Event #5: $1,500 Seven Card Stud

Just five months after winning the $100,000 Super High Roller down at the PCA in the Bahamas, Eugene Katchalov has shipped his first World Series of Poker bracelet in Event #5: $1,500 Seven Card Stud.

Katchalov entered heads-up played against Alessio Isaia as a massive underdog, with just 250,000 chips to Isaia's 1.35 million. The native Ukrainian came roaring back however, snatching the chip lead in under an hour and never looked back from there. Katchalov's good fortune was highlighted perfectly during the final hand, where he caught consecutive cards on sixth and seventh street to make a better two-pair than Isaia. For his incredible comeback he takes home $122,909 and the coveted WSOP gold bracelet.

Isaia's play cannot be overlooked for the past three days. He entered today as the chip leader, and was among the leaders until the final table was set. There he fell in the ranks, but quickly turned it around and regained the chip lead. Unfortunately he couldn't close the deal against Katchalov heads up, and will have to settle with $75,911 for second place.

Other players who deserve praise include Eric Buchman and Jonathan Spinks. Spinks was severely card-dead throughout the day, but grinded all the way to 4th place, earning $35,476. Buchman was in cruise control at the final table, accumulating chips left and right until he began to slip. He failed to execute a handful of bluffs, and was crippled when Isaia made a wheel on sixth against his trip-queens. Buchman unhappily exited in third place, receiving $48,961 for his play.

Three days ago, 357 players enter the Rio to compete for a WSOP gold bracelet. Some of poker's greats including Tom Dwan, Jason Mercier, David Bach, Daniel Negreanu, Sorel Mizzi, Shaun Deeb and Frank Kassela all came out to compete, but in the end only one player could be crowned champion. Congratulations to Eugene Katchalov for winning his first WSOP gold bracelet - next time drinks are on you! You can catch him here tableside after his win with Lynn Gilmartin:

Alessio Isaia -    /      /  
Eugene Katchalov -    /      /  

Isaia brought it in, Katchalov completed, and Isaia called. Katchalov check-called a bet on fourth street, and both players checked on fifth. Isaia led out with two pair on sixth, and Katchalov called. On seventh Isaia slowed down, check-calling a bet from Katchalov.

Katchalov tabled two black sevens for a better two-pair, and Isaia is left with only 30,000 chips.

Isaia: (x)(x) /      / (x)
Katchalov: (x)(x) /      / (x)

After Alessio Isaia finally managed to put a dent in the armor of Eugene Katchalov, Katchalov went back to his dominating form. Katchalov brought in, then called when Isaia completed. From there, Isaia bet every single street, and Katchalov called every single street. Isaia confidently showed the   for a pair of aces, but Katchalov showed     for two pair. After that, Katchalov is back in a commanding lead.

Katchalov: 1.375 million
Isara: 225,000

Katchalov: (x)(x) /      / (x)
Isaia: (x)(x) /      / (x)

Eugene Katchalov has chipped up over the past 45 minutes thanks to some good timing and great cards, but he won this hand on what was simply a sick read. Katchalov brought in, and as has been fairly standard throughout the heads up duel, Isaia completed. Katchalov called, then called down as Isaia bet on every single street. Katchalov must know something we don't because at showdown, Isaia revealed     for just king high, and Katchalov showed     for a pair of nines that was good enough to take the pot! Katchalov now holds nearly a 4 to 1 chip lead.

Katchalov: 1.25 million
Isaia: 350,000

Isaia: (x)(x) /      / (x)
Katchalov: (x)(x) /      /(x)

About 30 minutes ago, Eugene Katchalov was down about 7 to 1 to Isaia in this heads up duel. Now, thanks to big back to back pots, he now has the chip lead. Isaia brought in, then raised when Katchalov completed. Katchalov called, then checked called fourth street. On fifth street, Katchalov check raised, and Isaia called. Isaia bet out on sixth street, but Katchalov was had no intentions of slowing down, raising once again. Katchalov got one more bet in on seventh street, and showed     for a diamond flush. Isaia shook his head as he mucked, and Katchalov jumped up to just under 1 million chips.

Katchalov: 985,000
Isaia: 615,000

Isaia: (x)(x) /     FOLDED
Katchalov: (x)(x) /    

Eugene Katchlov is clawing his way back into this matchup one hand at a time. In this hand, Katchalov completed, then bet out on every street, with Isaia folding on fifth street. Since this hand, Katchalov has won a handful of small pots, and is now up to 400,000.

Isaia:    /     / (x)
Katchalov:    /      / (x)

Eugene Katchalov had been grinded down to just over 100,000, but he just won a big pot to double up aganist Alessio Isaia. Isaia brought in, then raised after Katchalov completed. Katchalov called, and then check called on fourth street as well. Katchalov bet, then called all in on fifth street with a pair of tens. Katchalov improved to trip tens on sixth street, and Isaia mucked his hand before seventh street was dealt, knowing he couldn't catch up.

Alessio Isaia: 1.4 million
Katchalov: 225,000

Buchman:    /      /  
Isaia:    /      /  

Wow... Eric Buchman was either one or two in chips for the entire day, including after the dinner break. But in just over 50 minutes, Buchman has gone from chip leader to out. Buchman got all of his chips in on fifth street with king high, and was in bad shape against Isaia's jacks and straight draw. Isaia caught that straight on sixth street, but Buchman found a flush draw heading into seventh street. The final card was the  , and just like that we are heads up.

Katchalov:    /     / (x)
Isaia:    /      /  

Eugene Katchalov won't go quietly into this good night. Katchalov had all his money there on third street with kings, with Alessio calling down with ace high. Isaia was able to make a pair of tens, but he never caught up with Katchalov, who's kings held up to push him to 160,000.