Poker Hand Matchup: Daniel Negreanu vs. Igor Kurganov
Daniel Negreanu	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 1,990,000	47.45 %	91.21 %	95.45 %
Igor Kurganov	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 4,660,000	51.54 %	8.79 %	4.55 %	Winner!

Posted On: May 14, 2012

Outcome

Final table, heads-up, with the blinds at 30,000 and 60,000 and a 5,000 ante, Kurganov limped from the button, Negreanu checked in the big blind. On the Flop, Negreanu checked, Kurganov bet 100,000, Negreanu called. On the Turn, Negreanu checked, Kurganov checked. On the River, Negreanu checked, Kurganov bet 300,000, Negreanu called.

Analysis

Negreanu was ready with the check call for his second pair on the flop, and he attempted to trap on the turn when he made trips. Kurganov checked behind though, nailing the river with his two-outer to the full house. Negreanu submitted an incredible check-call on the river here where most would go broke, leaving his opponent dumbfounded that the tournament didn’t end on the hand. Negreanu may have been aiming to checkraise until he saw the comfort with which Kurganov bet, or he may have noticed his opponent light up as the river peeled. Either way it was impressive that he avoided elimination here, utilizing world-class damage control and reading ability. Considering he could reasonably expect any pocket pairs or suited cards to raise from the button, trips were looking like a winner here in spite of the potential backdoor flush. Negreanu eventually finished runner up for €598,000, adding to his earlier score of €310,000 in the €100,000 high roller event and moving his lifetime tournament results to $16.1 million. Kurganov obviously had his work cut out for him but he eventually scored the title and €1,080,000.