-minute break after this level and will come back to 100,000/200,000 blinds with 200,000/400,000 limits.

The big swings of Omaha Hi-Lo continue.

Steve Billirakis has gone from a close second in chips to 3^rd place finisher in the first 20-minutes of play.

Billirakis lost a large portion of his stack to Viacheslav Zhukov early on.

Zhukov raised from the button and Billirakis decided to call from the big blind. The flop came 6♠ Q♦ 2♣ and Billirakis checked.

Zhukov bet and Billirakis made the call, bringing a 4♣ on the turn.

Bilirakis check-called Zhukov’s bet on the turn as well and a K♠ came on the river.

Billirakis once again check-called Zhukov’s 240,000 river bet and was shown A♠ A♣ 5♠ 5♣ by Zhukov.

Billirakis mucked and was left crippled, forcing him to go all-in the next couple of hands.

He chopped one pot and went all in the following hand. This time he got calls from both George Lind and Viacheslav Zhukov.

Zhukov and Lind checked down the 8♠ 5♦ Q♠ J♥ K♦ board and Billirakis showed A♣ J♦ 8♦ 6♦ for his tournament life.

It wasn’t good enough.

Zhukov tabled K♣ K♠ Q♦ 4♣, took the pot and eliminated Billirakis in 3^rd place.

He earned $214,697 for his final table finish.

Heads-Up

Two players left, one bracelet on the table.

It will either belong to George Lind or Viacheslav Zhukov.

Lind goes into the heads-up match with the chip lead, just around 3.5 million, followed closely by Zhukov with 2.5 million.

In a raised pot, Lind and Zhukov saw a 7♥ K♦ J♠ flop.

Lind bet and Zhukov raised, prompting a call from Lind. When the 10♥ came on the turn Lind checked and Zhukov led out, Lind called.

The 9♥ brought a final 240,000 bet from Lind and Zhukov folded, increasing Lind’s lead.

Zhukov Gaining Ground

But Zhukov would begin to chip away at that lead.

On a an A♥ 5♣ Q♥ flop, Lind check-called Zhukov’s bet, bringing a 3♦ on the turn.

Lind bet, Zhukov called and a 10♦ came on the river, bringing checks from both players.

Lind showed 2♣ 6♣ for the low, but Zhukov also had the same low with 2♥ 6♦, he also had a pair of fives and took three-quarters of the pot.

Lucky Number 7

Zhukov raised preflop and Lind came along for the ride.

The flop fell 7♣ 7♥ K♣ and Lind check-called a bet from Zhukov. A 2♦ came on the turn and Lind check-called Zhukov’s bet again, bringing a 7♠ on the river.

Lind would check once again and Zhukov bet, again, showing A♦ 7♦ J♣ Q♦ when Lind called.

Zhukov's quad sevens would be good for the pot and the chip lead.

Things change fast when limits are 120,000/240,000 and there are only 6 million chips in play.

Another Quarter for Lind

Zhukov raised preflop and Lind re-raised.

Zhukov called and the flop came 6♠ 10♣ 7♠. Lind led out again and Zhukov called bringing an 8♠ on the turn.

Lind bet and Zhukov’s call brought the 2♣ on the river.

Lind placed a final river bet and Zhukov called.

Lind showed A♥ 3♣ 2♦ 5♠ for the low.

Zhukov also held the low with A♦ 3♠ but showed 8♦ 6♠ for the high.

This is the second time Lind has gotten quartered by Zhukov. If he gets two more quarters he will have enough to play a game of pinball at the Harley Davidson pinball machine at Money Play’s.

For now though, he’ll have to play with the short stack.

Chip Counts

Here they are, courtesy of WSOP Live Updates.

Viacheslav Zhukov – 4,700,000
George Lind – 1,300,000

The three remaining players have had 12 hours to eat, sleep and prepare for the rest of today’s $10K Omaha Hi-Lo final table.

We’re entering level 29 after our 12-hour break and blinds are 60,0000/120,000 with 120,000/240,000 limits.

In case you missed the last levels of the day yesterday, George Lind crept his way to the chip lead and snatched away from Richard Ashby in the last levels of the day.

He will be our table chip leader, starting with 2,860,000. He’s followed closely by Steve Billirakis who has 2,465,000.

On an interesting side not, Billirakis and Lind started this tournament seated next to each other, now, with three players left, it’ll end the same way.

The last player joining us today will be the short-stacked Russian pro Viacheslav Zhukov with 740,000.

Other players to fall at yesterday’s final table were, once dominating chip leader, Richard Asbhy. Mack Lee, Day 2 chip leader Guillaume Rivet, Mikael Thuritz, Jason Steinberg and Josh Arieh.

The remaining three players are guaranteed $214,697.

Stay tuned for more final table action.