There's something almost nihilistic about Razz. In place of it being a triumph of the best, it's instead triumph for the worst - the worst hand anyway--in a bid to be left with nothing but small numbered cards that do not run in sequence.

Of course there is a bit more to it than that, and Razz, while being a quite obscure type of poker, takes a bit of greater than "failure" to achieve success at, if you happen to see what I mean.

That label would apply to Russian player SergeyErmolo today, who stormed to his first MicroMillions title at the last day of the present series, sooner than a field of 1,534, at a last table that lasted only 48 minutes. His first prize of $1,350.72 was well-earned, with a no-nonsense display inside the final table.

Here's how they lined up.

Seat 1. SergeyErmolo (Russia) 2,454,626Seat 2. QuadrQ (Russia) 499,023Seat 3. 111999111580 (Russia) 642,153Seat 4. Raffx (Russia) 1,395,066Seat 5. JacksonTr1gs (Canada) 851,334Seat 6. max021963 (Germany) 236,710Seat 7. Psychatrie29 (Germany) 1,082,270Seat 8. quarltje (Belgium) 413,818

The only thing outnumbering the Russians on the final table was the selection of short stacks. No fewer than five of the finalist began in a state of peril, and while there has been a tentative start all round--an initial period of calm lasting several minutes--it wasn't long before fireworks began, chip leader SergeyErmolo sending two players to the rail, max021963 and quarltje, in a single hand.

This was perhaps the primary clue that this wouldn't be an extended final and would instead be one chock stuffed with big hands.

This sudden drop in personnel forced the rather originally-named 111999111580 to modify up a gear. He doubled through Raffx but then lost what chips he'd earned back to him, as Raffx sought to position far between himself and people at risk.Others had similar plans.

JacksonTr1gs managed to double as much as 1.1 million, all-in on third street against the benevolent SergeyErmolo, who in addition to coping with the chips of others, had Psychatrie29's lip to take care of. Events earlier (one assumes) had put the pair on a one-sided collision course. Psychatrie29 typing things equivalent to "luck box" and "bingo player" into the chat box, while SergeyErmolo paid absolutely no attention whatsoever.

Soon there has been another player at the rail, this time QuadrQ, who sent his chips to SergeyErmolo within the now traditional way. SergeyErmolo then passed what he'd won directly to 111999111580, who doubled again with an 8-7-3-2-A hand.

This helped Raffx to drag back, becoming SergeyErmolo's only real threat. His bid for the lead was short lived however, as SergeyErmolo took chips from his apparent nemesis Psychatrie29 who fired off a "lucky donk" as he watched SergeyErmolo stack up the chip lead.

Soon it might be the chip leaders clashing.

Then, shortly another three-way all-in, this time sending JacksonTr1gs to the rail in fifth place.

This had the inadvertent effect of keeping Psychatrie29 alive somewhat longer. He managed to carry on for a couple of more hands before he was forced to push his chips in. But his 9-7-5-3-2 was good for a double-up against Raffx, as was his J-9-7-6-2 against Raffx again, who could only show king-high in a hand shortly after.

This meant it was Raffx who was suddenly in peril. He got his chips in by re-raising all-in on fifth street showing 2♣A♣ 5♦. SergeyErmolo called showing 6♦5♥ 5♠. Because the cards were dealt Raffx showed 9-7-5-2-A just for SergeyErmolo to show over a six-high low to send him out.

SergeyErmolo - 6.5 million111999111580 - 682,000Psychatrie29 - 204,000

Could Psychatrie29 turn his vitriol within the chat box into victory on the final? The quick answer was no. Psychatrie29 would instead go quiet in third place.

It left a hugely one-sided, all-Russian heads-up contest, with SergeyErmolo on 6.6 million and 111999111580 on just 802,000.

111999111580 got to work doubling that just about immediately, and pulled back much more moments later, edging SergeyErmolo's 9-7-6-5-A along with his own 9-6-5-3-A. But SergeyErmolo was not one to be wobbled, instead holding fast and quickly restoring his lead in a 2 million chip pot, after which whittling away on the last of 111999111580's stack. It was soon all over.

Faultless poker from SergeyErmolo who rightly took the title and not using a peep to indicate the end result was ever going to be any different. Congratulations to him on his win.

MicroMillions-091: $5.50 RazzEntrants: 1,534Prize pool: $7,670.00Places paid: 192

1. SergeyErmolo (Russia) $1,350.722. 111999111580 (Russia) $985.753. Psychatrie29 (Germany) $728.654. Raffx (Russia) $536.905. JacksonTr1gs (Canada) $383.506. QuadrQ (Russia) $230.107. quarltje (Belgium) $153.408. max021963 (Germany) $76.70

Stephen Bartley is a PokerStars Blog reporter.

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