Monday, November 22, 2021 12:17 AM Local Time
Mikita Badziakouski Claims First Gold Bracelet in Event #85: $50,000 High Roller ($1,462,043)
After just two days of play out of the originally scheduled three days, Mikita Badziakouski has emerged victorious in Event #85: $50,000 High Roller. Badziakouski topped a 113-entry field to take home his first gold bracelet in addition to the $1,462,043 first-place prize.
The 29-year-old Belarusian has had a number of close calls prior to today's victory, including a second-place finish in a online WSOP short deck event on GGPoker back in July, and more recently, a fifth-place finish in the $25,000 heads-up event earlier in the series.
"Honestly, the bracelet is not as important for me as it is for many other players," Badziakouski said on how it felt to win his first. "I will just say it feels great to win a high roller."
Indeed, it was business as usual for Badziakouski, who said he relied on his experience toward his path to victory.
"I've played many final tables. You just try to perform your best — there's no special or unique ideas. You just do what you've learned before and that's it."
A regular attendee of high-roller events, Badziakouski had already racked up over $29 million in tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob prior to today's victory. Badziakouski's first-place prize following today's win marks an incredible eighth seven-figure score for him from tournaments.
2021 WSOP Event #85: $50,000 High Roller Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Mikita Badziakouski | Belarus | $1,462,043 |
| 2 | Ren Lin | United States | $903,610 |
| 3 | Daniel Negreanu | Canada | $661,041 |
| 4 | Jason Koon | United States | $489,585 |
| 5 | Stephen Chidwick | United States | $367,153 |
| 6 | Ali Imsirovic | Bosnia | $278,840 |
| 7 | Carlos Villamarin | United States | $214,496 |
| 8 | Joao Vieira | Portugal | $167,152 |
| 9 | Ryan Leng | United States | $131,982 |
Day 2 Action
An additional 12 entries at the start of Day 2 brought the total number of players to start the day to 47. However, that number would be halved within the first three levels as the turbo-like structure ensured swift eliminations right from the get-go.
Among those to start the day but fall short of the money include Ole Schemion, Josh Arieh, Noah Schwartz, Michael Addamo, and Dan Smith – who lost the majority of his chips in a brutal pot wherein he and Jason Koon both held ace-king and Koon made a one-card flush.
The money bubble burst when Cary Katz called off his remaining stack with queen-jack suited and lost a race against Stephen Chidwick's pocket fives.
Eliminations continued rapidly after the money bubble with Thomas Winters (17th - $84,486), Shaun Deeb (16th - $84,486), Christoph Vogelsang (12th - $92,407), and Elio Fox (10th - $105,607) all cashing but falling short of the final table.
Ren Lin
Final Table Action
Ryan Leng entered the final table as the short stack and would bust almost immediately after running his pocket fives into the pocket kings of Ren Lin and failing to improve. Joao Vieira quickly followed suit to bust in eighth and, in a surprising turn of events, Carlos Villamarin, who entered the final table as the chip leader, ended up busting in seventh place after losing a race to Negreanu and then running ace-jack into Chidwick's pocket aces all-in preflop.
The pace of knockouts steadied during six-handed play, but the rapidly increasing blinds ensured that many pots were played all-in or close to it preflop. Mikita Badziakouski was able to claim the chip lead after winning a massive pot against Chidwick and then Ali Imsirovic and Chidwick were eliminated shortly thereafter.
Daniel Negreanu, who entered the final table as one of the short stacks, managed to double up multiple times in his bid for a seventh career bracelet, but ultimately fell in third place to Lin after calling a shove by Lin and losing out to an ace on the river.
Heads-up play began with Badziakouski enjoying a nearly 4:1 chip advantage over Lin, however, Lin was quickly able to turn the tide through his aggressive play and at one point was even one card away from victory. However, Badziakouski managed to mount a comeback and secure his first gold bracelet after calling a shove by Lin with ace-five and holding up against king-seven.
Congratulations to Mikita Badziakouski, the winner of 2021 WSOP Event #85: $50,000 High Roller!
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Sunday, November 21, 2021 11:01 PM Local Time
Ren Lin Eliminated in 2nd Place ($903,610)
In what would be the last of the tournament, Ren Lin shoved for his last four million on the button and Mikita Badziakouski called to put Lin at risk.
Ren Lin:
Mikita Badziakouski:
The final board ran out — leaving Badziakouski best with his ace and eliminating Lin in second place.
| Mikita Badziakouski | 33,900,000 | 4,225,000  |
| Ren Lin | 0 | -4,325,000  |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 11:00 PM Local Time
Lin Loses Raising War, Badziakouski on the Verge
In a limped pot with a flop of , Ren Lin checked to Mikita Badziakouski who bet one million.
Then things got fun.
Lin check-raised to two million, then Badziakouski raised again to three million.
The raising wasn't done, as Lin came back with four million. At this point, Badziakouski just called.
The duo then saw a turn of the and Lin checked. Badziakouski then bet one million.
Lin shook his head slightly, then pushed his cards forward into the muck, leaving himself with under five million chips.
| Mikita Badziakouski | 29,675,000 | 5,475,000 |
| Ren Lin | 4,325,000 | -5,375,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 10:53 PM Local Time
Level 26 started
Level: 26
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 300,000
Sunday, November 21, 2021 10:49 PM Local Time
Badziakouski Extends Chip Lead
Mikita Badziakouski raised to 1.1 million chips from the button pre-flop and was called by Ren Lin.
The flop came and Lin checked and called the 650,000 chip bet by Badziakouski.
The turn card was the and this time Lin led for 1.3 million and Badziakouski called.
The river card was the and Lin fired 3.1 million more and Mikita opted to call.
Lin tabled for a bluff and Badziakouski tabled for one pair of sevens, and the latter was awarded the pot.
| Mikita Badziakouski | 24,200,000 | 5,500,000 |
| Ren Lin | 9,700,000 | -5,600,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 10:42 PM Local Time
Badziakouski Regains Chip Lead
The back and forth heads-up match has just seen Mikita Badziakouski climb back into the chip lead with several small pots including the following hand.
Badziakouski limped from the small blind/button and Ren Lin checked his option.
On the flop, Lin checked and Badziakouski sprinkled out a bet of 400,000, which Lin called.
On the turn, Lin checked again, and this time Badziakouski sized up to 1.7 million.
Lin folded and has ceded the chip lead back to Badziakouski.
| Mikita Badziakouski | 18,700,000 | 7,200,000 |
| Ren Lin | 15,300,000 | -7,200,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 10:32 PM Local Time
Badziakouski Doubles Through Lin
Ren Lin shoved on the button and Mikita Badziakouski tanked for a bit before committing his remaining 5.6 million into the middle.
Mikita Badziakouski:
Ren Lin:
The flop vaulted Lin into the lead and the turn nearly sealed his victory, however, the river paired Badziakouski's six and he doubled up through Lin.
| Ren Lin | 22,500,000 | -4,500,000 |
| Mikita Badziakouski | 11,500,000 | 4,600,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 10:30 PM Local Time
Lin Takes a Big One from Badziakouski
On a flop of , Ren Lin checked and called the 500,000 chip bet by his opponent, Mikita Badziakouski.
The dealer burned and turned the and this time Lin checked and called 1.7 million.
The river card was the and Lin checked one last time. Next, Badziakouski checked back and mucked after Lin tabled for a full house, sixes full of fives, and was awarded the pot.
| Ren Lin | 27,000,000 | 8,300,000 |
| Mikita Badziakouski | 6,900,000 | -8,400,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 10:23 PM Local Time
Lin Takes the Chip Lead
Mikita Badziakouski limped on the button/small blind, and Ren Lin raised to 1.5 million in the big blind.
Badziakouski called to see the fall on the flop.
Lin checked and Badziakouski bet 800,000, which Lin called.
On the turn, Lin checked again, and Badziakouski sized up to 3.3 million.
Lin then uttered the now famous words, "no gamble, no future", and pushed the rest of his chips forward, for approximately 9 million total.
Badziakouski quickly folded, and with the win, Lin has now taken over the chip lead.
| Ren Lin | 18,700,000 | 5,700,000 |
| Mikita Badziakouski | 15,300,000 | -5,600,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 10:14 PM Local Time
Current Chip Counts
| Mikita Badziakouski | 20,900,000 | -2,900,000 |
| Ren Lin | 13,000,000 | 2,800,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 10:13 PM Local Time
Level 25 started
Level: 25
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
Sunday, November 21, 2021 10:08 PM Local Time
Lin Chipping Up To Start Heads-Up
On the flop of a limped pot, Mikita Badziakouski checked to Ren Lin, who bet 400,000. Badziakouski called.
The turn brought the , and again Badziakouski checked. Lin bet one million, and again Badziakouski called.
On the river, both players checked.
Badziakouski showed for bottom pair, while Lin showed for fourth pair, which was good to move him above the ten million chip mark.
| Mikita Badziakouski | 23,800,000 | -3,200,000 |
| Ren Lin | 10,200,000 | 3,200,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 9:53 PM Local Time
Heads-up
Ren Lin and Mikita Badziakouski are now heads-up for the gold bracelet and $1,462,043 first-place prize.
Badziakouski will begin the duel with a nearly 4:1 chip advantage.
| Mikita Badziakouski | 27,000,000 | 0 |
| Ren Lin | 7,000,000 | 2,200,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 9:52 PM Local Time
Daniel Negreanu Eliminated in 3rd Place ($661,041)
Mikita Badziakouski moved all-in from the button and after some deliberation, Negreanu uttered the table mantra "no gamble, no future", and shoved his chips forward from the big blind.
Daniel Negreanu:
Mikita Badziakouski:
The flop was great for Negreanu, giving him a pair. The kept him alive as well, but the fell on the river, giving Badziakouski the winner, and sending Negreanu out in 3rd place.
| Mikita Badziakouski | 27,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| Daniel Negreanu | 0 | -4,600,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 9:43 PM Local Time
Jason Koon Eliminated in 4th Place ($489,585)
Jason Koon shoved for his last 4.5 million from the button and Mikita Badziakouski re-raised from the small blind.
Ren Lin went deep into the tank from the big blind and burned all of his time extension before folding what he claimed to be pocket jacks.
Jason Koon:
Mikita Badziakouski:
The runout gave Badziakouski a bit of a sweat, but the river kept Badziakouski's queens best and Koon was eliminated in fourth place.
| Mikita Badziakouski | 25,000,000 | 5,000,000 |
| Jason Koon | 0 | -4,950,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 9:32 PM Local Time
Badziakouski Covers the Field
With blinds now at 200,000 and 400,000, Mikita Badziakousi has begun open shoving with his three remaining opponents all sitting around ten big blinds each, and having the full table covered.
| Mikita Badziakouski | 20,000,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Jason Koon | 4,950,000 | -1,350,000 |
| Ren Lin | 4,800,000 | -1,800,000 |
| Daniel Negreanu | 4,600,000 | -3,100,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 9:23 PM Local Time
Koon Doubles Through Badziakouski
All of the chips went into the middle preflop and it was the held by Jason Koon all-in and at-risk versus the held by Makita Badziakouski.
The dealer ran out the board of and Koon survived his all-in and secured a double up.
| Mikita Badziakouski | 18,500,000 | 875,000 |
| Jason Koon | 6,300,000 | 4,200,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 9:22 PM Local Time
Level 24 started
Level: 24
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000
Sunday, November 21, 2021 9:14 PM Local Time
Stephen Chidwick Eliminated in 5th Place ($367,153)
Stephen Chidwick was all in for his last 300,000 in the big blind and action folded around to Jason Koon in the small blind, who called to put Chidwick at risk.
Stephen Chidwick:
Jason Koon:
Chidwick was in rough shape, and the runout kept Koon in the lead — eliminating Chidwick in fifth place.
| Jason Koon | 2,100,000 | -1,500,000 |
| Stephen Chidwick | 0 | -25,000 |
Sunday, November 21, 2021 9:13 PM Local Time
Ali Imsirovic Eliminated in 6th Place ($278,840)
Ali Imsirovic raised to 975,000 in first position, leaving himself just 175,000 behind.
As he has been known to do, Lin chose to gamble in the big blind and moved all-in. Imsirovic called.
"Not like this", said Imsirovic as the cards were placed on their backs.
Ali Imsirovic:
Ren Lin:
But it was like that for Imsirovic as the flop brought a pair for Lin, and the turn and river couldn't save Imsirovic, who was eliminated in sixth place.
| Ren Lin | 6,600,000 | -100,000 |
| Ali Imsirovic | 0 | -1,200,000 |