Maksim Pisarenko

Maksim Pisarenko's recorded live poker tournament results date back to 2015. During the early years, he focused primarily on events in his native Russia and Belarus, with occasional participation in low-to-mid-stakes tournaments on the European Poker Tour (EPT) in Barcelona and Prague. His first major breakthrough came in March 2019 when he finished third in the EPT Sochi Main Event, earning $183,533. That same year, he registered his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) cash before reaching the money in a pair of WSOP Europe events. Pisarenko, a resident of Ukhta, Russia, gradually built his bankroll and reputation through consistent cashes in mixed-game and no-limit hold'em events.

Pisarenko's defining achievement came at the 2024 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. He won Event #45: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship (8-Handed), defeating Canadian pro Mike Leah in an extended heads-up battle that spanned two days. The tournament attracted 181 entrants, creating a prize pool of $1,683,300. The final table included notable players such as Benny Glaser, Maria Ho (6th), Steve Zolotow (4th), and Lawrence Brandt (3rd). Play was halted on Day 3 with both players bagging chips to participate in another event; they returned on an unprecedented Day 5 to finish the match. Pisarenko ultimately triumphed when his split aces improved to aces-up against Leah's split kings in a Stud hand, earning $399,988 and his first WSOP gold bracelet. This win also marked his second PokerGO Tour (PGT) title of the season, having earlier won the $5,100 H.O.R.S.E. event at PGT Mixed Games in February 2024 for $117,450.

Pisarenko's top live results demonstrate his versatility across multiple poker variants. His largest cash to date is $560,250 for a 13th-place finish in the 2025 WSOP Main Event (Event #81: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em World Championship). Other notable results include a 3rd-place finish in the 2019 EPT Sochi Main Event ($183,533), a 1st-place in the 2017 PokerStars Sochi High Roller ($46,840), and a 6th-place in the $10,200 H.O.R.S.E. at the 2024 PGT Mixed Games ($34,650). He also cashed nine times at the 2024 WSOP, with additional deep runs in the $10,000 Eight Game Mixed Championship (9th, $39,167) and the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship (13th, $20,000). In 2025, beyond the Main Event, he placed 8th in the $10,000 Razz Championship ($34,817) and 28th in the $10,000 Big O Championship ($24,635). More recently, in 2026, he finished 10th in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship at WSOP ($24,181) and recorded cashes in the Wynn Millions and various WSOP events.

Pisarenko has built a reputation as a formidable mixed-game player, particularly in H.O.R.S.E., 8-Game, and other rotating formats. His 2024 WSOP bracelet win in H.O.R.S.E. solidified his status, and he consistently performs in high-stakes mixed events. He won the opening $5,100 H.O.R.S.E. event at the 2024 PGT Mixed Games, defeating Benny Glaser heads-up. In February 2026, he won the Super High Roller Bowl $5,000 8-Game event for $58,500. His ability to adapt across disciplines—from stud to Omaha to razz—has earned him respect among peers and frequent appearances at PGT Mixed Games and WSOP mixed-game championships.

Pisarenko remains an active and successful competitor. The 2025 WSOP was particularly fruitful, with his deep Main Event run accounting for the largest single cash of his career. He followed that with multiple cashes at the 2026 WSOP, including a near-final-table finish in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship. He also recorded results at the 2026 Wynn Millions and other Las Vegas staples. As of early 2026, his lifetime live tournament earnings exceed $2.5 million, according to PokerNews, and he holds a Global Poker Index rank of 208. Pisarenko continues to play a full schedule of WSOP, PGT, and international events, cementing his legacy as one of Russia's top poker talents.