Mikita Bodyakovsky

Mikita Bodyakovsky (also spelled Mikita Badziakouski; Belarusian: Мікіта Бадзякоўскі, Russian: Никита Бодяковский) was born on 6 February 1992 in Belarus. He began playing live tournaments in 2010 at age 18, with his early cashes occurring in Ukraine. Under the online alias "fish2013" on PokerStars, he chose the year 2013 because that was when he would turn 21 and become eligible to play for a World Series of Poker (WSOP) title in the United States. As of February 2020, he had earned over $2,200,000 playing high-stakes online cash games on PokerStars, building a reputation for an aggressive, pressure-heavy style that forces opponents into difficult decisions.

Bodyakovsky's live tournament career took off in May 2016 when he secured his first six-figure score—a €210,530 prize for sixth place in the €50,000 Super High Roller at EPT Monte Carlo. Eighteen months later, he finished second in the €100,000 Monte-Carlo One Drop Extravaganza for €501,800. In 2017, he placed third in the €111,111 High Roller for One Drop at WSOP Europe, earning €1,512,312 ($1,772,822).

May 2018 marked a breakthrough: he won the Triton Super High Roller Series Montenegro Main Event for $2,499,090 ($2,499,184 per other sources). A week later, he finished fourth in the $300,000 Super High Roller Bowl in Las Vegas for $1,600,000. Then in July 2018, he won the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju Main Event for $5,257,027. In August 2018, he took down the €100,000 EPT Barcelona Super High Roller for €1,650,300 ($1,930,851). Later that year, he won a short deck hold'em event at King's Casino in Rozvadov, earning the nickname "Short Deck King."

In September 2019, he defeated Christoph Vogelsang heads-up to win the £50,000 no-limit hold'em event at the British Poker Open, collecting £486,000. He continued to pile up seven-figure scores, including a win in the €100,000 EPT Super High Roller in Barcelona in August 2022 for €1,979,220 ($2,031,303). In May 2023, he won almost €2 million over five days by finishing second in a €100,000 EPT Super High Roller and winning a €25,000 EPT High Roller in Monte-Carlo.

His biggest career score came in December 2023 at the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. Bodyakovsky won the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop, taking home $7,114,500. This victory solidified his position as one of the top earners in poker history.

At the 2021 World Series of Poker, Bodyakovsky won his first WSOP bracelet in Event #85: $50,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller, earning $1,462,043. This victory was a highlight of a year that also saw him win a Poker Masters event. He has one WSOP bracelet, five final tables, and multiple other deep runs in WSOP events.

Bodyakovsky has been a fixture on the Triton Poker Series, winning multiple events across various formats. His Triton victories include:

• 2018 Montenegro Main Event: HKD 19,618,400 ($2,499,090)
• 2018 Jeju Main Event: HKD 41,250,000 ($5,257,027)
• 2019 Montenegro Short Deck Ante-Only: HKD 13,300,000
• 2022 Madrid €50k NLH 7-Handed: €1,340,000 ($1,340,000)
• 2024 Jeju $100k Short Deck: $1,153,000

His versatility in switching between no-limit hold'em and short deck formats has been a hallmark of his career.

Bodyakovsky is widely regarded as an aggressive, pressure-heavy player. He leverages position and well-constructed ranges to apply constant pressure postflop, often making bold yet precise bets to exploit opponents' weaknesses. His style is particularly effective in deep-stacked situations where he can maximize fold equity. He is known to bluff frequently and is willing to engage in high-stakes challenges against other top players. This approach has earned him the nickname "Belarusian Lion" among fans and peers.

Bodyakovsky has captured several titles on the PokerGO Tour, complementing his major wins. In 2021, he won Event #10 of the Poker Masters series, a $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em tournament, earning $342,000. That same year, he secured his WSOP bracelet. In 2022, he added a $50,000 Short Deck event at the Super High Roller Series Europe for $756,000. In 2025, he took down a $15,100 No-Limit Hold'em event at the ARIA High Roller series for $250,000. His consistent high-stakes results throughout 2025 and early 2026 include multiple cashes at Triton Montenegro and WSOP Paradise, demonstrating his sustained excellence.

As of 2026, Bodyakovsky's live tournament earnings exceed $68 million according to PokerNews, placing him fourth on the all-time money list. The Hendon Mob database lists his total at $60.9 million (as of mid-2024) but later updates show over $68 million. He is the all-time money leader from Belarus. In March 2025, he added another seven-figure score, earning $1,348,000 for a third-place finish in a $125,000 buy-in Triton Jeju event. He continues to compete at the highest levels, with consistent cashes in 2025 and 2026, including a 10th-place finish in the $250,000 Triton Invitational at WSOP Paradise 2025 for $648,000. In 2026, he recorded cashes at Triton Montenegro (7th in $25k NLH 8-Handed for $125,000, 9th in $50k NLH 7-Handed for $142,000) and at Triton Jeju (20th in $100k Main Event for $210,000). He also placed 26th in the $25,000 Onyx High Roller Series Main Event for $55,000. These results underscore his enduring competitiveness among the world's elite players.

Bodyakovsky's aggressive style and consistent results have cemented his legacy as one of poker's elite. His distinction of winning the prestigious Big One for One Drop and his dominance in both live and online high-stakes games make him a legend in the poker world.

With live tournament earnings exceeding $68 million as of 2026, Bodyakovsky ranks fourth on poker's all-time money list. He is the all-time money leader from Belarus and has received several accolades, including the PokerStars Platinum Pass award and recognition as GPI National Player of the Year. His Hendon Mob profile highlights his achievement of crossing the $60 million milestone in live earnings. He also maintains a Global Poker Index (GPI) ranking of 79 as of mid-2024, reflecting his consistent performance at the highest levels of tournament poker.

Bodyakovsky maintained a busy schedule in 2025 and 2026, cashing in numerous high-roller events. At the 2025 WSOP Paradise, he finished 10th in the $250,000 Triton Invitational for $648,000 and placed 302nd in the $25,000 Super Main Event for $50,000. He also cashed in the Onyx Super High Roller Series, earning $200,000 for 10th place in the $102,000 Invitational and $43,000 for 33rd in the $25,750 Main Event. In 2026, he recorded several cashes at the Triton Poker Series Montenegro, including a 7th-place finish in the $25,000 NLH 8-Handed ($125,000) and a 9th-place in the $50,000 NLH 7-Handed ($142,000). He also placed 20th in the $100,000 NLHE Main Event in Jeju for $210,000 and 26th in the $25,000 NLH Main Event of the Onyx High Roller Series for $55,000. These results underscore his enduring competitiveness among the world's elite players.

Beyond tournament results, Bodyakovsky remains a regular participant in the most exclusive high-stakes cash games and online tables. His Hendon Mob profile, as of mid‑2024, listed total live earnings of $58,745,584, but including the Big One for One Drop and other later cashes, his actual earnings have surpassed $68 million. He continues to be a feared opponent in any format, whether no-limit hold'em or short deck, and his name remains synonymous with aggressive, winning poker at the highest stakes.