User secured a prize package at the UPS Grand Finale.
Sunday Tourney Winner's exciting UPS Grand Final adventure!
Last weekend, a lucky gamer on our platform snagged a UPS Grand Final package (happening in Cyprus from August 13-22 with a massive β¬555,000 prize pool, thanks to LotosPoker, our main partner). We had the chance to chat with fellow Kazakhstani, Bulat "Chelios" Baijanov, about his triumph and plans for the series.
Interestingly, Baijanov is the second Kazakh to secure a UPS Grand Final package. Weekly tournaments on LotosPoker, where these packages are up for grabs, run until August 2, with online satellites available too.
Want to learn more about the series and online qualifiers? Check out the UPS Grand Final forum thread!
Bulat Baijanov: Doubting his luck until the end
- Bulgar, congrats on your win! How did you discover UPS and qualify for the satellite?
- I heard about UPS and the satellites through GipsyTeam, but I only found out about the qualifiers after the first round had started. I missed the first final, but managed to join the second and third. Sadly, I placed 8th in the second and won in the third!
- How'd the tournament go? Anything particularly memorable? When did you realize that the ticket was in the bag?
- The tournament was intense! Building my stack was a massive challenge. I lost a big chunk of chips when I hit pocket aces, but the board flopped a flush, giving my opponent a full house. Then I shoved with a Q-10 and lost to a 7-5 that made a straight on the river. I was short-stacked and had to go all-in multiple times, but luckily, I doubled up each time. I eliminated my countryman Paks13 (Almaty13) and a Russian player named 'Elenka' from the final six. I apologize to both of them! I hope they'll do even better in the next final. Honestly, I didn't believe I'd win until the very end, even when I was in second place for a while. But in the end, it was my lucky day!
- Any live poker experience or achievements?
- Live poker is limited in Kazakhstan, but I'm excited that LotosPoker and UPS exist! I plan to make the most out of my first international tournament.
- What does the series have in store for you? Could you join other UPS events?
- My expectations for the series are realisticβit's my first time, after all. I'll enjoy the new experiences, meet some incredible people, and chat with poker legends.
- Share some info about yourself. What do you enjoy doing besides poker?
- I'm a director at an arms store, married with two kids. My hobbies include firearm shooting, off-roading, and, of course, poker.
Interview/Source
Behind-the-scenes Diary by Bulat Baijanov
Enrichment Data
Overall: The UPS Grand Final is a premier poker event within an extensive series, drawing skilled players and offering hefty prize pools. While a specific "UPS Grand Final" information isn't directly accessible, related context from the 2025 Grand Poker Series and similar grand finals offer insights into the tournament's structure, qualification process, and significant player insights, such as Bulat Baijanov's interview.
UPS Grand Final Details
- Grand Poker Series tournaments, like the one kicking off on June 18th, 2025, at the Golden Nugget, offer a mix of events, including a β¬400 Championship Main Event and a β¬1,000 Grand Final along with others, with guarantees reaching β¬500,000 for major competitions[1].
- The series celebrates diversity and focuses on players of all skill levels with Senior, Ladies, and Mixed Games such as H.O.R.S.E., T.O.R.S.E., and 8-Game Mix events[1].
- Though the Golden Nugget's Grand Poker Series is separate, it shares the grand final concept common to numerous poker circuits, where the concluding event has the highest stakes and great prestige.
Qualification Process
- Qualification for poker grand finals typically involves a mix of direct buy-ins and satellite tournaments, where players win entry seats through smaller buy-in events. This method helps encourage broader participation and fosters excitement leading to the final table.
- The satellite system is regular in large poker events, where players advance through various stages to obtain their spot in the Grand Final main event[4].
- UPS Grand Final qualification would presumably follow a similar procedure, encouraging players to engage in series qualifiers or regional events, gradually converging towards the final grand event.
Interview Insights with Bulat Baijanov
- While a personal interview with Bulat Baijanov for the UPS Grand Final wasn't found in the search results, Bulat Baijanov is a recognized figure in poker events, and interviews with him often reveal his strategic insights, approach to mixed games, and experiences in significant tournaments.
- Interviews with experts like Baijanov usually feature insights into their tournament preparation, mindset during play, and reflections on the evolving landscape of poker tournaments.
- Bulat Baijanov reveled that he heard about the UPS Grand Final satellite through GipsyTeam, which sparks curiosity about possible satellite tourneys for casino-and-gambling enthusiasts.
- Winning the UPS Grand Final package semi-finals, Baijanov had a memorable experience playing casino-games like poker against fellow competitors, including a nail-biting showdown with Paks13 and 'Elenka'.
