Nikiforov wins MSPT Main Event

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The $600 buy-in, $1 million GTD MSPT Main Event at The Venetian Las Vegas – the 125th Main Event held in tour history – drew 2,779 runners, which generated a $1,425,627 prize pool. After three starting flights and two other days of play, 44-year-old Russia pro, Sergei Nikiforov, took home $174,708 (original payout was $202,456).

“I’m incredibly tired, a long three days,” he said after the win. “At the start of the day I was the third shortest stack. I won many coin flips. It’s the luckiest day for me in life.”

Nikiforov, who plays and is also a part of Russian poker academy Poker Moscow, struck it big on what was his fifth visit to Vegas.

“We teach people how to play better,” he said of his profession. “My best companion, his name is Roman, he is the greatest guy in Russia. He wrote a book, in Russia this book is like Super System by Doyle Brunson, but in the Russia language. So, at Poker Moscow we teach lessons and also play poker.”

Final table results
1 Sergei Nikiforov (Russia) $174,708* (original payout $202,456)
2 Ken Kao (Santa Clara, CA) $144,734* (original payout $125,455)
3 Longsheng Tan (Alhambra, CA) $102,560* (original payout $94,091)
4 Thomas Ward (Aberdeen, Scotland) $74,133
5 George Watson (Yucaipa, CA) $57,025
6 Alexandre Mantovani (Brazil) $45,620
7 Becky Wooten (Mesa, Arizona) $35,641
8 Guillaume Diaz (France) $26,944
9 Mas Karlsson (Sliema, Malta) $21,384
10 Preecha Taepakdee (Boynton Beach, FL) $17,108