WPT World Online Championships Update: Mikita Badziakouski Wins $25K High Roller

September 23rd, 2020 | by Kaycee James

Another WPT World Online Championships title has been won and, this time, Mikita Badziakouski is the man in the spotlight.

Mikita Badziakouski can now call himself a WPT World Online Championships champion after beating Jason Koon in the $25,500 High Roller. (Image: Partypoker)

The Belarusian has been a standout performer on the circuit over the last two years and, on September 22, he showed us once again why he’s one of poker’s best.

Leading from the start of the $25,500 High Roller final table, Badziakouski picked his spots and walked away with more than $1 million thanks to a heads-up deal.

Badziakouski Sits Tight as Short Stacks Get Busy

Before Badziakouski busted some moves, it was time for the short stacks to tussle. Ali Imsirovic was the first to try and advance his position.

Starting the finale seventh out of seven, the Bosnian thought he’d found an opening with A♣K♥. Raising from middle position, he triggered a three-bet from Daniel Rezaei with pocket jacks.

The action folded back around to Imsirovic who moved all-in. Rezaei called and, after the board ran out 7♠9♥6♥Q♦3♥, it was curtains for Imsirovic.

As seven became six, Badziakouski was able to sit on his stack and watch as Aleksei Barkov, Rezaei, and Mark Demirjian all fell by the wayside. When three remained, it was time for Badziakouski to bring the hammer down.

Over the course of 2.5 hours, he chipped away at Alexandros Kolonias and Jason Koon. The prolonged battle served him well as he was able to eliminate Kolonias and leave Koon with barley enough chips to pose a threat.

Friendly End to WPT World Online Championships

In fact, such was Badziakouski’s lead that he only needed to eliminate Kolonias to win. The final hand saw Kolonias three-bet all-in with pocket threes (see video below). The original raiser, Badziakouski, called with pocket aces after Koon got out of the way.

A miracle three for Kolonias didn’t appear, which meant Badziakouski took the pot and extended his lead at the top of the chip counts. Koon sensed that the writing was on the wall at this point and pushed for a heads-up deal.

Badziakouski had 149 big blinds, while Koon had 17. Despite that fact, the latter negotiated himself $30,000 more than second place was worth.

The condition of getting slightly more money was that Badziakouski picked up the title without a fight. So, in the end, the WPT World Online Championships High Roller was decided by a deal.

WPT World Online Championships $25,500 High Roller Result

1 – Mikita Badziakouski – $1,062,730*

2 – Jason Koon – $810,869*

3 – Alexandros Kolonias – $549,793

4 – Mark Demirjian – $380,652

5 – Daniel Rezaei – $259,979

6 – Aleksei Barkov – $197,667

7 – Ali Imsirovic – $155,060

*Denotes a deal.