After being branded because the bubble boy of the Heat Up occasion earlier on this sequence, Sergei Varnaev raised himself from the mud of the desert to assert the coveted title of the 2025 Advantage Poker Western Sequence $5,300 Excessive Curler.
In true Wild West style, Varnaev rode by means of a battlefield of 174 gamers contained in the luxurious Crystal Cove Lodge and On line casino. The occasion boasted a assured prize pool of $800,400, and it was Varnaev who confirmed essentially the most grit and willpower all through to have the ability to raise the trophy and earn a career-best rating of $200,000, proving that redemption is sweeter than gold.
The ultimate desk unfolded like a high-stakes poker shootout, lasting simply 4 ranges. Varnaev’s journey to glory culminated in a heads-up duel with in a single day chip chief Lyudmil Ivanov, which ended after just one hand. This victory not solely quintupled Varnaev’s lifetime earnings but in addition cemented his identify among the many champions of Advantage Poker.
Advantage Poker $5,300 Excessive Curler Ultimate Desk Outcomes
Winner’s Response
Talking about his journey, Varnaev mirrored on overcoming the psychological toll of effervescent the Heat Up. When he discovered himself all-in with Ace-King in opposition to pocket eights throughout an important hand, he admitted, “I used to be nervous. I’ve been enjoying for seven years, and moments like that check every part you’ve realized.” Regardless of his nerves, Varnaev’s talent and resilience carried him by means of.
This was his first last desk look at Advantage Poker, although he’s no stranger to the winner’s circle. “I used to be at EPT right here final yr and even gained a small match. That is my second trophy.” Varnaev shared.
Reflecting on the ultimate desk, Varnaev humbly famous that no standout fingers secured his victory. “I made a few bluffs, nevertheless it’s identical to…the sellers helped me,” he stated with a smile. As for what’s subsequent, Varnaev hinted at taking a well-earned break earlier than deciding whether or not to saddle up for the Predominant Occasion.
Ultimate Desk Motion
With the typical stack initially of the ultimate desk being simply 24 large blinds, the brief stacks didn’t take lengthy to get their chips into the center. After one stage of cagey play, Xin Tang was the primary to bust in ninth place when his Large Slick misplaced to the ace-jack of Maxime Chilaud, who hit a four-flush. Sachin Joshi adopted shortly after, exiting in eighth place. Regardless of having two overcards and a gutshot straight draw, Joshi couldn’t enhance in opposition to the ace-high of Ivanov.
On the very subsequent hand, Ludovic Uzan departed in seventh place after he three-bet jammed with a suited connector. Sadly for Uzan, Bogdan Jontulovic known as with ace-queen, and the board didn’t supply any assist, leaving Uzan to gather his payout.
Varnaev stayed quiet in the course of the early phases of the ultimate desk however quickly got here to life, taking down a major three-bet pot in opposition to Chilaud. This hand moved Varnaev from fifth to second within the chip counts and marked the start of his ascent to victory.
Ivanov continued to carry the chip lead, steadily growing his stack and separating himself from the sector. Mehmet Demirkol made just a few pay jumps however was eradicated in sixth place when his pocket deuces bumped into Jontulovic’s flopped set. Shortly after, Maher Achour narrowly averted elimination in opposition to Ivanov, because the board ran out in his favor, permitting him to outlive a bit longer.
Stage 29 proved pivotal for Varnaev. A well-timed squeeze play noticed him declare the chip lead, and a subsequent check-shove in opposition to Chilaud additional prolonged that. In the meantime, Jontulovic’s stack dwindled till he was left with simply seven large blinds. His match ended when he obtained all-in with a flush draw, solely to run into Varnaev’s pocket kings. Jontulovic departed in fifth place, whereas Varnaev’s dominance grew.
Achour, regardless of surviving a number of all-ins, finally ran out of luck and exited simply wanting a podium end. His elimination by the hands of Varnaev left solely three gamers in rivalry for the trophy. By the beginning of three-handed play, Varnaev held greater than half the chips in play and utilized relentless ICM stress on his opponents.
Chilaud earned the match’s bronze medal after shoving from the small blind with king-jack, solely to be known as by Varnaev’s suited queen. The board hit Varnaev exhausting, and he despatched Chilaud to the rail in third place.
When heads-up play started, Varnaev held a commanding six-to-one chip lead over Ivanov. On the very first hand, all of the chips went into the center. Varnaev shoved the button with jack-ten, and Ivanov known as with ace-deuce. A ten on the flop adopted by one other ten on the flip sealed the deal, crowning Varnaev because the 2025 Advantage Poker Western Sequence Excessive Curler champion. Ivanov, regardless of his runner-up end, secured one other six-figure payday however remained with out a Advantage Poker title.
