Seat 3: Konstantin Puchkov, 58, Moscow, Russia - 4,160,000
As amateurs go Konstantin Puchkov has a pretty impressive record. The Russian has notched up $771,606 in tournament winnings including a second place finish in the €5,000 six-max side event at the 2009 EPT Grand Final and a bracelet-winning victory in this year’s $1,500 World Series H.O.R.S.E. event. By sheer brilliant coincidence Puchkov lists his profession as a horse breeder and trainer. Puchkov has been playing poker since 1999 and while he prefers playing tournaments, he isn’t afraid of a bit of $10/$25 action in the side games. Puchkov has been an active player throughout the tournament and enters the final table second in chips. ‘Today was the hardest day because I was all-in with aces and was drawing to seven outs,’ recalled Puchkov who had Ah Ad against Luis Rufas’ Js 8c on a Jc-flop. Rufas caught an eight on the turn before Puchkov rivered an ace. ‘It was the first time that I was really at risk all tournament.