Eduards Kudrjavcevs Wins Punta Cana Poker Classic, $143,675
After coming close to wins across the globe, Eduards Kudrjavcevs finally has his first career live recorded poker title. With $194,000 in tournament earnings to his name coming into this event, Kudrjavcevs was an accomplished player in his own right but is now the owner of the Punta Cana Poker Classic officially making his venture to the Dominican Republic a successful one.
Kudrjavcevs has final table appearances in countries such as Cyprus, The Bahamas, and his native Latvia. Given his previous tournament experience, it seemed like only a matter of time before Kudrjavcevs earned his breakthrough victory.
Eight players came into the final day of play and it would take over two full levels to score the first elimination of the day as it was Fernando Gordo would be the initial player to hit the rail. Gordo moved all-in with 
and found a call from Kudrjavcevs, who held 
[10c]. The flop was clean for Gordo, but the 
surged Kudrjavcevs ahead and Gordo would hit the rail earning $18,005 for his final table run.
Two eliminations occurred during the next level bringing the field down to five players. First to exit was Jorge de Oliveira. Manuel Minaya was the player who sent de Oliveira to the rail as he flopped two kings with 
to send de Oliveira and his 
to the rail earning $22,855.
The next to go was Enrique Sikaria who shoved with 
and found a call from Kudrjavcevs, who held [10s]
. The 
flopped for Kudrjavcevs and Sikiaria was eliminated in sixth place for a $27,705 score.
Kudrjavcevs would continue his streak of eliminations in the next level as he sent John Curcury out in fifth place. Curcury was all-in with 
and needed help against the two eights of Kudrjavcevs. A king would not come for Curcury and he headed to the payout cage to collect his $34,360 prize. Carlos Sobenes would take his leave in fourth place after running pocket fives into the pocket aces of Chris Cotton.
Once down to three-handed play, the tournament ended in a span of only three hands. Cotton was felted first when he got all-in with 
and was up against the 
of Kudrjavcevs. The flop netted Cotton the 
but the board run out a flush for Kudrjavcevs to send Cotton out as he earned $60,600.
Heads-up play did not last much longer as Minaya was all-in the next hand with [10c] against the of Kudrjavcevs. The board ran out dry for Minaya as he took second place for $88,895.
It was a dominating final table performance for Kudrjavcevs as he was responsible for all but two of the eliminations on the last day of play. With the victory, Kudrjavcevs is now over $335,000 in career tournament earnings.
Final Table Payouts
- Eduards Kudrjavcevs – $143,675
- Manuel Minaya – $88,985
- Chris Cotton – $60,600
- Carlos Sobenes – $46,405
- John Curcury – $34,630
- Enrique Sikaria – $27,705
- Jorge de Oliveira – $22,855
- Fernando Gordo – $18,005
- Jeffrey Cormier – $13,850
