The event was a big success, attracting players from around the poker ecosystem
Baurzhan Akimov emerged victorious in the 2024 Card Player Poker Tour (CPPT) $1,100 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em main event at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. Akimov, a Las Vegas resident originally from Kazakhstan, bested a field of 343 entries to claim the top prize of $63,943. This marked his second-largest career win, boosting his total live tournament earnings to nearly $513,000.
Reflecting on his win, Akimov attributed his success to a combination of skill and luck, gradually building his stack throughout the tournament. This victory also earned him 480 Card Player Player of the Year (POY) points, pushing his total points to 1,626 for the year, and placing him within the top 250 in the 2024 POY race.
The event, which ran from September 19-22, took place in the newly opened Venetian Poker Room. The tournament exceeded its $300,000 guarantee, with $329,280 distributed among the top 44 finishers. The final day kicked off with those 44 players vying for the title, including some well-known names like two-time bracelet winner Dan Heimiller and five-time WSOP champion Brian Yoon.
Akimov dominated the final table, where he knocked out several players. In the heads-up match, he held a significant chip lead over Terry Fleischer. The final hand saw Akimov’s pocket nines hold against Fleischer’s A-5, securing him the title. Fleischer, who had already earned a Venetian win earlier in the year, finished as runner-up with $45,598, bringing his career earnings to over $2.7 million.
This victory was Akimov’s second title of the year, solidifying his standing as a strong competitor in the poker world.
