Event #36: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed

Nadar Kakhmazov took down Event #35: No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed for $580,338 to win his first bracelet and Russia's third of the 2017 World Series of Poker after Vladimir Shchemelev's victory earlier this week and Igor Kurganov's win as part of the tag-team event.

After coming into the day third in chips, he took advantage of other players faltering and stamped his trademark aggression and unreadability on proceedings, taking a huge chip lead into heads-up play, and besting a final table including bracelet winner Sam Soverel, November Niner Kenny Hallaert, and Faraz Jaka.

Six-handed play started with Faraz Jaka chip leading, but it didn't take long for Hunichen to get his chips in the middle in search of a double-up. Eventually, he was called by Jaka, and Hunichen's pocket jacks held against the overnight chip leader, leaving Jaka in search of a double.

Although Jaka was the table short stack, it was Christian Rudolph who was eliminated next when his king-queen failed to overcome the ace-queen of then chip leader Hunichen. Rudolph would take home $79,611 for his sixth-place finish.

It was then the turn of Jaka to look for a spot to double up. He got ace-nine in against Kenny Hallaert's ace-king and, although there was a nine on the flop, there was a king as well, and Jaka failed to find another nine, exiting in fifth place ($112,585).

With this elimination, Hallaert closed the gap on Hunichen's chip lead, and, when Sam Soverel doubled through Hunichen, it was Nadar Kakhmazov who took over the chip lead. The Russian would grow his chip lead until the elimination of Sam Soverel in fourth place ($162,257).

Soverel held pocket sevens against the pocket tens of Hallaert and, with no help on the flop, play was down to three-handed with Hallaert and Hunichen holding fairly equal stacks and Kakhmazov out in front.

Kakhmazov had already pushed his lead out further before the elimination of Hallaert. On a deuce-five-four-six board, Kakhmazov moved all in, putting the Belgian at risk. Hallaert eventually called with pocket sevens, but Kakhmazov had a set of fours. There was no help for Hallaert on the river and he exited in third place ($238,855).

Heads-up play started with Chris Hunichen doubling through his Russian opponent, but, after some aggressive play, the Russian forged another big lead in chips and finally closed it out for the title, WSOP bracelet, and nearly $600K in prize money.

"I am very happy," said Kakhmazov after his victory. "I have wanted to do this for three years but every time I lose two big pots deep in the tournament. I like it. I'm happy."

This has been a great summer for Kakhmazov, having taken down an event at the Venetian earlier this month for $440,029 and now his success here at the World Series.

"I try all the time to play better and better," he said. "It's great for Russian poker.

"I'm going to play the 10K 6-Max now, and then the 25K PLO, the Main Event. I'm feeling too good!"

Hand #113: Nadar Kakhmazov limped and Chris Hunichen raised to 350,000. Kakhmazov called. The flop was     and Hunichen bet 320,000. Kakhmazov folded.

Nadar Kakhmazov	9,800,000	-365,000
Chris Hunichen	4,555,000	365,000

Hand #102: Chris Hunichen raised to 250,000. Nadar Kakhmazov called. Kakhmazov checked the     flop and Hunichen bet 175,000. Kakhmazov called. The turn was the   and both players checked. The river was the   and both players checked. Kakhmazov showed    and took down the pot.

Hand #103: Kakhmazov raised to 225,000. Hunichen three-bet to 700,000. Kakhmazov called. The flop was    . Both players checked. The turn was the  . Hunichen bet 800,000 and Kakhmazov called.

The river was the  . Hunichen moved all in for 1,830,000. Kakhmazov called.

Hunichen showed    for a set of nines and Kakhmazov showed   . Hunichen doubled up.

Nadar Kakhmazov	7,665,000	-2,700,000
Chris Hunichen	6,690,000	2,700,000

Hand #96: Chris Hunichen raised to 225,000. Nadar Kakhmazov called. The flop came     and Kakhmazov checked to Hunichen who bet 250,000. Kakhmazov folded.

Hand #97: Kakhmazov raised to 225,000 and Hunichen three-bet to 800,000. Kakhmazov folded.

Hand #98: Hunichen raised to 250,000. Kakhmazov called. The flop was    . Both players checked. The turn was the  . Both players checked. The river was the  . Kakhmazov bet 300,000. Hunichen folded.

Hand #99: Kakhmazov raised to 250,000 and Hunichen folded.

Hand #100: Hunichen limped and Kakhmazov raised to 300,000. Hunichen called. The flop was     and Kakhmazov bet 400,000. Hunichen folded.

Hand #101: Kakhmazov raised to 225,000. Hunichen folded.

Following the elimination of Kenny Hallaert in third place on the last hand of the level, both Nadar Kakhmazov and Chis Hunichen will begin heads-up play at the beginning of Level 30.

Here is how the two will line up as they battle for the $580,338 first prize and WSOP gold bracelet:

Nadar Kakhmazov	10,695,000	0
Chris Hunichen	3,660,000	0

Players are going on a schedule 20-minute break and will return to start heads-up play at around 16:45 local time.

Hand #83: Nadar Kakhmazov raised to 160,000. Kenny Hallaert called. The flop was    . Hallaert check-raised Kakhmazov's bet of 180,000 to 450,000. Kakhmazov called.

The turn was the   and Hallaert check-folded to a bet of 580,000 from Kakhmazov.

Hand #84: Chris Hunichen raised to 180,000. Nadar Kakhmazov called. The flop was    . Kakhmazov check-folded to a bet of 165,000.

Hand #85: Kenny Hallaert raised to 165,000 from the button and Nadar Kakhmazov three-bet to 530,000. Hallaert called. The flop was    . Both players checked. The turn was the  . Kakhmazov bet 640,000 and Hallaert folded.

Nadar Kakhmazov	6,530,000	1,110,000
Chris Hunichen	4,060,000	100,000
Kenny Hallaert	3,810,000	-1,210,000

Hand #77: Nadar Kakhmazov opened to 180,000. Chris Hunichen three-bet to 575,000 and Kakhmazov folded.

Hand #78: Nadar Kakhmazov received a walk in the big blind.

Hand #79: Nadar Kakhmazov called in the small blind and Chris Hunichen raised to 280,000. Kakhmazov folded.

Hand #80: Nadar Kakhmazov raised to 160,000. Kenny Hallaert called in the big blind.

The flop was    . Hallaert check-called a bet from Kakhmazov of 160,000. The turn was the   and both players checked. The river was the  . Both players checked again. Hallaert showed    and took down the pot.

Kenny Hallaert	5,480,000	230,000
Chris Hunichen	4,900,000	320,000
Nadar Kakhmazov	4,020,000	-550,000