Seat 1 - Mikhail Shalamov, 37, from Russia, resides in Ljubljana, Slovenia (6,050,000)
Mikhail Shalamov picked up the game around 2008 when a friend took a trip to the United States and introduced it upon returning to Russia. He received a $50 sign-up bonus from an online site and never looked back from there as he became a prominent online grinder.
Playing under the name ��innerpsy�� online, Shalamov first rose to prominence in November 2009 when he set the world record by playing 40,000 online hands in a 24-hour span. ��It was one of the toughest things I have ever accomplished, but I am proud I managed it,�� he told PokerStars at the time. He became a successful poker streamer and joined Team PokerStars Online in 2011. He��s still a prolific streamer and has nearly 90,000 subscribers to his Twitch channel.
Shalamov��s first EPT cash came all the way back in 2010 at Monte Carlo. His previous best result was 45th place at Barcelona in 2016. He��s already locked up his best career score, while a fifth place or better showing today would be worth more than all his previous live results combined.
Career Record
EPT cashes: 3
Best EPT result: 45th, 2016 EPT Barcelona
Career earnings: $229,652
Tournament Progression
Day 1: 181,000 (15/144, 1A)
Day 2: 269,000 (61/144)
Day 3: 1,040,000 (15/45)
Day 4: 2,600,000 (5/16)
Day 5: 6,050,000 (2/6)
Event Highlights
Shamalov first moved past 2,000,000 on Day 4 when he played a four-bet pot against Kirill Shcherbakov. Shamalov bet 175,000 on the flop and another 300,000 on the turn with just king-high. He eventually hit a pair of jacks on the river and checked it down to win a big pot.
Later on Day 4, Shalamov went heads-up with Ivan Zabiiakin on a flop of J?9?3?. Shalamov bet 110,000 from the big blind and Zabiiakin called in the small blind. Shalamov bet 275,000 on the K? turn and Zabiiakin again called. The 5? fell on the river and Shalamov moved all in. Zabiiakin called for 1,000,000 with K?J? for two pair, but Shalamov had 8?6? for a flush to win the pot and send Zabiiakin to the rail as Shalamov momentarily seized the tournament chip lead.
Shalamov ended Day 5 by taking a big pot off Georgios Tsouloftas when he shoved the river for 2,740,000 with a full house. Tsouloftas got rid of trip tens and Shalamov took the pot to climb up past 6,000,000 to end the night.