Alina Paliahoshka is a star with beauty and brains. Recently, she proved this by making it to the final table of the $2,500 Mini Main Event at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise alongside her boyfriend Andrei Piatrushchanka, who exited in 3rd place, earning a career-best $344,000.
As the only female player at the final table, it was like a dream come true moment for her, and she came pretty close to making history with her maiden WSOP bracelet. However, that was not to be as the poker God probably had other plans. Her incredible run ended in heartbreak when she lost a gripping heads-up battle to Jeffrey Hakim of the USA. Here, we break down the decisive hand that dashed her dream of the bracelet.
Jeffrey Hakim Vs Alina Paliahoshka: The Decisive Hand Breakdown
This crucial hand actually took place in the high-pressure heads-up during Level 35 when the blinds were running 300,000-600,000 and 600,000 ante. After trading the first few pots, Hakim decided to move all-in with 3♣ 3♥. Paliahoshka, who held A♠ 6♥, made the call with an ace in her hand.
Alina Paliahoshka: A♠ 6♥
Jeffrey Hakim: 3♣ 3♥
Board: Q♥ J♠ 7♥ 5♥ Q♦
Jeffrey Hakim’s Aggressive Move With Pocket Threes
Considering the high-pressure heads-up, Hakim’s shove with pocket threes was a calculated move as he was slightly ahead with his small pairs against Alina’s ace-four. He probably wanted to apply pressure to force a fold or bust, Alina. His aggressive move paid off as his hand was held through the showdown, winning him not only the pot but also the coveted title.
Alina Paliahoshka’s Call With A6 – Was That The Right Move?
With an ace in her hand, Alina’s call was reasonable given the situation. She probably felt like she was ahead of Hakim’s wide shoving range. In heads-up dynamics, ace-high often performs well against small and mid pairs. However, despite making the correct call, the board favored Hakim in this instance, dashing Paliahoshka’s dream for the coveted bracelet victory.
Final Takeaway
While Paliahoshka fell just short of the dream bracelet win, her decision-making stole the show. Navigating through a massive field of 2,031 entries and scoring a career-best $445,400 marked a big milestone in her poker journey. It turned out to be a dream moment for Paliahoshka and her boyfriend as both of them ended up earning career-high scores.
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