It was the story from the 2018 WSOP Europe, when the dream of Viktor Taranenko, who qualified online at Partypoker for only 1 Cent became his worst nightmare by bubbling the Main Event!
From 531 starters at the Kings Casino in Rozvadov, all fighting for a share of the €5,073,000 prizefund, only 82 were left when Taranenko found himself short-stacked and forced all-in.
€15,000 on the line
The online qualifier had already turned his €0.01 satellite entry into a €10,350 seat, and now a payday of at least €15,074 would be assured if he could just last one more knockout, with €1,122,239 waiting up top as the ultimate dream.
The only problem? He was sitting staring at 10♣ 4♥ while his would-be executioner, Gary Hasson, revealed A♣ K♥.
Still a 32% chance, as it happens, but it wasn’t to be for the unlucky Viktor – the boardv running out 2♠ 6♥ 2♦ J♣ 5♠ and our clearly anguished would-be hero all but running out of the casino.
Viktor Taranenko finishes in 82nd place, bubbling the WSOP Europe Main Event.
The remaining 81 players enjoy the dinner break with the knowledge they’re guaranteed €15,074 at 8:48. Streaming of a feature table at https://t.co/i7RIFhRHqS starting at 9:18pm
— WSOP (@WSOP) October 30, 2018
The Ultimate spin-up?
Distraught would be an understatement for how anyone must feel when a 1.5million % ROI was almost within grasp.
Dwarfing Chris Moneymaker’s 29,000-fold spin up to win the WSOP Main Event back in 2003 in Vegas.
Every cloud has a silver lining
Before we make a timely revisit to that remarkable run by big Chris, a silver lining appeared today around the huge dark cloud that had enveloped Mr Taranenko.
Partypoker stepping in with some much-needed love and a free $530 ticket to their Online MILLIONS event.
Bubbling the Main Event of the WSOPE is always heartbreaking. Even more so when you get there for only €0.01. Viktor Taranenko felt this pain, but he doesn’t leave completely empty handed as we’ve given him a $530 satellite ticket for #MILLIONSOnline https://t.co/bxa8XoWGoL pic.twitter.com/eEp2MFPfxD
— partypokerLIVE (@partypokerlive) October 31, 2018
With $20million to be handed out in the biggest single online poker tournament ever held, there may yet be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for the online qualifier.
The Moneymaker Effect
It was the victory that changed poker forever according to many, with the aptly-named Chris Moneymaker turning his $86 online satellite win into the most amazing run ever.
The accountant taking down the $2.5million – and gold WSOP Main Event champion’s bracelet – in 2003.
With the 15th anniversary of the life-changing victory seeing a tour in his name – the 9-event Moneymaker PCPC Tour, which ended earlier this month – the idea that anyone can land the biggest prizes in poker, no matter their bankroll.
“If this idiom Tennessee that looks like a country redneck can go and win $2.5 million playing a game of cards, well, heck, I can too,” said Moneymaker in a promotional video.
The unlucky Taranenko may have fallen just short, but he’ll get a second shot at it, and for each and every one of us it’s a dream that will never really die.
