Boris Kasabov has won the 2019 World Series of Poker Circuit IP Biloxi $1,700 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event. The 35-year-old CPA and real estate agent based out of Houston overcame a field of 281 total entries in the event to earn $98,044 and his first WSOPC gold ring.
“It feels surreal. It is very important because I knew I wasn’t going to stop playing until it happened. Just like everyone says, it’s a big accomplishment,” Kasabov told WSOP reporters after securing his first title on the tour just six days after losing heads-up in a $400 buy-in event. “I got second earlier in the series. I got rivered heads up, kings against ace-jack. I’m glad it happened now, most of my friends thought it would happen eventually but it’s definitely a relief and it’s a main too, my first one being a main, it’s surreal.”
In addition to the title and the money, Kasabov was also awarded 456 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. This was his fourth POY-qualified final table of the year, but with all of the other three coming in smaller events, Kasabov has not yet cracked the top 1,000 in the 2019 POY race standings, which are sponsored by Global Poker.
The third and final day of this event began with just five players remaining, with Kasabov being the shortest stack when play resumed. Although he started with less than 20 big blinds, he managed to quickly find a double up with ASpade SuitQHeart Suit beating out the pocket nines of Brett Apter. Kasabov made two pair by the river to double up. Apter was running on fumes with just a few big blinds after losing that hand. He ultimately ran A-8 into the pocket aces of Ben Thomas to finish in fifth place ($22,799).
Jeremy Eyer was hot on Apter’s heels. He got all-in with 8Club Suit7Club Suit on a 8Heart Suit5Diamond Suit4Diamond Suit flop. He received a call from Thomas, who held pocket jacks. Eyer failed to improve and was knocked out in fourth place, earning $31,019 for his deep run in this event.
Kasabov found another double up, this time getting all-in with A-J up against the ADiamond Suit9Diamond Suit of Thomas. Kasabov flopped a pair of jacks and held from there to surge into the chip lead.
Hamid Izadi’s run in this event came to a conclusion when he got all-in with AHeart SuitJDiamond Suit against the 10Spade Suit10Club Suit of Kasabov. The flop brought an ace for Izadi, but there was also the 10Diamond Suit to give Kasabov a set. Izadi was unable to come from behind and hit the rail in third place ($42,973).
Heads-up play began with Kasabov holding roughly a 3:1 chip advantage over Ben Thomas. Kasabov was able to exntend that lead even further by the time the final cards were dealt. Thomas was down to just four big blinds. Kasabov shoved all-in from the button with KClub Suit8Diamond Suit and Thomas called off his stack with 5Spade Suit4Heart Suit. The board came down 10Diamond Suit8Spade Suit3Spade Suit5Heart Suit9Heart Suit and Kasabov made a pair of eights to lock up the hand and the victory. Thomas took home $60,601 as the runner-up finisher.
Final Table Results:
1st place: Boris Kasabov – $98,044
2nd place: Benjamin Thomas – $60,601
3rd place: Hamid Izadi – $42,973
4th place: Jeremy Eyer – $31,019
5th place: Brett Apter – $22,799
6th place: Bradley Myers – $17,069
7th place: Benny Champlin – $13,020
8th place: Wayne Boyd – $10,124
9th place: Philip Walsh – $8,027
