Seat 1: Igor Kurganov -- 293,000
Igor Kurganov has had himself one heck of a 2013 Aussie Millions. It all started just about a week ago when he took second place in the $100,000 Challenge for AU$610,000. After busting the Main Event, Kurganov was right back in action in the $250,000 Challenge. He cashed in that event as well, placing fourth for AU$500,000.
Kurganov used to be just a regular on the European Pour Tour, but he's now taken his talents worldwide. He's no stranger to high roller events, as evidenced by the prior two results here at this year's Aussie Millions, and most of Kurganov's winnings have come in big buy-in events.
In May of 2011, he took second in the €10,000 High Roller Turbo at the EPT Grand Final in Madrid for €123,000. He then went on to finish third in the EPT Tallinn High Roller for €40,450 and second in the EPT London High Roller for ￡318,300 after losing to Philipp Gruissem, who is also at this final table.
Then in April of 2012, Kurganov broke through in a big way by taking down the EPT Grand Final €25,000 High Roller for €1,080,000. He topped a field of 133 players to win that event, including a heads-up victory over poker legend Daniel Negreanu.
Kurganov will enter the final table third in chips with 293,000 and is one of four Germans left.