$3,000 HORSE (Event #87)

Last year, Denis Strebkov stunned the world, winning unprecedented five titles in the online world championships. The well-versed Russian player arrived at 2019 World Series of Poker to showcase his versatility and he'd made it to three final tables during the recent few weeks.

He would eventually add a number four to his name, and it would be the most precious one. Strebkov joined the final mixed-game event of the series, the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. and he took it down, beating a field of 301 entries. Strebkov claimed the $206,173 first-prize and his first career bracelet, adding the handsome wristwear to his trophy cabinet.

Strebkov maybe didn't even expect to nab the title in the final hours of this year's WSOP. He was bound to be on a plane home, but the first two days of the H.O.R.S.E. event saw him navigate his way among the final 14.

"I had my flight booked for today, so I had to reschedule after Day 2," Strebkov said.

Still, his chances weren't too exciting. Strebkov was sitting third from the bottom when play resumed. But ultimately, the final outcome resembled a flipout, with the final table hitting a long stalemate following Albert Shim's elimination in ninth place.

Final table results:

The next two hours didn't bring any knockout and the stacks got incredibly shallow. It was anyone's game. A streak of two or three made hands could completely reshuffle the leaderboard. Ultimately, it was Paul Volpe who broke the deadlock, departing in eighth. Jim Collopy followed him to the rail shortly thereafter.

Strebkov himself experienced both of the extreme situations. He held the lead for a while, then he nearly touched the ground with five players left. Down to one big bet, Strebkov immediately bounced back with a double up, followed by a triple up.

Strebkov's fellow countrymen Konstantin Puchkov and Andrey Zaichenko went through similar swings. Puchkov was eventually knocked out in sixth and Zaichenko fell in fifth, courtesy of Strebkov.

While Puchkov and Zaichenko were denied a chance to pair their respective bracelets, Strebkov was eager to bring it home. Zaichenko stayed on the rail to support his friend.

"Andrey told me, 'You have to win!'" Strebkov said.

Strebkov played with a maximum concentration, but he knew that wouldn't be enough. With the average stack around eight big bets, the margin for error was very small.

"We were so shallow that it was about who would get lucky."

Strebkov credited all his opponents, saying they all played very well. It had to come down to good cards, and that was something that sank Brian Hastings' chance of a back-to-back victory.

Hastings couldn't win a hand for a few game rotations and he lost a huge portion of his stack. Nick Guagenti busted Hastings in fouth in stud hi-lo, and while Guagenti held the chip lead with three players left, he wouldn't make it to the heads-up match.

With the bracelet on the line, Strebkov and Paul Tedeschi both eyed their debut triumph at WSOP. Their chances very pretty much even.

Played in an electric atmosphere provided by the Italian and German rails at the centre stage (rooting for their favorites in the Main Event), Strebkov and Tedeschi needed to keep their focus.

"It was great. It was like at a football stadium. I enjoyed that," Strebkov said.

Strebkov pulled ahead and he had a solid chance to finish off Tedeschi in stud hi-lo, but Tedeschi found a double.

He was, however, still short stack and the tournament found its champion on the very next hand, with Strebkov hitting his flush draw in hold'em. The ace of hearts on the turn left Tedeschi drawing dead and the Frenchman knew that he would have to wait for his bracelet.

With most of the tables folded and chairs stacked up, Strebkov left the Amazon room for one last time this summer. This time, it was with a bracelet on his wrist.

Stud Hi-Lo

Denis Strebkov and Paul Tedeschi were all in on third street for Tedeschi's 170,000.

Strebkov:    /      /  
Tedeschi:    /      /  

Tedeschi finished with a pair of jacks and he doubled as Strebkov completely missed.

Denis Strebkov	2,640,000	-3,190,000
Paul Tedeschi	380,000	190,000

Stud Hi-Lo

Denis Strebkov completed, Paul Tedeschi called and Tedeschi called a bet from Strebkov on fourth.

Strebkov paired his king on fifth while Tedeschi hit third low card. Strebkov bet and Tedeschi called and Strebkov received one more call on sixth.

The river saw Strebkov fire again and Tedeschi knuckled the felt in a sign of defeat, mucking his hand thereafter.

Strebkov:     /     
Tedeschi:     /     

Denis Strebkov	3,780,000	520,000
Paul Tedeschi	2,240,000	-520,000

Stud

Paul Tedeschi raised, Denis Strebkov called, and Tedeschi bet again on fourth. Strebkov called again.

Both checked fifth street and Tedeschi raised Strebkov's bet on sixth. Strebkov called.

Tedeschi fired on the river and Strebkov called but he mucked when Tedeschi showed     for two pair.

Strebkov:     /     
Tedeschi:     /     

Denis Strebkov	3,730,000	-610,000
Paul Tedeschi	2,290,000	610,000

Razz

Denis Strebkov completed, Paul Tedeschi raised, Strebkov three-bet, and Tedeschi called.

Tedeschi called another bet on fourth but he gave up to Strebkov's barrel on fifth.

Strebkov:    /    
Tedeschi:    /     (fold)

Denis Strebkov	3,605,000	0
Paul Tedeschi	2,415,000	0

Omaha Hi-Lo

Paul Tedeschi raised his button, Denis Strebkov three-bet and Tedeschi called.

Strebkov barrelled all streets of the       and Tedeschi called him down, showing      for a straight and a low. Strebkov had ace-deuce and he had to concede the whole pot.

Paul Tedeschi	3,685,000	765,000
Denis Strebkov	2,335,000	-765,000

Hold'em

Denis Strebkov raised the button and Paul Tedeschi three-bet the big. Strebkov called, and then called a bet on the     flop.

The turn fell the   and Tedeschi bet and Strebkov folded.

Paul Tedeschi	3,480,000	335,000
Denis Strebkov	2,540,000	-335,000

Stud

Denis Strebkov completed and Paul Tedeschi called. Strebkov barrelled on fourth and fifth, but Tedeschi decided to waive the white flag on fifth.

Strebkov:    /    
Tedeschi:    /     (fold)

Denis Strebkov	3,170,000	295,000
Paul Tedeschi	2,850,000	-295,000

Razz

Nick Guagenti had the bring-in and Denis Strebkov completed. Paul Tedeschi made it two bets to go, and both Guagenti and Strebkov called.

Strebkov bet fourth and both players called, and when Strebkov led fifth, Tedeschi called and Guagenti raised all in for 350,000 total. Strebkov and Tedeschi each called, and on sixth, Strebkov bet and Tedeschi called.

Guagenti:    /      /  
Strebkov:    /      /  
Tedeschi:    /      /  

On seventh, Strebkov bet and Tedeschi folded.

Strebkov tabled his     for a eight-seven low as Guagenti revealed his    before he squeezed his   to make a worse eight-low and would consequently be eliminated in third place for a $85,265 payday.

Denis Strebkov	3,025,000	1,425,000
Paul Tedeschi	2,995,000	-985,000
Nick Guagenti	0	-650,000