Last month, KKPoker announced that Macedonian poker player Toni Zengovski, known online at KKPoker as 'ZENGA', had become the first back-to-back Vegas Dream package winner.
Today, we are delighted to announce our second, after Christopher Alcindor was victorious in the latest Canada exclusive final qualifer!
WSOPC Ring winner Christopher battled through the 33-entry Vegas Dream final qualifier tournament to bank a $12,000 package and a return to the KK Elite Team for 2025 alongside fellow qualifiers such as Warren Joe, Adrian Key and Sharath Maddur.
In Chris' 2024 pre-Vegas interview, he said playing in poker's biggest live Main Event tournament and competing with the best was a dream. His debut will be long remembered for an epic hand on Day 1, which went viral on social media with over 450,000 views!
Read on to learn Chris' thoughts on his return, his viral Ace-King hand, and how he plans to try a mostly back-to-basics strategy in 2025.
"that hand was truly insane!"
Chris, congratulations on winning a KKPoker Vegas Dream package and place on the KK Elite team for a second year running. Can you describe how you feel about the opportunity?
"I feel really grateful to be able to get another shot at competing in one of the most prestigious tournaments there is, and I also feel very lucky to be able to make such a dream run happen yet again.
"When I won the package I was even more excited than last year, running around fist pumping, dancing and celebrating with Alexandra, my girlfriend, who just had a good feeling about this all along." said Chris.
How was your Vegas Dream experience in 2024?
"Last year, I felt like I was still a bit nervous and not as comfortable as I would have wanted, given that it was my first time playing in a $10K buy-in tournament. It was an amazing experience though and a great icebreaker, and I think this year I'll be able to play somewhat closer to my usual game and take a few more calculated risks."
Last year, you had an epic hand on the streamed Main Event table! Can you again share the hand and your reaction to the viral clips?
"Oh man, that hand was truly insane! It's the very last hand of Day 1D, and everyone is ready to bag their chips and go home for the most part. We played for a bit less than 12 hours at that point, and I had been getting 3-bet multiple times even though I was playing pretty tight, more than I usually do even...
"So I'm sitting on about 90BB and opened AKo for 2.5x from UTG+1, and my direct left opponent, Loving, who was playing pretty solid throughout, 3-bets to 7.5BBs with about 45BB behind.
"I tanked for a little and figured it would be a great spot to apply maximum pressure here...
"I'm all-in... *SNAPCALL!*... Wait, what? He has the goods here?!
"Well, he did and turned over AA, and I immediately got this sick feeling you get when you know you just punted a good chunk of your stack...
"To my surprise, the poker gods allowed my 6% hand preflop to improve to virtually a coin toss after one of the best flops I could ask for: Kd Jd Qd (I had Ad Ks). Turn was the Qh, and the river was the miraculous Kc to complete the suckout and allowed me to bag a 83K stack for Day 2.
"I got interviewed shortly after the hand and have since seen a couple of these viral clips too. I think the hand highlights just how much poker can be cruel sometimes and how much luck is needed to get through such huge fields. My friends also call me a luckbox, and I take it with a smile as I'd rather be lucky than good, as the famous saying goes."
What motivated you to enter the Vegas Dream event again, and how did winning it impact your poker goals?
"Last year's experience was top-notch. I had a blast and loved seeing how well everyone performed. I also had a very profitable trip altogether, which motivated me to do my best to repeat the feat and get in the mix again this year.
"So before winning the package, I planned a small trip to play some lower buy-in events in Vegas this year, but now, with this golden opportunity, I feel like I gave myself the best birthday gift I could, and I'll do my best to make the best out of it!"
"Main Event again this year!"
Walk us through one of the toughest hands or moments you faced during the Vegas Dream tournament and how you navigated through it. How do you approach heads-up play?
"To be fair, I think it was less about tough spots and more about lucky outcomes in crucial moments this time. I played okay during the rebuy period, but I still ended up having to rebuy at some point. Then, shortly after the add-on period was over, I got an above-average stack and managed to reach the final table.
"When down to 6 players, there was a lot of back and forth, but I managed to chip up nicely and was 2nd in chips. From there, things really started going my way.
"First, I knocked out Justin Anderson, one of last year's Vegas Dream package winners. I had A5 from the SB and limp called vs. his 3x raise from the Big Blind on an 18BBs stack. Flop came 853 rainbow. I ended up check/raising and he jammed! I didn't love the spot, but I called anyway. Justin had 66 and was ahead! The turn was a brick, but the river was an Ace for two pair and the win. With that pot, I took the chip lead.
"Shortly after I opened TT from the Button, I got jammed on by a short stack with 99 and held, which meant we were down to 4 players.
"I then decided to raise/call A6o from the BB vs the new short stack and won vs his QJs.
"Down to 3 players with 2nd place guaranteed $3.1k USD; this meant pressure time since I had about a 2 to 1 chip lead on 2nd place. They were both picking their spots pretty well against me, especially Dylan Ellis, who won KKPoker Canada's Best 2024, who kept shoving and reshoving over my opens, so I decided to up the aggression even more!
"One crucial hand occurred when I ended up open-shoving QJo with 54BBs while they were sitting on 20-25BBs effective. Dylan called from the BB with JJ and had me in really bad shape! Flop and turn came no help until the magic Q flipped over on the river, bailing me out and eliminating yet another tough opponent.
"With that kind of luck on my side, the HU play also felt one-sided and I even ended up winning the package on a flip ''holding the baby'' with 3h 3d against the former chip leader, Youssef, who had Ac Qs. Board came Kh Ah 4c, 2h for maximum sweat, and again, the river fell for me with the 9h for a flush!
"Mission accomplished, we're going to play the Main Event again this year!"
How do you plan to prepare again for the WSOP?
"I want to give myself the best chance at building a solid stack that will carry me throughout the tournament's later stages. So I plan on doing some studying and review sessions with a couple of friends to help me stay sharp and comfortable in many marginal and tricky spots where mistakes are usually made. I also want to stay up to date with all the players' tendencies so I can stay one step ahead."
What are your new goals for Vegas in 2025?
"My new goals for Vegas this year would be to simply play closer to my usual game and use my full arsenal of tools and tricks, let's say, pull the trigger if necessary and remain methodical with my approach. Apart from that, keep a positive mindset, enjoy the moment, and get lucky when needed, of course!"
Chris with KKPoker ambassador David Ko
"everyone contributes to these memorable events"
You recently experienced KKLIVE NEW BRUNSWICK, both as a player and live event consultant. How was your experience?
"That's a great question! As a player, I would say that I really enjoy the concept of being able to compete online for Day 1 and end up meeting all the players in real life afterward.
"I think it's great for the community and really makes me feel like we're a big family sharing the adventure together. It also allows players to get out of their comfort zone and travel across Canada.
"Every poker player enjoys the experience of a good old poker road trip, right?! So I think players benefiting from a travel allowance for these events is a big plus.
"As a consultant, I really enjoy the whole process of helping to plan and make the event happen. I work closely with fellow consultant Trevor, who has been an inspiring leader to many, and I think we make a really good team. This time, we also had Rod and all the staff from SMEC (Saint Mary's Entertainment Centre) running the operation and making sure the players had the best possible experience, which is why I think the event was such a success.
"Overall, it's really a team effort and everyone contributes to making these events memorable, which is why I love it!"
Chris alongside Dylan Ellis and Trevor at KKLIVE NB
VEGAS AWAITS THE KK ELITE TEAM
The opportunity is huge, with the chance to play for a prize in the millions of dollars!
In 2024, the KKPoker Elite Team won over $650,000, with Robert Renaud turning his Vegas Dream package into a life-changing $250,000!
Stay tuned across our social media for continued coverage of the KK Elite team in Las Vegas.
