"Ildar0365" Wins 888poker XL Winter $100,000 Opening Event ($15,068)
"Ildar0365" put Turkmenistan on the poker map after winning the XL Winter Event #1: $100,000 Opening Event at 888poker for $15,068. The Opening Event was a huge success with 2,311 entries ponying up the $55 buy-in for a $115,550 prize pool to smash the $100,000 guarantee.
While this is the biggest score for "Ildar0365" at 888poker according to PocketFives, they are no stranger to online poker success with more than $500,000 in online tournament cashes.
"Ildar0365" came into the final table sixth in chips and needed some luck at the end of the event heads-up against the accomplished Michael "IHaveAsthma" Wasserman.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ildar0365 | Turkmenistan | $15,068 |
| 2 | Michael "IHaveAsthma" Wasserman | United States | $10,931 |
| 3 | tihonoff1 | Russia | $7,915 |
| 4 | gillatron1 | United Kingdom | $5,778 |
| 5 | zotto18 | Romania | $4,252 |
| 6 | shippp_it | Canada | $3,120 |
| 7 | Pete_444 | Canada | $2,311 |
| 8 | andrey59 | Brazil | $1,722 |
| 9 | Lucky1IJack | Canada | $1,294 |
Event #1 was a two-day affair with the action concluding on Day 1 after the money bubble broke and the final table of nine players was reached. 888poker commentators David Tuchman and Nick Wealthall broadcasted the final table with hole cards exposed at the 888poker YouTube and 888pokerTV Twitch channel.
Road to Victory for "Ildar0365"
"zotto18" began the final table with the chip lead with "tihonoff1" and Wasserman not too far behind. The action was fast straight out of the gate with "andrey59" winning a flip on the very first hand of the final table after their jacks held against big slick to eliminate "Lucky1IJack" in ninth place.
Shortly after, "andrey59" found themselves on the losing end of a flip to hit the rail in eighth place when their queens didn't hold against Wasserman's ace-king. Wasserman had the chip lead after the hand but it swapped first to "tihonoff1" and then to "Ildar0365" as both "shippp_it" and "Pete_444" lost their stacks to leave five players remaining.
Shortly after, the Day 1 chip leader "zotto18" found themselves short on chips and was out in fifth place when their king-nine didn't get there against Wasserman's deuces.
"Ildar0365" got another taste at the chip lead in a grand fashion after their nine-eight improve to quad eights to eliminate "gillatron1" in fourth place who had a full house with sevens. That lead was short-lived with Wasserman getting back in front after winning a few small pots.
A deal was then discussed. "Ildar0365" and "tihonoff1" quickly agreed but Wasserman was holding out for more money before the action resumed. The next hand, Wasserman quickly dispatched "tihonoff1" in third place when their ace-queen proved to be good against ace-jack.
Wasserman began heads-up action with more than double the stack of "Ildar0365". The duo agreed to discuss a deal but again Wasserman opted to play after reviewing the figures. Soon after, "Ildar0365" doubled into the chip lead when their ace-queen was good against ace-jack but Wasserman hung in for a little while and had the chip lead before the defining hand of the heads-up battle took place.
"Ildar0365" min-raised the button with 
and was called by Michael "IHaveAsthma" Wasserman from the big blind with 
.
Wasserman check-raised from 1.1 big blinds to 3.6 big blinds after hitting top pair on the 
flop. "Ildar0365" called and Wasserman check-called a bet of 6.6 big blinds on the 
turn.
The 
river gave "Ildar0365" a flush. Wasserman checked and his opponent jammed for 16.3 big blinds. Wasserman used some of his clock before he called and was left with half a big blind after the hand.
It wasn't quite over just then as Wasserman miraculously won a few doubles before he jammed ace-trey. "Ildar0365" called with jacks and stacks would have been near even if Wasserman was able to win the hand. However, Wasserman bricked the board and "Ildar0365" won the title.
Congrats to "Ildar0365" for winning the 888poker XL Winter Event #1: $100,000 Opening Event for $15,068. Stay tuned at PokerNews as we cover the biggest events of the festival at 888poker.