GPI National Russia | Top 10

As the 2014 Winter Olympics draw to a close in Sochi, Russia, we take a look at Russia’s finest on the felt.

A total of 13 Russian poker players are ranked on the GPI300, tied with France for fifth most in the world. Led by current National #1 Alex Bilokur, Russia is certainly a powerhouse on the live tournament circuit … and with a current total of 22 medals in Sochi, looks like Russia’s successes go beyond the poker felt …

Here is the GPI National Top 10 for the proud Nation of Russia:

#10 | Alexander Kravchenko

We start the list with one of Russia’s top players of all-time, Alexander Kravchenko (GPI#227). Kravchenko’s dream 2007 season included a WSOP bracelet victory as well as a fourth place finish in the WSOP Main Event.

Although his career totals exceed 4M USD, Kravchenko has not been able to come close to matching that success since, despite remaining a consistent threat anytime he’s deep in a tournament.

GPI#227, Highest #33  |  1,698.81 points

#9 | Mikhail Korotkikh

A very quiet, yet very solid, 2013 season has allowed Mikhail Korotkikh (GPI#220) to enter the GPI National Russia Top 10.

Korotkikh’s consistent 2013 included 13th place finish at EPT London in March and a 12th place score in the Eureka High Roller at EPT Prague. He finished 11th in a 2K prelim at EPT Deauville to kickoff his 2014 campaign.

GPI#220, Highest #212  |  1,720.21 points

#8 | Andrey Shatilov

If poker was played exclusively on the island of Cyprus, Andrey Shatilov (GPI#204) could very well be the best poker player on earth. Of his 11 cashes in 2013, six of them were in Cyprus, all of them Top 8 finishes as well!

But Shatilov isn’t a one trick pony. With Top 10 finishes in the 2013 PCA Main Event as well as WPT Prague just a few months ago, look for Shatilov’s stock to continue to rise on the live tournament circuit.

His 2013 season also includes a 27th place finish at EPT Berlin as well as a 26th place finish at the Master Classics of Poker.

GPI#204, Highest #94  |  1,748.75 points

#7 | Andrey Pateychuk

Andrey Pateychuk took the poker world by storm during the second half of the 2011 poker season going deep in the WSOP Main Event and winning EPT and WPT titles.

Things were a little more quiet for the Russian in past few years … that is until a three-score performance at the Merit Poker Winterfest last month in Cyprus. Pateychuk would win a turbo deepstack prelim to start it off, he would then place 10th in another turbo prelim. But it’s his big win in the Main Event that allowed Pateychuk to make a return to Russia’s elite group.

GPI#188, Highest #71  |  1,776.12 points

#6 | Dmitry Vitkind

Former EPT Tallinn fourth place finisher Dmitry Vitkind (GPI#165) is next on our list.

Vitkind’s 2013 season included scores at EPT Prague and it in the Estrellas Main Event at EPT Barcelona. The Russian also cashed four times at the WSOP in Las Vegas, including a pair of Top 20 finishes in hold’em events.

GPI#165, Highest #69  |  1,837.84 points

#5 | Igor Kurganov

Igor Kurganov (GPI#134) is a five-time winner on the live tournament circuit. His most famous win came at the 2012 EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo, where he would defeat Daniel Negreanu heads-up to win the 25K High Roller event, earning € 1,080,000.

More recently, Kurganov won the Caribbean Poker Tour High Roller event in St. Maarten … he also finished fourth at WPT Alpha8 London back in October.

GPI#134, Highest #81  |  1,980.26 points

#4 | Alexej Lakhov

An amazing 21 Top 10 finishes in 2013 allowed Alexej Lahkov to reach Russia’s Top 5. His 2013 included a 9th place finish at the WPT Merit Cyprus Classic as well as an 11th place showing in Omaha/Seven Stud Event #5 at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

A 53rd place finish at EPT Deauville has Lahkov on the board in 2014.

GPI#121, Highest #81  |  2,046.80 points

#3 | Yury Gulyy

With a 26th place finish in the EPT Prague Main Event and an 11th place finish in a 2K prelim, Yury Gulyy (GPI#83) ended the 2013 poker season on a heater! His fine 2013 campaign included a total of four Top 10 finishes.

Gulyy currently counts two wins on the live tournament circuit: side event victories at EPT Copenhagen (February 2012) and EPT London (March 2013).

GPI#83, Highest #45  |  2,295.08 points

#2 | Konstantin Puchkov

The loveable Konstantin Puchkov (GPI#77) finds his way onto the list at #2. Puchkov is one of the most recognizable Russian faces on the live tournament circuit. He finished 3rd at EPT Barcelona back in 2010 for € 300,000, the biggest cash of his career.

Just a few months prior to his Barcelona score, Puchkov would win a World Series of Poker bracelet at the 41st edition of the WSOP in a 1,500 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event.

GPI#77, Highest #20  |  2,365.13 points

#1 | Alex Bilokur

It should come as no surprise to see Alex Bilokur’s (GPI#39) name top the charts in Russia. Bilokur burst onto the poker scene in 2012, winning the High Roller event at the 2012 PCA, his largest cash to date on the live tournament circuit.

Bilokur’s 2013 season included cashes in the WSOP Main Event, the EPT Grand Final High Roller and at EPT Prague.

Russia’s #1 player already has a win in 2014, a Six-Max Turbo victory in a side event at the 2014 PCA … he also finished 74th in the PCA Main Event, adding almost 700 points to his totals.

GPI#39, Highest #30  |  2,720.35 points

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