2011 WSOP November Nine: Anton Makiievskyi

Anton Makiievskyi is perhaps the least well known of this year’s 2011 WSOP finalists, but if the 21 years old does manage to take the title in November he would become the Main Event’s youngest ever winner.
The Ukrainian pro is currently lying in 8th place with13,825,000 in chips and will have to get off to a good start with the blinds starting off at 250k/500k with a 50k ante.
Makiievskyi only received his travel visa in late June to enter the US and is one of the more unlikely players to have reached the final table. With no WSOP or EPT cashes to his name, the young Ukrainian’s biggest international success to date was in 2008 at the $10k PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, where he finished 170th for a $17,500 payday.
All Makiievskyi’s other live tournament cashes have come in his native Ukraine and total around $60,000.
Apparently, Makiievskyi studied mathematics and science at university until he discovered his analytical thinking allowed him to have an edge over opponents at the poker table.
Therefore, one can reasonably assume Anton Makiievskyi is probably a successful cash or online pro, but seeing he has so far failed to disclose his online screen name, there is no way of knowing his level of achievement.
Whatever the case may be, having already manoeuvred himself through the 6,865 strong starting field to guaranteed himself a minimum of £480,000 ($782,115) and a shot at the $8,711,956 (£5.3m) top prize, All Makiievskyi realises that what he has managed to attain in Las Vegas this year is truly remarkable. As he explains:
“I just don’t believe everything that’s happening now. I understand that I may not have any other chances in life like this, but I don’t feel it. I just play my game. I just push all-in when I need to push all-in.”
Going into 2011 WSOP Anton Makiievskyi said he wanted to be the first Ukrainian to win a WSOP event but with four bracelets already won this year by his compatriots, he will now be aiming to be the first to ever win the Main Event, instead.