Team

Eric “problem resolvent” Shakhbazyan

The founder, organizer and ideological inspirer of the RPT poker series. He is known for solving any problems and questions of the players, managers and all others around. During his study in the Moscow State University (MSU) he began to publish magazines “Casino Style”, which later became «Poker Style» and «Private Banking». He shot the first poker show on the Russian TV called “Poker Club”, arranged «Sobranie Poker Open» and then launched the biggest in the CIS tournament series Russian Poker Tour. He always follows the players and the whole poker society asking them to give an advice about improving tournament series of the RPT – apparently, this is one of the reasons of the RPT success. From time to time Eric creates competition at the table to the players at his own tournaments. He is a lucky owner of a soft and friendly character. Eric has a suspicious ability to win the people’s favour and also has an excellent sense of humour that is even more suspicious. His hobby is a water polo and listening to poker bad beats.

Oleg “knowledgeable” Udovenko

A graduate of Kharkov University of Radio Electronics. Before his career as a poker manager he was a supervisor and one of the founders of the investment company “Bestbrok”, “Izobit-service”, “Forex Ukraine”, apparently in Ukraine. The first time he got acquainted with poker was in 2005 in the Kharkov club «Royal Poker Club» where he was infected by the poker virus. From that time he is an active carrier agent and a distributor of the virus, that is why he took part in numerous tournaments with small and big buy-ins as a player. Oleg is an owner of the youth Cup of Ukraine, which he is very proud of. In 2008 he took the position of the tournament supervisor of the Kiev club “Platon”, after that he was invited to hold a full-time post in the Poker Federation of Ukraine as a manager of the analytical department. Udovenko has encyclopaedic knowledge about different poker rules that he uses to show who is boss to players and his colleagues. The first time he appeared on the RPT as an invited manager was at the Odessa stage in August 2010 and starting from September 2010 and until now he occupies the position of leader of the manager team and dealers on all the stages of the Russian Poker Tour.

Marina “Try To Catch” Skubenik

An expert in the field of marketing and advertisement. Marina has a philosopher education that is why she courageously manages all the caprices of poker players - people with a steal but strained nerves; candidate of the sociological sciences and that means that she is always informed about demands and requests of all clients. She worked in the casino “Asia” and “Metropol”. Strangely, after being in the poker industry for 5 years, she still loves people and her job. Marina diligently follows the media coverage of the RPT from the very first tournament series and manages the marketing support. This is her who will always kindly consult you on the phone concerning any question about upcoming tournament and will surely book a room. Of course, if you will be able to get her on the phone. The sooner the tournament, the harder it s to do it because Marina s phone doesn t stay silent even in the night. She is keen on cycle racing, jazz and independent cinema. From the time when she met her future husband at one of the poker tournaments, she thinks that poker is her destiny. Marina has a Pharaoh Hound, oriental cat and a husband.

Igor “law-abiding” Afanasjev

A new face in the team of the managers. He was called into the ranks of the RPT to strengthen the discipline of both the dealers and the players. Igor began his career as a dealer in the poker club “Cosmos” in 2000. He also worked in the poker club “Shangri-La”. After that Igor took the position of the manager of the poker club “A-Club” and “Assembly”. He was part of the team “Poker Moscow” in 2009, then he got under influence of the chancellor Palpatin and turned to the dark side. After poker was forbidden, Afanasjev worked as a manager in the underground club "TT" and then managed the "Chicago" club since 2010. He abides the law. Igor is keen on poker, American football, basketball, diving.

Valeriy “Silent Don” Dontsov

The most experienced and calm person in the team of the RPT, he’s been in the gaming field since 1994. Valeriy started from the casino dealer job, then he re-trained into a poker club dealer. Step by step, overcoming all the enemies and ill-wishers, he became a chief manager. He actively participated in the Great October Revolution of organizing and holding the first international tournament in Odesa, the 1^st of April 2006 – “Odessa Poker Open” (and it was not another local joke). Silent Don took part in organizing and holding of the tournaments Gary Bowman’s Сup, Black Sea Poker Championship, Black Sea Poker Cup. Currently, Valeriy is a strict but fair chief manager of the biggest poker club of Odessa - "Poker Land".