Igor Kurganov Leads partypoker MILLIONS UK High Roller Finale as Bubble Looms
Day 1 of the partypoker MILLIONS UK High Roller Finale attracted just 25 players and a possible overlay loomed for partypoker. With a million dollars guaranteed, the tournament was in need of 75 more players or the organizers would need to pay out of pocket to make up the difference.
What seemed like a daunting task proved not as much of a problem as one might have expected at the start of the day. Before play got underway on Day 2 of the $10,300 event, several new players had signed up. And with four levels of time for players to sign up or reenter, players kept showing up. As more players busted from the Main, more players signed up for the high roller. By the time registration closed, a massive 70 more entries were done for 95 total. Still five shy of the 100 needed to make the guarantee, but it was close.
The $1,000,000 prize pool will be divided over 13 places paid with a min cash worth $25,000. The top prize is $250,000 with the runner-up taking home $165,000 while bronze gets $115,000.
partypoker’s own John Duthie was the first player to sign up for the event on Day 1 and faired well on Day 2 as well. He led the tournament in the first break and found himself at the top of the leaderboard throughout the day. Duthie was joined by the likes of Alex Foxen, Igor Kurganov, and Kahle Burns atop the counts throughout the day and all would make it to Day 3. After the 14th level wrapped up, 17 players remained and the bagging and tagging got underway.
Day 3 of the event gets underway at noon with the remaining players soon playing the bubble. Play starts with blinds at 60,000 and 120,000. Igor Kurganov leads with 15,100,000 in chips, followed by partypoker’s Joao Simao (10,730,000) and John Duthie (9,995,000). Tibor Nagygyorgy (1,850,000), Sirzat Hissou (2,210,000), and Fahad Althani (2,370,000) find themselves the shortest of the bunch with Anatoly Filatov and Kristen Bicknell also in unsafe waters still.
| Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
| 32 | 1 | Anatoly Filatov | Russia | 2,600,000 | 22 |
| 2 | Joni Jouhkimainen | Finland | 2,800,000 | 23 | |
| 4 | Sirzat Hissou | Germany | 2,210,000 | 18 | |
| 5 | Michael Sklenicka | Czech Republic | 6,285,000 | 52 | |
| 6 | Daniel Rezaei | Austria | 5,025,000 | 42 | |
| 8 | Kahle Burns | Australia | 5,315,000 | 44 | |
| 33 | 1 | John Duthie | United Kingdom | 9,995,000 | 83 |
| 2 | Igor Kurganov | Russia | 15,100,000 | 126 | |
| 4 | Tibor Nagygyorgy | Hungary | 1,850,000 | 15 | |
| 5 | Bruno Fitoussi | France | 4,350,000 | 36 | |
| 6 | Joao Vieira | Portugal | 7,800,000 | 65 | |
| 8 | Luke Reeves | United Kingdom | 4,075,000 | 34 | |
| 34 | 1 | Fahad Althani | United Kingdom | 2,370,000 | 20 |
| 2 | Alex Foxen | United States | 8,925,000 | 74 | |
| 5 | Kristen Bicknell | Canada | 2,625,000 | 22 | |
| 6 | Joao Simao | Brazil | 10,730,000 | 89 | |
| 8 | Marcel Luske | Netherlands | 2,995,000 | 25 |
Full High Roller Finale Chip Counts
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Joao Simao | 12,500,000 |
10,220,000  |
| John Duthie | 10,700,000 |
8,150,000 |
| Per Siden | 9,900,000 |
5,010,006 |
| Daniel Rezaei | 8,300,000 |
4,680,000 |
| Alex Foxen | 7,700,000 |
3,430,000 |
| Igor Kurganov | 5,650,000 |
3,150,000 |
| Fahad Althani | 4,200,000 |
1,375,000 |
| Christopher Fraser | 4,000,000 |
1,700,000 |
| Joao Vieira | 3,900,000 |
1,690,000 |
| Anatoly Filatov | 3,600,000 |
325,000 |
| Kristen Bicknell | 3,550,000 |
550,000 |
| Marcel Luske | 3,400,000 |
2,400,000 |
| Sirzat Hissou | 3,100,000 |
1,180,000 |
| Bruno Fitoussi | 2,600,000 |
1,600,000 |
| Fabrizio Gonzalez | 2,250,000 |
-800,000  |
| Luke Reeves | 2,100,000 |
1,100,000 |
| Tibor Nagygyorgy | 1,820,000 |
955,000 |
| Thomas Hall | 550,000 |
-450,000 |
| Joni Jouhkimainen | 500,000 |
-2,500,000 |
| Kahle Burns | Busted |
-5,070,000 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | Busted |
-4,285,000 |
| Michael Sklenicka | Busted |
-3,350,000 |
Three Table Line-Up
| Table | Seat | Player |
| 41 | 1 | Joao Simao |
| 41 | 2 | Igor Kurganov |
| 41 | 3 | Anatoly Filatov |
| 41 | 4 | Alex Foxen |
| 41 | 5 | Fabrizio Gonzalez |
| 41 | 6 | Tibor Nagygyorgy |
| 41 | 7 | Per Siden |
| 41 | 8 | |
| 42 | 1 | |
| 42 | 2 | Sirzat Hissou |
| 42 | 3 | Fahad Althani |
| 42 | 4 | Joao Vieira |
| 42 | 5 | Marcel Luske |
| 42 | 6 | Daniel Rezaei |
| 42 | 7 | Alexandros Kolonias |
| 42 | 8 | Joni Jouhkimainen |
| 43 | 1 | Christopher Fraser |
| 43 | 2 | John Duthie |
| 43 | 3 | Kristen Bicknell |
| 43 | 4 | Luke Reeves |
| 43 | 5 | Kahle Burns |
| 43 | 6 | Bruno Fitoussi |
| 43 | 7 | Thomas Hall |
| 43 | 8 | Michael Sklenicka |
Prizes Announced
Thirteen players will take home a share of the million dollar prizepool in the $10,300 High Roller Finale:
| Place | Prize |
| 1 | $250,000 |
| 2 | $165,000 |
| 3 | $115,000 |
| 4 | $90,000 |
| 5 | $70,000 |
| 6 | $55,000 |
| 7 | $ 45,000 |
| 8 | $35,000 |
| 9 | $35,000 |
| 10 | $30,000 |
| 11 | $30,000 |
| 12 | $25,000 |
| 13 | $25,000 |
Late Registration Closes, Slightest of Overlays in the Finale
Level 11 has begun, which means the end of late registration and the beginning of true bustouts with no chance for a fresh million chips. Pending confirmation, there were 95 entries into this $10,300 event, so the prizepool is as it was: $1,000,000. Payout information will be available shortly.
Last minute entrants include a few who only busted the Main Event in the last few levels – Niall Farrell, Fabrizio Gonzalez and Per Siden among them.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Kahle Burns | 5,070,000 |
2,870,000 |
| Per Siden | 4,889,994 |
3,889,994 |
| Alexandros Kolonias | 4,285,000 |
2,645,000 |
| Alex Foxen | 4,270,000 |
-180,000 |
| Daniel Rezaei | 3,620,000 |
2,620,000 |
| Bartlomiej Machon | 3,515,000 |
2,515,000 |
| Michael Sklenicka | 3,350,000 |
2,350,000 |
| Anatoly Filatov | 3,275,000 |
2,275,000 |
| Christopher Kyriacou | 3,225,000 |
2,225,000 |
| Fabrizio Gonzalez | 3,050,000 |
2,050,000 |
| Roberto Romanello | 1,260,000 |
260,000 |
| Niall Farrell | 1,000,000 | - |
| Bertrand Grospellier | 1,000,000 | - |
| Luke Reeves | 1,000,000 | - |
Spotlight on Table 42
The number of players seems to be static in the High Roller finale, but that’s because for every exit there’s an entry (often by one and the same person). This level (10) is the last one for registration, however, so soon the atmosphere might be a bit more serious.
Table 42 sees the chatty triumvirate of John Duthie, Christoph Vogelsang and Igor Kurganov sat next to each other in seats six to eight, and they seem to be getting on famously. When action threatens, however, it goes quieter. An example:
Duthie opened for 80,000, called by button Kurganov. Big blind Morten Klein raised to 240,000. Duthie called quickly while Kurganov checked his stack (approx. 1,000,000 behind) before calling, too.
The flop came down [as7s5s]. Klein and Duthie checked; Kurganov bet 225,000. Neither player made the call but Kurganov flashed them the [ad] anyway. Full Table 42 chip counts below.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| John Duthie | 2,550,000 |
-565,000 |
| Igor Kurganov | 2,500,000 |
600,000 |
| Sirzat Hissou | 1,920,000 |
330,000 |
| Christoph Vogelsang | 1,480,000 |
1,235,000 |
| Morten Klein | 930,000 |
-70,000 |
| Stan Topol | 300,000 |
-700,000 |
Alex Foxen Pulls Away as Chip Leader
The first and only player to top four million chips in the High Roller Finale so far is Alex Foxen, who pushes John Duthie into second. The field is still growing, and with two one-hour levels left of late registration, it looks like that $1,000,000 guarantee may yet be met – and surpassed.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Foxen | 4,450,000 |
1,800,000 |
| John Duthie | 3,115,000 |
-85,000 |
| Kristen Bicknell | 3,000,000 |
400,000 |
| Joni Jouhkimainen | 3,000,000 |
825,000 |
| Matas Cimbolas | 2,800,000 |
1,800,000 |
| Bartolomiej Machon | 2,605,000 |
1,605,000 |
| Paul Byrne | 2,380,000 |
80,000 |
| Joao Simao | 2,280,000 |
180,000 |
| Joao Vieira | 2,210,000 |
1,210,000 |
| Kahle Burns | 2,200,000 |
1,200,000 |
High Roller Finale: Chip Leaders
John Duthie has slightly extended his chip lead in the opening levels of Day 2 in the $10,300 High Roller Finale. Creeping up on him in chips are both Alex Foxen and Kristen Bicknell (on different tables, for a change).
Bicknell added a few chop-pot chips to her stack after taking on Bartolomiej Machon preflop for his full 990,000 stack with [tstc], only to find him with [thtd]. They both made a straight on the [qhjs9d8d3h] board.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| John Duthie | 3,200,000 |
245,000 |
| Alex Foxen | 2,650,000 |
565,000 |
| Kristen Bicknell | 2,600,000 |
855,000 |
| Christopher Fraser | 2,300,000 |
1,300,000 |
| Paul Byrne | 2,300,000 |
-10,000 |
| Joni Jouhkimainen | 2,175,000 |
95,000 |
| Joao Simao | 2,100,000 |
1,100,000 |
High Roller Finale Back in Action
A few more players (see below) took their seats before the first cards of Day 2 hit the air, and we expect late entries to continue at a steady pace.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Pollak | 1,000,000 | - |
| Ryan Riess | 1,000,000 |
440,000 |
| Joao Vieira | 1,000,000 | - |
| Morten Klein | 1,000,000 |
-150,000 |
| Daniel Rezaei | 1,000,000 | - |
| Christopher Fraser | 1,000,000 | - |
| Michael Sklenicka | 1,000,000 | - |
| Preben Stokkan | 1,000,000 | - |
| Govert Metaal | 1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
| Felix Bleiker | 1,000,000 | - |
| Ian Gascoigne | 1,000,000 | - |
Day 2 of the $10,300 High Roller Finale Set to Commence
The 13 survivors from the first day’s play in the MILLIONS UK $10,300 High Roller Finale have already been joined by four Day 2 starters, and we expect there to be a moderate revolving door for early bust-outs as unlimited re-entry is allowed until 6:30pm (four levels).
John Duthie returns as chip leader with a whisker shy of three million chips (blinds 10,000/20,000), in pole position but still with a long way to go in this three-day battle of the high rollers. Christoph Vogelsang (pictured) is the starting short stack with just over 12 big blinds.
The prize pool will be announced after the end of registration; we do know that it is a guaranteed $1,000,000.
Updates and chip counts will be posted hourly during Day 2.
| Player | Chips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Manuel Ruivo | 1,000,000 | - |
| Christopher Kromidias | 1,000,000 | - |
| Thomas Hall | 1,000,000 | - |
| Christopher Kyriacou | 1,000,000 | - |
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