Event #2: $10,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold'em Championship

After three days of play, one of poker's power couples were crowned champions in the inaugural $10,000 No-Limit Hold'Em Tag Team Championship. Igor Kurganov and Liv Boeree bested a field of 102 teams to win the first-place prize of $273,964.

The runner-ups in this event were the team of Ankush Mandavia and Joe Kuether. They finished just shy of the championship but take home $169,323 for their efforts.

Daniel Negreanu's team, made up of Eric Wasserson, Mark Gregorich and David Benyamine, entered Day 3 with the chip lead. However, Negreanu wasn't able to capitalize on the opportunity to win his seventh WSOP bracelet as the team bowed out in third place.

This is the first WSOP championship bracelet win for both Kurganov and Boeree, but both have amassed impressive tournament results around the world. Kurganov has over $12 million in live recorded earnings, ranking first among all Russian-born players. Boeree has over $3 million in live recorded earnings and ranks 18th all-time among English-born players.

When asked how it felt to get the win, Boeree responded with, "My mind is blown."

Added Kurganov, "The money is nice, but for me it's winning the bracelets together that matters the most when comparing the ratio of people that are happy from the cash to having the hardware."

Both players were surrounded by a massive group of friends during their winner photos and that just goes to show how well respected and liked they are within the professional community. Boeree and Kurganov said they will be donating 50% of their winnings to the Raising for Effective Giving (REG) charity.

Event #2 Final Table Results

Final Table Action

The unofficial final table of 10 came together late on Day 2 after the elimination of Team Senovio Ramirez - Juan Ramirez - Matthew Lapossie. They got their remaining chips in the middle with king-jack but ran into pocket queens of Team Martin Jacobson - Mark Radoja.

Team Paul Snead - Michael Newman - Charlemagne Benjamin came in with the third-shortest stack and were unable to spin their chips up, getting eliminated in 10th place ($17,912) after Snead got it in with pocket aces against Negreanu's kings, and the dealer peeled a king on the turn to end their run.

The official final table of nine began, and in just the sixth hand, Team Dietrich Fast - Moritz Dietrich - Jan Schwippert moved all in with pocket sevens, but they were no match for McClain's ace-six suited after they spiked an ace on the turn. The team took home $22,156 for their efforts in ninth place.

Just four short hands later, Team Connor Drinan - Mike Aron woke up to ace-queen in the small blind but ran into McClain's pocket kings and had to settle for an eighth place finish for $27,967.

An hour of play went on, and the next to go was Team J.C. Tran - Nam Le - Antonio Gutierrez. The trio shoved on the button with two black sevens and raced off with McClain's king-queen off suit. The board ran out with four hearts, and the king of hearts was good enough to send the team home in seventh place for $36,008.

Play continued on for a while until Day 2 came to an end. The remaining six players bagged their chips and came back for Day 3 on Friday. Team Daniel Negreanu bagged the chip lead, with Team Javier Gomez - Lander Lijo coming in with the shortest stack.

A little more than 30 hands went by before Team Martin Jacobson - Mark Radoja hit the rail. Radoja flopped a pair of sixes, but it was no match for Kurganov's pocket eights and his team had to settle for a payout of $47,271 for sixth place as the first elimination of the day.

Next to go in fifth place ($63,253) was Team Javier Gomez - Lander Lijo. They came in as the shortest stack, but managed to ladder up a spot. Gomez got it in with ace-ten suited but couldn't win a flip versus Negreanu's pocket nines.

Fourth place belonged to Team Anthony Ajlouny - David Fong - Mike McClain. They battled hard, but in the end they were coolered when running bottom set into top set, earning themselves a payday worth $86,237.

Three-handed play lasted over 40 hands, after which time Team Negreanu got its chips in the middle with top pair and a straight draw against Kurganov's two pair and flush draw. The river was no help and Negreanu and team hit the rail in third place for $119,753.

Heads-up play lasted 90 hands between Kurganov and Mandavia. They swapped the chip lead several times, with Kurganov holding the lead for a good chunk of time. Eventually, Mandavia found himself on the wrong end of a cooler, running the second-nut straight into the nuts. Mandavia and Kuether finished as the runners up, and Kurganov and Boeree earned their first career gold bracelets.

Hand 261: Ankush Mandavia was on the button and limped. Igor Kurganov checked. Both players checked all the way down and the board ran out        . Mandavia showed    and took down the pot.

Hand 262: Kurganov raised to 175,000 on the button and folded when Mandavia moved all in.

Hand 263: Mandavia was on the button and bet 125,000. Kurganov called and both players checked it down. The board ran out         and Kurganov won after showing the   .

Hand 264: Kurganov raised the button and took it down.

Hand 265: Mandavia limped on the button and Kurganov checked. The flop was     and Kurganov check-called Mandavia's bet of 60,000. The turn was the   and Kurganov check-folded to Mandavias bet of 150,000.

Hand 266: Kurganov raised on the button and Mandavia folded.

Hand 267: Mandavia was on the button and limped in. Kurganov raised in the big blind to 210,000. Mandavia reraised to 550,000 and Kurganov announced all in. Mandavia quickly folded his hand.

Hand 247: Igor Kurganov got a walk.

Hand 248: Kurganov was on the button and raised to 125,000. Mandavia called.

The flop was     and Mandavia checked. Kurganov bet 80,000 and Mandavia check-raised to 200,000. Kurganov called.

The turn was the   and Mandavia check-folded to Kurganov's bet of 225,000.

Hand 249: Kurganov got a walk.

Hand 250: Kurganov was on the button and raised to 125,000. Mandavia called.

The flop was     and both players checked to the river. The turn was the   and the river was the  .

Mandavia checked on the river and Kurganov bet 125,000. Mandavia folded.

Hand 251: Mandavia limped in on the button and Kurganov checked.

The flop was     and both players checked. The turn was the   and Kurganov bet 125,000 and took down the pot.

Hand 236: Igor Kurganov won a small pot as Ankush Mandavia folded.

Hand 237: Mandavia opened for 120,000 and Kurganov called. Kurganov check-called 100,000 on     before they both checked the   on the turn and   on the river. The action on the river went so quick that we missed the cards, but Kurganov took down the pot.

Hand 238: Kurganov shoved and Mandavia folded.

Hand 239: Mandavia gave Kurganov a walk.

Hand 240: Kurganov limped in and Mandavia checked. Both checked on     and Kurganov took down the pot with a bet of 100,000 on the   turn as Mandavia check-folded.

Hand 241: Mandavia opened for 125,000 and Kurganov called. Kurganov check-folded to a bet of 100,000 on    .

Hand 242: Kurganov opened for 120,000 and Mandavia called. Both checked on     and the   on the turn was seen for free. Mandavia bet 125,000 and Kurganov called. The latter folded to a bet of 400,000 on the   river. The pot went to Mandavia.

Hand 243: Kurganov opened for 125,000 and Mandavia called. The two of them checked down the entire board of       and the pot went to Mandavia who showed   .

Hand 226: Igor Kurganov opened the button for 100,000 and Ankush Mandavia called. Both checked the flop of     before Mandavia bet 125,000 on the   turn. Kurganov called in position and called Mandavia's big bet of 600,000 on the   river as well. Mandavia tabled    for a straight and Kurganov mucked   .

Hand 227: Mandavia opened the button for 100,000 and Kurganov called. Again, both checked the flop of     and the   hit the turn. Kurganov check-called a bet of 100,000 before leading 125,000 on the   river. Mandavia called with    and had Kurganov crushed whose    ended up in the muck.

Hand 228: Kurganov opened for 100,000 and Mandavia folded.

Hand 229: Mandavia gave Kurganov a walk.

Hand 230: Kurganov opened the button for 100,000 and Mandavia called. The flop of     saw both players check and the   hit the turn. Mandavia check-called a bet of 75,000 and both checked again on the   river. Mandavia tabled    and Kurganov mucked.

Hand 231: Mandavia opened for 100,000 and Kurganov called. Kurganov check-called 100,000 on     before they both checked the   on the turn. Kurganov bet 300,000 on the   river and Mandavia folded.

Hand 232: Kurganov opened for 100,000 and Mandavia called. Mandavia checked on     and called as Kurganov bet 150,000. Mandavia check-called another 375,000 on the   turn and the   completed the board. Both checked and Mandavia showed   . That wasn't good enough as Kurganov tabled    for the rivered top pair.

Hand 233: Mandavia opened the button for 100,000 and Kurganov called. Two checks came on     before Kurganov took down the pot with a bet of 150,000 on the   turn.

Hand 234: Kurganov opened for 100,000 and Mandavia called. Mandavia then check-folded to a bet of 155,000 on    .

Hand 235: Mandavia opened for 100,000 and Kurganov folded.

Liv Boeree - Igor Kurganov	3,630,000	1,080,000
Ankush Mandavia - Joe Kuether	1,470,000	-1,080,000

Hand 208: Igor Kurganov got a walk.

Hand 209: Ankush Mandavia raised to 100,000 on the button and Kurganov called. The flop came     and Kurganov check-called a bet of 100,000 from Mandavia. The turn was the   and both players checked to the river, which was the  . Kurganov checked, Mandavia bet 200,000, and Kurganov folded.

Hand 210: Kurganov limped in and Mandavia raised to 150,000. Kurganov folded.

Hand 211: Mandavia raised to 100,000 and Kurganov called. The flop came     and Kurganov check-folded to a bet of 100,000 from Mandavia.

Hand 212: Kurganov raised to 100,000 and Mandavia called. The flop came     and both players checked to the turn, which was the  . Mandavia check-folded to a bet of 155,000 from Kurganov.

Hand 213: Mandavia raised to 100,000 and got no action.

Hand 214: Kurganov limped in and Mandavia checked his option. The flop came     and Mandavia check-folded to a bet of 50,000 from Kurganov.

Hand 190: Igor Kurganov limped on the button and Ankush Mandavia checked in the big blind.

The flop was     and both players checked. The turn was the   and they checked again. The river was the   and mandavia check-folded after Kurganov bet 75,000.

Hand 191: Kurganov got a walk.

Hand 192: Kurganov raised to 100,000 on the button and Mandavia called in the big blind.

The flop was     and action was checked. The turn was the   and they checked again. The river was the   and, again, both players checked. Kurganov showed    and took down the pot.

Hand 193: Mandavia raised to 100,000 on the button and Kurganov defended his big blind.

The flop was     and both players checked to the turn which was the  .

Kurganov bet 210,000 and Mandavia folded.

Hand 194: Kurganov was on the button and raised to 100,000. Mandavia called.

The flop was     and both players checked. The turn was the   and Mandavia bet 100,000. Kurganov called.

The river was the   and Mandavia bet 200,000 and got a fold out of Kurganov.

Hand 195: Mandavia raised to 100,000 on the button and took it down.

Hand 196: Kurganov limped in on the button and Mandavia checked in the big blind.

The flop was     and both players checked. The turn was the   and Mandavia bet 60,000. Kurganov called.

The river was the   and Mandavia checked. Kurganov fired out a bet of 300,000 and took down the pot.

Hand 197: Mandavia limped on the button and Kurganov checked in the big blind.

The flop was     and Kurganov check-folded to Mandavia's bet of 50,000.

Hand 198: Kurganov was on the button and moved all in. Mandavia called in the big blind with 920,000 remaining.

Mandavia tabled    and Kurganov showed   .

The board ran out         and Mandavia got the double.

Hand 199: Mandavia was on the button and raised to 100,000. Kurganov called in the big blind.

The flop was     and Kurganov check-called Mandavia's bet of 100,000.

The turn was the   and both players checked. The river was the   and Kurganov led for 140,000. Mandavia raised to 700,000 and Kurganov folded.

Hand 200: Kurganov was on the button and raised to 100,000. Mandavia called.

The flop was     and both players checked. The turn was the   and Mandavia check-folded after Kurganov bet 155,000.

Hand 201: Mandavia was on the button and raised to 100,000. Kurganov called.

The flop was     and Kurganov check-called a bet of 100,000 from Mandavia.

The turn was the   and both players checked.

The river was the   and Kurganov bet 140,000. Mandavia raised to 500,000 and Kurganov folded.

Players are now very even in chips. Mandavia has about 2,400,000 while Kurganov has 2,600,000.

Hand 188: Igor Kurganov raised to 100,000 on the button and got no action.

Hand 189: Ankush Mandavia raised to 100,000 on the button and Kurganov called. The flop came     and Kurganov check-called a bet of 100,000 from Mandavia. The turn was the   and both players checked to the river, which was the  . Kurganov led out for 280,000 and Mandavia mucked.

Hand 179: Igor Kurganov limped in on the button and Ankush Mandavia checked. The flop came     and Mandavia check-called a bet of 40,000 from Kurganov. The turn was the   and both players checked to the river, which was the  . Both players checked and Mandavia showed    for a pair of threes, but the    of Kurganov was best with a queen kicker.

Hand 180: Mandavia raised to 80,000 on the button and Kurganov called. The flop came     and Kurganov check-folded to a bet of 80,000 from Mandavia.

Hand 181: Kurganov raised to 90,000 on the button and Mandavia called. The flop came     and both players checked to the turn, which was the  . Mandavia checked, Kurganov bet 145,000 and Mandavia folded.

Hand 182: Mandavia raised to 80,000 on the button and Kurganov called. The flop came     and Kurganov check-called a bet of 80,000 from Mandavia. The turn was the   and both players checked. The river was the   and Kurganov led out for 165,000. Mandavia raised to 400,000 and Kurganov folded.

Hand 183: Kurganov got a walk.

Hand 184: Kurganov raised to 90,000 on the button and Mandavia called. The flop came     and Mandavia check-called a bet of 50,000 from Kurganov. The turn was the   and both players checked to the river, which was the  . Mandavia led out for 200,000 and Kurganov snap-called. Mandavia tabled    and Kurganov mucked.

Hand 185: Mandavia raised to 80,000 on the button and Kurganov called. The flop came     and Kurganov check-folded to a bet of 80,000 from Mandavia.

Hand 186: Kurganov raised to 90,000 on the button and got no action.

Hand 187: Mandavia raised to 80,000 on the button and Kurganov called. The flop came     and Kurganov check-called a bet of 80,000 from Mandavia. The turn was the   and Kurganov check-called a bet of 175,000 Mandavia this time. The river was the   and Kurganov checked for a third time. Mandavia bet 375,000 and Kurganov snap-called. Mandavia tabled    for the nut straight, but Kurganov tabled    for a flush.

Liv Boeree - Igor Kurganov	3,550,000	100,000
Ankush Mandavia - Joe Kuether	1,550,000	-100,000

Hand 178: Daniel Negreanu raised to 90,000 on the button and Igor Kurganov three-bet to 290,000 from the big blind. Negreanu called.

The flop came     and Kurganov led out for 185,000. Negreanu called.

The turn was the   and Kurganov moved all in for 1,400,000. Negreanu had about 1,050,000 behind and eventually called.

Negreanu tabled    for a pair and a straight draw and Kurganov showed    for two pairs with a flush draw.

The river was the   and Kurganov made a flush for good measure, sending Negreanu to the rail in third place.

The remaining two players are guaranteed a payout of $169,323, with the eventual winner receiving $273,964 and the coveted WSOP gold bracelet.

Liv Boeree - Igor Kurganov	3,450,000	1,250,000
Ankush Mandavia - Joe Kuether	1,650,000	150,000
Daniel Negreanu - Eric Wasserson - David Benyamine - Mark Gregorich	0	-1,500,000