Seat 4: Eugene Katchalov (Ukraine) – 690,000
Team PokerStars Pro Eugene Katchalov is a player that needs little introduction, but let’s indulge him anyway.
Katchalov is a Team Pro with $6,489,636 in live tournament winnings. Back in 2007, he made his big splash with a win at the World Poker Tour Doyle Brunson Classic for $2,482,605. Earlier this year, the Ukranian-born player beat Daniel Negreanu heads up at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure to win the $100,000 Super High Roller for $1,500,000. He then went on to finish 74th in the PCA Main Event for $28,000 before then taking second in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller for $131,920. That's quite the start to the year, but it only gets better.
After stringing together a few more results, including a deep run at the NBC National Heads-Up Championship, a second-place finish at the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller Bounty Shootout at the North American Poker Tour Mohegan Sun and a 27th-place in the European Poker Tour Grand Final, Katchalov went on to win his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet. He conquered the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud event for $122,909 after defeating Alessio Isaia heads up. He also made another WSOP final table later in the Series, but came up just short in fourth place.
With his amazing results year after year, Katchalov found himself seeded towards the top of the Global Poker Index that ranks the best players in the world based on a plethora of criteria. Katchalov made sure to prove he belonged there by placing eighth in the Epic Poker League's first event in August for over $70,000. That brings us to this EPT final table, where Katchalov has the chance to earn poker's Triple Crown achievement.
Already having a WPT title and WSOP bracelet, all Katchalov needs is to win an EPT Main Event. He has that chance today and when asked about it said, “Records do mean something in any sport. It’s certainly on my mind. It’s been a long road for me and I’m excited for it."
It may look like an uphill struggle at the moment — Katchalov comes into the final table with the least amount of chips at just 690,000 — but it would be very hard to say that he’s not the most dangerous player at the final table, as he’s certainly the most experienced. Speaking about his position, Katchalov said, “I know mathematically I’m at a disadvantage but I’m very comfortable playing a short stack — playing 14 big blinds — so if I catch some cards or run decent tomorrow, I know I can run it up."
If the Team PokerStars Pro does get an early double up the rest of the table could be in some serious trouble.
On Day 4, PokerNews' very own Kristy Arnett caught up with Katchalov and you can find that interview below.
Bio courtesy of PokerStars