Event #45: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship

Maksim Pisarenko has overcome a 181-player field that created a prize pool of $1,683,300 and defeated Mike Leah heads up to claim his first WSOP gold bracelet and the $399,988 first-place prize in Event #45: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship.

Pisarenko's victory came after a lengthy heads-up match that went back-and-forth several times inside the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Leah became notorious for how many times he was able to double up over the course of the tournament — earning him the affectionate name of "The Phoenix" by Pisarenko.

However, it was Pisarenko's day to shine and he was able to douse Leah after a three-hour heads-up duel. The victory marks Pisarenko's largest tournament score to date, bringing the Russian pro's live-tournament earnings to over $1 million and cementing his status as a mixed-game star.

Event #45: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship Final Table Results

Winner's Reaction

"It feels surreal. I have no adrenaline," Pisarenko explained when asked how he felt about winning the event. "Maybe tomorrow I'll feel something. It's unbelievable."

The victory was extra sweet for Pisarenko as it was his first WSOP final table after a string of min-cashes. Prior to today, Pisarenko had cashed eight times in this year's WSOP.

"I was getting upset with busting. My friends started calling me Mr. Min-cash," Pisarenko said. "This one is very important. I just wanted to fu**ing win first place."

Pisarenko was humble in victory despite overcoming a stacked final table that included multiple bracelet winners, including Benny Glaser, Steve Zolotow, and Lawrence Brandt in addition to Leah.

"I was nervous [at the start of the final table]. Benny [Glaser] is a very good player. After he busted, I felt a lot better. Leah is also a great player. If he beat me today, I would have nothing but respect for him."

Heads-up Action

Pisarenko entered Day 5 with a slight chip lead over Leah, but the tone of the match was quickly set after Leah and Pisarenko exchanged leads several times within the first level of play.

Pisarenko pulled into a considerable lead after winning a pair of hands in Razz, but Leah fired right back after making a couple of full house in both variations of Stud.

Leah pulled into an over 3:1 chip lead after making another full house against Pisarenko's flush in Omaha Hi-Lo, but Pisarenko hung tough and pulled back to even after a couple favorable hands in Razz and Stud.

Leah and Pisarenko were far from done, however, and took turns scooping each other in Stud Hi-Lo. A key hand occurred to give Pisarenko his largest lead of the match after both players made trips in Limit Hold'em. Pisarenko held the best kicker and Leah was left short.

"The Phoenix" rose again in dramatic fashion, however, after drilling a set of jacks on the flop against Pisarenko's queens in Limit Hold'em.

Despite Leah's resilience, Pisarenko wouldn't be denied. Leah found himself with crumbs after losing a large pot in Razz and, despite Leah doubling up his meager stack three more times, Pisarenko was able to finish the job in Stud with split aces against Leah's split kings.

This concludes PokerNews event coverage. Be sure to check out our live-reporting hub for continuing coverage of the 2024 WSOP and other events around the globe.

Seven Card Stud

Mike Leah:   /    / 
Maksim Pisarenko:   /    / 

Mike Leah brought in, Maksim Pisarenko completed and Leah called. Leah then called down all the way to seventh street, after which the players showed down.

Pisarenko showed     for aces and kings, leaving Leah's    for a lower two pair in the dust. Leah was left with just one big bet.

Mike Leah:   /    / 
Maksim Pisarenko:   /    / 

The rest of Leah's chips went in the next hand on third street. He made a pair on sixth street to take the lead, and two pair on seventh street to rake in the double-up.

Maksim Pisarenko	9,650,000	1,350,000
Mike Leah	1,150,000	-1,350,000

Razz

Mike Leah:   /     - folded sixth street
Maksim Pisarenko:   /    

Maksim Pisarenko brought in, Mike Leah completed, and Pisarenko called. Leah continued betting on fourth street and Pisarenko called, after which the same happened on fifth street.

On seventh street, with one and a half big bets behind, Leah checked to Pisarenko, who fired a bet. Leah thought it over for a bit before folding, showing another   as he did so.

Pisarenko raked in the chips to cross the eight-figure mark, letting Leah see his   before doing so.

Maksim Pisarenko	10,050,000	1,350,000
Mike Leah	750,000	-1,350,000

Limit Hold'em

Maksim Pisarenko raised his button and Mike Leah called in the big blind. Leah then check-called Pisarenko's continuation-bet on the     flop before the   hit the turn.

Leah checked once more and Pisarenko bet. Leah counted out his chips before putting in a raise, having only a single T-25,000 chip behind. Pisarenko then put him all in and Leah called.

Mike Leah:   
Makism Pisarenko:   

Both players had monsters preflop, but Leah had flopped a set for a massive lead. The   river did not bring Pisarenko a queen, and Leah doubled up to stay in contention for his second bracelet.

Maksim Pisarenko	7,250,000	-1,650,000
Mike Leah	3,550,000	1,650,000

Stud Hi-Lo

Mike Leah:   /     -folded on sixth street
Maksim Pisarenko:   /    

Maksim Pisarenko completed and Mike Leah called.

Leah called a bet from Pisarenko on fourth street and then both players checked on fifth.

Pisarenko went back to betting on sixth and Leah let his hand go.

Maksim Pisarenko	7,300,000	575,000
Mike Leah	3,500,000	-575,000

Stud Hi-Lo

Mike Leah:    /    
Maksim Pisarenko:   /    / 

Mike Leah completed and Maksim Pisarenko raised. Leah called.

Pisarenko proceeded to call bets from Leah all the way down and Leah turned over     for a straight and a low.

"Nice hand," Pisarenko said as he mucked his hand.

Mike Leah	7,100,000	2,250,000
Maksim Pisarenko	3,700,000	-2,250,000

Seven Card Stud

Mike Leah:   /    
Maksim Pisarenko:   /     - folded on sixth street

Mike Leah completed and Maksim Pisarenko called.

Pisarenko called bets from Leah on fourth and fifth street, but folded facing another barrel from Leah on sixth.

Mike Leah:   /    /  - folded on seventh street
Maksim Pisarenko:   /    / 

On the next hand, Pisarenko completed and Mike Leah called.

Leah called a bet on fourth street and then bet himself on fifth. Pisarenko called.

Both players checked on sixth street and Leah let his hand go facing a bet from Pisarenko on seventh.

Mike Leah	5,400,000	-100,000
Maksim Pisarenko	5,400,000	100,000

Razz

Mike Leah:   /    / 
Maksim Pisarenko:    /    

Maksim Pisarenko completed and Mike Leah called.

Pisarenko called bets from Leah on fourth and fifth street and then both players checked on sixth.

Leah called a bet from Pisarenko on seventh and Pisarenko turned over     for an eight. Leah collected his cards and tossed them into the muck to send the pot Pisarenko's way.

Mike Leah	6,000,000	-2,275,000
Maksim Pisarenko	4,800,000	2,275,000

Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the eighth episode, Connor speaks with legendary UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer in an exclusive in-depth interview after Buffer's deep run in the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) $50,000 High Roller. Buffer, a longtime poker player, finished in eighth place for a career-best $212,423 after kicking off Day 3 with his trademark "it's time" introduction.

Buffer talked about finding his long-lost half-brother, Michael Buffer, and becoming his manager, the early days of the UFC, the similarities between poker and martial arts, his relationships with Joe Rogan and Dana White, playing poker with Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio and the time he injured himself in a poker tournament before announcing the biggest UFC fight in history.

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