From Belarus to Vegas: Belarusian Poker Pro Won Over $ 7 Million In One Tournament

^{Pictured: Mikita Badziakouski, winner of the Big One for One Drop tournament}

Las Vegas hosted the biggest poker tournament in the world on Wednesday: Big One for One Drop, with a $1 million buy-in. Only six players made it to the final round, and the champion was a 31-year-old Belarusian, Mikita Badziakouski.

He took home $7,114,500 — the largest prize of his career.

Badziakouski faced a tough opponent in the final showdown: Mario Mosboeck, a 27-year-old Austrian who used to be a pro footballer in Austrian Second League. He earned $4.7 million for his 2nd-place finish, but couldn’t beat Badziakouski in the heads-up play.

Dan Smith and Isaac Haxton, both from the U.S., came in third and fourth, earning $2.81 million and $1.22 million, respectively. The other two finalists walked away empty-handed.

Participants of the final table of the Big One for One Drop

They weren’t the only ones who left with nothing. Thirteen players who paid a million dollars each to enter the tournament were knocked out in the first two days.

About the tournament

Big One for One Drop is a Texas Hold’em tournament in the World Poker Tour (WPT) series. It has the highest buy-ins and the biggest payouts in poker history. The last time it was held was in 2018, when 27 players joined and American Justin Bonomo won $10 million.

The record prize for winning Big One for One Drop was $18.3 million in 2012. The tournament has been held five times so far (in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2023). This year, it coincided with the WPT World Championship, both at the Wynn Las Vegas casino-hotel. The WPT World Champion was Dan Sepiol, who scored $5.68 million.

One of the unique features of the Big One for One Drop is that it supports a noble cause. A portion of the funds from each entry fee is donated to the One Drop Foundation, which aims to improve access to clean water in developing and impoverished countries.

Also interesting on Gambling-Park.com: Top 5 Richest Poker Tournaments in the World.