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Archive for the ‘alexkravchenko’ Category


EPT Kyiv: The man in red

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Finally, an EPT event a little closer to home for Team PokerStars Pro Alex Kravchenko, at least geographically, and one where unlike many, he'll be at an advantage when it comes to reading road signs and working out just where the hell he is on the hotel tourist map.

Kravchenko is riding out a great year. Even before his six cashes at this year's World Series, which included a fifth place finish in the $5,000 pot limit Omaha hi-lo, Kravchenko made the final of the Moscow leg of the Russian Poker Tour and had cashed three times in EPT season five in Budapest, San Remo and Monte Carlo. Oh yes, before heading back from Vegas to his home side of the Atlantic he finished 13th in the WPT at Bellagio.

_MG_5353_Alex_Kravchenko_EPT6Kyiv_Neil_Stoddart.jpg
Alex Kravchenko


It's a leisurely start for the former bracelet winner, surrounded by countryman wearing shades and square jaws out to look mean and cause some trouble at the table. But you'd be hard pressed to beat Kravchenko in that department, in his own trademark red Adidas Teddy KGB zip-up. It's the standard uniform of Kravchenko, along with aviator shades and a stoic expression that shouts silence.

Today though that look has been replaced by its summer equivalent - the red short sleeved version and short trousers, better able to combat the 28 degree roaring sunshine outside and the modestly whirring air conditioning inside.

While Kravchenko isn't letting the heat cause him grief, the waves of sunshine perhaps not brave enough to disturb the Russian's poker reverie, one or two others are working up a sweat in some early escapades. While the Team PokerStars Pro settles for uncontested pots the likes of Dominykas Karmazinas and Yevgeny Zaitsev are getting chips in on every hand, the latter seemingly re-raised whenever he pick a moment to bet himself.

"You can fold to my raises, you know?" said Zaitsev, to anyone who would listen, before disappearing back under his headphones and own frustration. No one admits to listening but the same thing happens on the next hand and again on the next. He could use a red zip-up top as level three ticks on.


* * * * *

FEATURE SEAT UPDATE OF THE HOUR

Currently empty after Stanilev Shihkarev was moved to a new table...

* * * * *

HAND OF THE HOUR

A straight flush in the hands of Luca Giovannine. The board began innocuous: [7h][6s][5s] but the [3s][4s] on turn and river matched very nicely with Giovannine's [7s]. It was good, funnily enough.

* * * * *

INTERESTING FACT OF THE HOUR

The name Yevgeny is the Russian version of the name Eugene.


WSOP Event #27: Alex Kravchenko finishes 5th for $53,881

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

wsop2009_thn.gifSo close yet so far for Team PokerStars Pro Alex Kravchenko. Having tasted the sweetness of bagging a WSOP bracelet two years ago, he was back today hungry for more.

But he fell short on the final table of the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low 8 or Better, busting in fifth place after a battling performance saw him rise up the paying spots without quite being able to build enough chips to make a title challenge.

krav5kplohiloftc.jpgAlex Kravchenko

He leaves the Rio with another $53,881 in crisp US dollars to put into his bankroll.

His elimination, just before Robert Campbell fell in fourth, came when he got all-in pre-flop against the chip leader Scott Clements:

Kravchenko: [8s][7s][5c][4c]
Clements: [as][9s][7h][5h]

Plenty of chances there for at least a chop, you would have thought. But the board ran [js][10c][5d][kd][6c] allowing Clements to scoop the whole pot with just a pair of fives.

Before Kravchenko, we lost Andy Black in sixth and John Racener in seventh, who both joined early finishers Anthony Lellouche and Armando Ruiz


WSOP Event #27: Alex Kravchenko chipping up

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

wsop2009_thn.gifAlex Kravchenko is a fighter at the poker table (and to be clear, I'm not sure many would want to take him on away from the table) and sticks around when the going gets tough.

In the final of the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low 8 or Better he found himself short-stacked and had his tournament on the line in this hand: the Russian Team PokerStars Pro raised from the cut-off and Scott Clements called from the big blind to see the [qc][8d][5d] flop - when all the money went in.

Kravchenko: [ah][ad][5h][3d]
Clements: [10d][4c][3s][2d]

The turn was [kd] to give Kravchenko the nut flush, and the [9c] river ensured no low hand, allowing him to scoop the lot for a key double up.

krav5kplohiloftb.jpgAlex Kravchenko

A while later he flopped quad aces, but got no action from Anthony Lellouche, who must have sensed something was up and mucked before Kravchenko even reached for his chips.

Lellouche was then the first faller of the final, much to the dismay of the large French media contingent, who were desperate to record their first bracelet. It was Clements who accounted for the Frenchman, who collects $29,065 for his ninth-place finish. Each of the remaining eight are now guaranteed $32,105.

Armando Ruiz then busted in 8th, falling to Brett Richey.

Latest chip counts:

Scott Clements, 1,250,000
Roland De Wolfe, 600,000
Brett Richey, 400,000
John Racener, 250,000
Robert Campbell, 240,000
Alex Kravchenko, Team PokerStars Pro, 160,000
Andrew Black, 120,000
Armando Ruiz II, 8th
Anthony Lellouche, 9th

**************

Congratulations to Team PokerStars Pro Ivan Demidov, who just cashed in event #28, the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em. He busted in a four-way monster with 10-10 - but was up against K-K, Q-Q and 6-6. Rigged, I tell you. Russian Demidov got paid $2,988.

demidov15nlhe.jpgIvan Demidov


WSOP Event #27: With friends like these…

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

wsop2009_thn.gifAlex Kravchenko was in positive mood as he unbagged and stacked up his 267,000 chips for the final of the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better. He's a man of few expressions, but he cracked a smile when Roland de Wolfe sat down on his right, and Andy Black on his left.

"These two are my friends," Kravchenko told me. "I'm going to bust him first," he said, pointing at Brit de Wolfe before turning to Ireland's black and adding, "then I'm going to bust him."

krav5kplohilofta.jpgAlex Kravchenko

Team PokerStars Pro Kravchenko is having a good WSOP so far, with two cashes, but today he's after his second career bracelet and the $246,616 first prize.

The table is awash with talent, however, although the Russian will take that in his stride. "I'm feeling really good," he said.

Here are the chips as they started today's final:

Scott Clements, 801,000
Anthony Lellouche, 533,000
Roland De Wolfe, 386,000
Alex Kravchenko, Team PokerStars Pro, 267,000
Brett Richey, 238,000
John Racener, 214,000
Armando Ruiz II, 192,000
Andrew Black, 182,000
Robert Campbell, 152000

**************

As this final table got under way, day one of the $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha was in full swing. Early eliminations, however, for Team Pros Greg Raymer, Gavin Griffin and Barry Greenstein, who signed a copy of his book for the victor...

greenstein25plo.jpgBarry Greenstein signs Ace on the River for his opponent


WSOP Event #27: PokerStars’ Alex Kravchenko makes final table

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

wsop2009_thn.gifIt would be fair to say poker in Russia is experiencing something of a boom right now. The PokerStars Russian Poker Tour, which began in January, ended last month in Moscow with a packed field - and final table made up of local players only.

That event was won by Vitaly Lunkin, who just a few weeks ago went on to bag the WSOP $40,000 No Limit, and now Team PokerStars Pro Alex Kravchenko is looking to win another bracelet for Russia in the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low 8 or better.

krav5kplohiloa.jpgAlex Kravchenko

You will remember he came close to the big one two years ago, when he finished fourth in the Main Event for more thsn $1.8 million (a feat bettered by fellow Russian Ivan Demidov last year, who finished second for $5.8 million).

Now the Russian flags will be flying in the Amazon room again for Kravchenko's latest run at a title. He already has a bracelet after winning the $1,500 version of the fixed limit PLO hi-low in 2007 for $228,000, so knows exactly what to expect.

But he has a table packed with talent to contend with, including Roland de Wolfe, Andy Black and Anthony Lellouche, the latter looking to grab France's first bracelet of the WSOP this year.

Kravchenko sits down at 2pm local time with 267,000 chips, comfortable enough but some way behind leader Scott Clements on 801,000. It could have been a lot different late last night, when during the final table bubble period Kravchenko secured a key double up to propel him to the final table when his A-A-4-6 held to scoop the pot from Armando Ruiz.

Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu had been looking good in this event for much of day two yesterday, but fell short of the money.

**********

chen15limit.jpgBill Chen

Congratulations to the three Team PokerStars Pros who cashed in the $1,500 Limit Hold'em yesterday: Noah Boeken ($5,995), Victor Ramdin ($3,405) and Barry Greenstein ($3,405), and to Friend of PokerStars Bill Chen ($4,871).

ramdin15limit.jpgVictor Ramdin



WSOP Event #18: Kravchenko busts in 16th for $26,921

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

wsop2009_thn.gifThere's a lot of early action in the final day of the $10,000 World Championship Omaha Hi-Low, and Team PokerStars Pro Alex Kravchenko is on the receiving end.

Within 30 minutes of the final 17 sitting down to battle for the final table, we lost Toto Leonidas, and then Kravchenko in 16th place, cashing for $26,921. He had [as][6c][3c][4c] but could not outrun the [ac][jc][2h][8h] of Sam Khouiss. Both made a flush, but Khouiss' had the nuts when the board ran [8d][kc][2c][9s][8c].

krav10khilo3.jpgAlex Kravchenko

Things had not been going too well for Daniel Negreanu, either, having to make a big fold with aces in his hand, leaving him perilously short with just 45,000. But he then shot up again to 125,000, just over his day's starting stack.

Moments later he was up to 170,000, scooping a straight against Kravchenko's nemesis, Khouiss.

Here are the latest chip counts with 14 players left:

John Monnette, 1,246,000
Ben Boyd, 663,000
Sam Khouiss, 620,000
Scott Clements, 477,000
Greg Jamison, 422,000
Yueqi Zhu, 366,000
Tom Koral, 342,000
Daniel Alaei, 297,000
Ville Wahlbeck, 231,000
Jacobo Fernandez, 218,000
Daniel Negreanu, Team PokerStars Pro, 170,000
Cameron McKinley, 151,000
Annie Duke, 133,000
Ted Lawson, 110,000

* Follow Negreanu's progress on his Twitter page!


WSOP Event #18: Two Team PokerStars Pros close in on final

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

wsop2009_thn.gifAnother day at the WSOP, and another final table in sight for Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu. Without wishing to sound repetitive, the Canadian is on his 'A' game and is clocking up the cashes in Las Vegas for fun.

He just missed the final of the $10,000 7-card Stud event, finishing tenth for $36,267, then lost heads up in the $2,500 Six-handed Limit for a cool $138,28, all of which has resulted in a long, gruelling run of 3am finishes.

negreanu10khilowa.jpgDaniel Negreanu

Now he's down to the last 17 of the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low and already guaranteed $26,921. He has work to do if he's to make the final when they sit down a little later today, as he has 113,000, far behind chip leader John Monnette's 1,141,000.

Also hunting down this bracelet and the $445,898 first prize is Team PokerStars Pro Alex Kravchenko. The Russian was his usual quiet, assured self yesterday as he went about his business, and finished up with 145,000.

krav10khilowa.jpgAlex Kravchenko

We'll be following their progress today, so stay tuned. Here are the chip counts before play starts:

John Monnette, 1,141,000
Ben Boyd, 663,000
Scott Clements, 477,000
Sam Khouiss, 470,000
Greg Jamison, 422,000
Yueqi Zhu, 366,000
Daniel Alaei, 297,000
Ville Wahlbeck, 231,000
Jacobo Fernandez, 218,000
Tom Koral, 208,000
Cameron McKinley, 151,000
Alex Kravchenko, Team PokerStars Pro, 145,000
Annie Duke, 133,000
Toto Leonidas, 133,000
Daniel Negreanu, Team PokerStars Pro, 113,000
Ted Lawson, 110,000
Pat Pezzin, 105,000

**************

Congratulations to Team PokerStars Pro Maria "Maridu" Mayrinck, who finished 49th in the $1,000 Ladies World Championship event, cashing $3,260.


EPT San Remo: Scratch one former winner

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

It's level six for some, still dinner for others. Those that have already enjoyed the buffet are back at the coal face and for many that means doubling up.

More than 230 players have already been dispatched today and the post dinner level normally sees a few make or break moves. Reuben Peters picked his chance, plonking down his last 5,000. Alex Kravchenko was keen to oblige, moving all-in himself to make this simple a face-to-face duel between the EPT Dublin winner and the bracelet winning Team PokerStars Pro. [ks][kc] for Kravchenko, [ad][kd] for Peters.

The flop came [jd][10d][6c], causing the other players to stir, like you would if the lights suddenly went, before relaxing again when the turn [9h] and river [th] put end to any straight flush hope and to Peters' tournament. Handshakes all around and a seat open.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST CHIP COUNTS

RPT St Petersburg: Kravchenko woe

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

There are two frustrating things that can befall you in a poker tournament: firstly your aces can get cracked, and secondly there will be times when you bust on the bubble. Sometimes, both these things happen together; two misfortunes that make for one devastating conclusion.

Such was the case for Team PokerStars Pro Alex Kravchenko yesterday. He'd been comfortable enough in day two of the debut Russian Poker Tour event in St Petersburg, and was looking to make a deep run into the money, which started in 18th place (201 entries).

rptkrav.jpgAlex Kravchenko: aces woe

With 19 still in with a shout, and with 50,000 chips behind him, the home favourite moved all in confidently with A-A when chess player Alex Grishuk pushed with what turned out to be a rather feeble A-2.

The double up would make Kravchenko, a former WSOP Main Event final tablist, a force to be reckoned with. But wait! A two on the flop, and another falling devastatingly on the river was enough to send Kravchenko to the rail in 19th place - just one off the money.

Grishuk's slice of luck did not last, though. Just a short while later he got all his chips in with 10-10 and was busted by Vadim Markushevsky's A-K when the king fell on the river.

rptprize.JPGThe glass trophy - and, for no obvious reason, a telephone!

That gave Markushevsky the momentum to last the day and reach today's final table of nine players, where Dumitru Gaina from Moldova will lead the pack chasing the 10,600,000 rubles first price (about $300,000):

1. Dumitru Gaina, Kishinev, Moldova - 501,000
2. Sergey Popuk, Arkhangelsk, Russia - 302,000
3. Sergey Solntsev, St. Petersburg, Russia - 256,000
4. Vadim Markushevsky, Minsk, Belarus - 256,000
5. Anatoly Ozhenilok, St. Petersburg, Russia - 203,000
6. Bulat Bikmetov, Novokuznetsk, Russia - 181,000
7. Evgeny Zaytsev, Lubertsy, Russia - 178,000
8. Alex Pantuhin, Kaliningrad, Russia - 76,000
9. Oleg Suntsov , St. Petersburg, Russia - 64,000

It had taken 90 minutes to burst the final table bubble, so spare a thought for Mark Vronsky, who pushed with pocket nines but ran into a mighty - and ultimately - conquering J-Q.

Team PokerStars Pro Vanessa Rousso started day two but was unable to make things happen with her short stack of little more than 10,000. She pushed with an ace, was called by Q-7, and a seven on the board was enough to eliminate her. She was gracious in defeat, though, and offered a "good luck" in Russian to everyone at the table. PokerStars sponsored player Ivan Demidov also fell early in the day in 39th place.

Today's final kicks off at 3pm local time. If you can decipher Russian - and let's face it, it's easy enough... NOT! - you can follow the action with Pavel Sychev, our Russian blogger right here. If you can not understand a word of it, don't worry - we'll report on the progress on these esteemed pages later!