Anton Makievskiy: From University Poker to WSOP Finalist

Anton Makievskiy became the first Ukrainian finalist in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) main event. His journey in poker began in 2006 while studying at the University of Kyiv, where he started playing with friends including Leha Kovalkchuk, Misha Kobylinsky, and Oleg Vinnishin. They initially played limit hold'em, but quickly transitioned to no-limit hold'em with increasing stakes.

Makievskiy's poker career took a significant turn when he was expelled from university and needed money. He started playing online poker, initially focusing on Sit & Go (SNG) tournaments. His mother allowed him to continue playing after he promised to quit if he didn't win $700 in the first month. This period was marked by financial difficulties and debts, often relying on friends for support.

Later, Makievskiy transitioned to Multi-Table Tournaments (MTT) and faced significant challenges. He played high-stakes SNG tournaments on Full Tilt Poker and incurred substantial losses. After the 'Black Friday' incident, he focused on offline poker and gradually paid off his debts. Despite the ups and downs, Makievskiy's determination and skill led him to the WSOP final table, making history as the first Ukrainian to achieve this feat.