Poker Showdown Narrows as Zarovs Falls in Third-Place Clash

A bold all-in backfired for Zarovs, handing Kesleris a near-unbeatable edge. Now, only one obstacle stands between him and his first major poker title.

, and Administrator

2026 March 28 . 10:02 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of men sitting around a table playing poker, with coins and cards spread... — The image shows a group of men sitting around a table playing poker, with coins and cards spread out in front of them. In the background, there is a pillar and other objects, suggesting that the men are participating in a poker tournament.

Poker Showdown Narrows as Zarovs Falls in Third-Place Clash

The final table of the poker tournament took a dramatic turn as Nikita Zarovs was eliminated in third place. His exit came after a high-stakes clash with Arturas Kesleris, leaving just two players to battle for the title. Arturas Kesleris now holds a commanding lead with 3,450,000 in chips. The decisive hand began with Kesleris opening to 50,000 from the button. Zarovs, holding A♥ 6♠, responded with a three-bet all-in for 420,000. Kesleris called, revealing K♦ 2♣.

The flop came A♣ 6♦ 3♠, giving Zarovs two pair. But the turn and river—4♦ and 5♠—completed a straight for Kesleris. Zarovs was left with no chips, ending his run in third place.

With Zarovs out, the tournament now moves to a heads-up showdown. Kesleris, who has never won a major poker event, faces Justas Vaiciulionis. Vaiciulionis currently holds 1,325,000 in chips, far behind Kesleris' dominant stack. Kesleris enters the final duel with a significant chip advantage. The winner will claim the tournament title, while Vaiciulionis must overcome the odds to secure victory. The match is set to resume shortly.