Viacheslav Buldygin

Viacheslav Buldygin, playing online under the alias 'VbV1990', is a Russian professional poker player who began making notable live results in 2021. He finished 5th in the SHRS Europe #6 $100,000 No-Limit Hold'em event for $245,000 and 6th in the SHRB Europe $250,000 NLH for $512,500 later that year. In 2022, he placed 5th in the SHRS Europe #6 $50,000 NLH for $172,000 and 6th in the Triton Mediterranean Poker Party $25,000 NLH for $190,500. These early successes established him as a high-stakes contender.

Buldygin has been a consistent presence on the Triton Poker circuit, accumulating $4.04 million in earnings from 12 cashes between 2022 and 2025. His most notable victory came in 2023 at Triton Cyprus, winning the $50,000 NLH 7-Handed event for $1,342,000. In the same series, he placed 5th in the $75,000 NLH 8-Handed for $502,500 and 4th in the $50,000 NLH 7-Handed in Monte-Carlo for $618,000. He also cashed in the 2022 Triton Mediterranean event for $190,500. In 2025, he cashed in Triton Jeju $15,000 8-Handed, finishing 58th for $24,000.

Apart from Triton, Buldygin has posted strong results in other high-roller series. In 2021, he finished 5th in the SHRS Europe #6 $100,000 NLH ($245,000) and 6th in the SHRB Europe $250,000 NLH ($512,500). In 2022, he placed 5th in SHRS Europe #6 $50,000 NLH ($172,000). He also cashed in the 2023 Triton Merit Poker $25,000 GG Super Million$ Live for $49,700 (19th). At the 2024 EPT Paris, he finished 181st in the €5,300 Main Event for €11,400. According to the PokerGO Tour, his total live earnings stand at $6,919,773.

Buldygin has a substantial online presence, with 26 recorded cashes on WSOP.com and GGPoker platforms, totaling $497,371 as of 2026. His best WSOP results include a 23rd-place finish in the 2025 $5,000 6-Handed NLH Championship for $19,840, and cashes in the $10,300 Super MILLION$ High Rollers for $35,772 (2023) and $33,201 (2024). More recently in 2026, he finished 63rd in the $10,000 GGMillion$ Main Event for $41,609 and 22nd in the $1,500 Sunday High Rollers Main Event for $4,760. His online earnings push his overall tournament bankroll beyond $7.4 million.

Buldygin is known for an aggressive, high-pressure style that leverages position and wide ranges. He demonstrates solid multi-tabling skills, particularly in online tournaments. However, some analysts have noted a tendency to over-rely on exploitative strategies, which can increase variance in high-stakes settings. His approach has earned him both significant wins and criticism.

In 2020, Buldygin was among several Russian players implicated in a real-time assistance (RTA) cheating scandal in online poker. The allegations sparked debate about integrity in the game and have since overshadowed his achievements. Despite the controversy, his Triton Poker results and consistent high-stakes performances ensure he remains a notable figure in the poker community. His legacy is complicated, balancing evident skill with the ethical questions surrounding the scandal.

Buldygin continued to post online cashes in 2025 and 2026 across GGPoker and WSOP platforms. Highlights include a 104th-place finish in the 2026 WSOP Online Super Circuit #5: $525 Mystery Millions for $25,825, and a 135th-place in the $500 WSOP Super Circuit Kickoff for $2,353. In the 2026 GG World Festival, he placed 63rd in the $10,000 GGMillion$ Main Event for $41,609. Earlier in 2025, he cashed in GGMasters events: 365th for $429 (December) and 114th for $755 (November). These results add to his growing online resume.

As of 2026, Buldygin has earned $6,919,773 in live tournaments according to the PokerGO Tour, with 114 PGT points from his top finishes. He appears on the Russia All Time Money List, ranked among the top 12,438 players, though his exact position is not specified. His consistent cashes in high-roller events have solidified his status as one of Russia's most successful active poker players.