On a pulsating day of poker action, Dan Zack claimed a third bracelet of his career and became the first player this series to win two gold WSOP bracelets to boot. Elsewhere, Chris Moorman lost heads-up to David Perry in a shock ending to their event and Fabian Brandes won gold on a day where three players took home titles.
Zack Grinds Out Epic Third Bracelet Win
Dan Zack won his second WSOP bracelet in 2022, becoming the first person to do so in the 40th event of the 2022 WSOP. Coming from behind with three players left, Zack won the third WSOP bracelet of his career in style as he watched David Funkhouser take out Ziya Rahim in third place before an epic eight-hour battle for the bracelet began.
It was a delayed three-handed match that took place on Day 22, as the proposed final table yesterday didn’t work out so easy to conclude. Despite the early and fairly quick eliminations of well-known players Shaun Deeb (5th for $83,465), Chad Eveslage (6th for $63,914) and Brian Hastings (7th for $49,571), three men came back to battle for glory.
Funkhouser began with more than double Zack’s stack, but the popular $25k Fantasy Draft player eventually got ahead and booked the win, celebrating in his traditionally modest manner on Twitter.
I won!
— Daniel Zack (@Dan__Zack) June 22, 2022
WSOP 2022 Event #40 $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship:
- Daniel Zack – $324,174
- David Funkhouser – $200,356
- Ziya Rahim – $147,800
- Eric Kurtzman – $110,379
- Shaun Deeb – $83,465
- Chad Eveslage – $63,914
- Brian Hastings – $49,571
Perry Takes Bracelet as Moorman Comes Close
Chris Moorman finished in second place of the $500-entry Event #43, the freezeout no limit hold’em event which saw David Perry take home the bracelet and top prize of $241,729. With 10 players making the final table, there were quick exits for Robert Pettit and his conqueror Daniel Marcus, as both Americans busted in 10th and 9th respectively. It was Henry Reyes who busted in eighth for $28,802. His shove on a 
flop with 
was called by Moorman’s 
, which held through the 
[ turn and 
river, meaning Moorman had a strong lead over his rivals at the felt.
Out in seventh was Elven Espinar, and he was followed from the felt by Phong Than Nguyen and Sebastien Guidez before Moorman busted Daniel Eichorn in third for $111,341. Eichorn’s 
was no match for Moorman’s 
after the board of 
gave Moorman a straight on the turn.
With 202 players starting the final day, just two were left and heads-up, Moorman had a slim lead with 61 million ahead of Perry’s 58 million. Despite this, Perry moved ahead and had a 2:1 by the time the final hand played out. On a flop of 
, Moorman check-shoved with and was called by Perry’s 
. Moorman was ahead, but not for long as a 
on the turn delivered Perry the most unlikely of outs, with the 
river giving him his first WSOP bracelet, and he celebrated by leaping into the air before shaking Moorman’s hand.
WSOP 2022 Event #43 $500 Freezeout NLHE Final Table Results:
- David Perry – $241,729
- Chris Moorman – $149,405
- Daniel Eichhorn – $111,341
- Josh Pregar – $83,623
- Sebastien Guidez – $63,302
- Phong Than Nguyen – $48,299
- Elven Espinar – $37,148
- Henry Reyes – $28,802
- Daniel Marcus – $22,512
- Robert Pettit – $17,741
Brilliant Brandes Lands Debut Bracelet
Just nine days ago, Fabian Brandes came second in Event #19. A whole 20 events and half the number of days after beginning that attempt at gold that came so close, he has achieved it in the next tournament he’s played. The German player got the better of overnight chip leader Leonid Yanovski in the PLO 6-Max Event #39 for a top price of $371,358.
Brandes’ win is impressive enough on that merit, but when you take into consideration that the Israeli Yanovski led not only the final day but the preceding one too, Brandes’ victory at the last is all the more creditable. With a total of 719 entries in the $3,000-entry 6-Max event, American player Sean Winter had a thrilling time despite finishing third.
At one point, Winter was down to one big blind, almost the literal chip and a chair, before winning seven consecutive all-ins to eventually ladder all the way to third place and a score of $156,401.
WSOP 2022 Event #39 $3,000 PLO 6-Max Final Table Results:
- Fabian Brandes – $371,358
- Leonid Yanovski – $229,529
- Sean Winter – $156,401
- Thomas Morrison – $108,604
- Ferenc Deak – $76,880
- Grzegorz Derkowski – $55,501
Millionaire Maker Reaches Final Five
On day 4 of the $1,500-entry Millionaire Maker, Event #37, the day’s starting field of 24 players fought all the way to the final five players as U.S. player Tyler Gaston bagged the chip lead with 64,000,000 chips. Second in chips Bulgarian Yuliyan Kolev (58.3 million) is close to the leader, with Israeli Oren Rosen (43 million), Australian Yita Choong (22.9 million) and American Dominic Brazier (10.2 million) completing the line-up of finalists.
The final levels were exciting with former WSOP Main Event table finalist Nick Marchington both grabbing the chip lead and looking imperious before it all fell apart and he exited in ninth for $108,704. The final elimination saw Stanley Weng move all-in with 
but he was called by Kolev with 
and the board of 
saw Weng busted in sixth for $231,145, completing the final day line-up.
WSOP 2022 Event #37 $1,500 Millionaire Maker Final Table Chipcounts:
Tyler Gaston – 64,000,000
Yuliyan Kolev – 58,300,000
Oren Rosen – 43,000,000
Yita Choong – 22,900,000
Dominic Brazier – 10,200,000
Day 2 of H.O.R.S.E. Championship Sees Fillies Fall
There were 209 total entries in the $10,000-entry H.O.R.S.E. Championship, otherwise known as Event #44. With just 114 of those starting Day 2, 22 players remained at the end of a packed day of action at the mixed game felt.
When the dust settled, it was Bryce Yockey who led the final 22 players with 1,465,000 chips, a big lead from nearest rivals Eric Wasserson (1,025,000) and Jerry Wong (885,000). With other poker luminaries Ben Lamb (875,000), Mike Gorodinsky (825,000) and John Racener (710,000) all present in the top half of the leaderboard, others like Robert Campbell, Phil Ivey, Anthony Zinno, Dylan Linde, Michael Mizrachi, Daniel Weinman and Alex Livingston all failed to make the cut.
WSOP 2022 Event #44 $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship Top 10 Chipcounts:
- Bryce Yockey – 1,465,000
- Eric Wasserson – 1,025,000
- Jerry Wong – 885,000
- Ben Lamb – 875,000
- Andrew Yeh – 865,000
- Eric Rodawig – 835,000
- Mike Gorodinsky – 825,000
- Ismael Bojang – 750,000
- John Racener – 710,000
- Gary Benson – 640,000
Two More Bracelet Events Conclude Opening Flights
In Event #45, the $1,500-entry Pot Limit Omaha event, a bumper Day 1 saw 1,437 entries whittled down to 97 survivors, with Joshua Stefansky (1,660,000) ahead of everyone else. In fact, he is far and away the monster chip leader, with his nearest rival John Riordan (972,000) having only just over half his stack. Others to bag big included WSOP bracelet event stars Dylan Weisman (803,000) and David Williams (769,000).
With stars such as Erik Seidel, Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth all busting, there was also a cash and deep run for last year’s Player of the Year Josh Arieh, who finished 216th for $2,405 and vital points.
WSOP 2022 Event #45 $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Top 10 Chipcounts:
- Joshua Stefansky – 1,660,000
- John Riordan – 972,000
- Vincent Moscati – 959,000
- Mark Liedtke – 943,000
- Daniel Tordjman – 853,000
- Hossein Ghodosi – 826,000
- Dylan Weisman – 803,000
- David Levy – 784,000
- Sander Van Wesemael – 772,000
- David Williams – 769,000
Finally, in Event #46, the $5,000-entry no limit hold’em event, a galaxy of stars arrived to play with big names such as Daniel Lazrus (349,500), Chance Kornuth (339,500), Ryan Riess (317,500), Calvin Anderson (255,000) and Daniel Negreanu (211,000) all surviving Day 1. It was United States high roller regular Chris Brewer (485,000) who led from Austrian Oliver Bosch (480,000), with Christian Pham a c-bet behind the duo on 455,000 chips.
While plenty of players enjoyed a good day at the felt as 850 entries were reduced to 277 Day 1 survivors others such as Joe McKeehen, Anatoly Filatov, Player of the Year hopeful Scott Ball, Ben Heath, and Andre Akkari all failed to bag up on the day.
WSOP 2022 Event #46 $5,000 6-Max NLHE Top 10 Chipcounts:
- Chris Brewer – 485,000
- Oliver Bosch – 480,000
- Christian Pham – 455,000
- Fikret Kovac – 432,000
- Aaron Van Blarcum – 428,500
- Ian O’Hara – 419,000
- Taylor Paur – 395,000
- Hui Kuo – 392,000
Allen ‘Chainsaw’ Kessler treated some fans to a $200 meal as Vegas got weird.
Ok guys tonight is the night.
I will treat up to 6 followers at the Raiders restaurant at M resort up to $200 at 730pm.
If more show up, or we go over $200, we will work it out somehow.
If you're interested please respond below so I have an idea how many will attend.
— Allen Kessler (@AllenKessler) June 22, 2022
Dan ‘Cowboy’ Smith had an idea for a new Super High Roller event next year, as the 2022 bracelet winner confirmed he’s a fan of turning up on time.
Let’s get a super highroller freezeout on the schedule for next year. No late entry, no gimmicks … If you want to play you Gotta be there level 1 300bb deep .
Make it the first event of the series. Stream the whole thing. @WSOP
— Dan Smith (@DanSmithHolla) June 21, 2022
Ever the positive poker champion, Joe Hachem was keen to highlight the value for money coffee available in the WSOP venue. Well, kinda.
What a disgrace @WSOP charging $6 for a black coffee in the Ballys cafeteria. And it tastes like filtered mud to add insult?
— Joe Hachem (@JosephHachem) June 21, 2022
Barry ‘Robin Hood’ Greenstein confirmed the top 10 questions he’s asked at the WSOP, and his answers. Hey, saves an ‘Ask Me Anything’ thread.
Top ten questions I've been asked at WSOP 2022:
Q: How's it going?
A: Ok so far but I'm expecting it to get much better.Q: Do you have a lighter?
A: I lit my chips on fire without one.Q: Are you who I think you are?
A: Are you in law enforcement?(1/4)
— Barry Greenstein (@barrygreenstein) June 20, 2022
Finally, amazing news as Doyle Brunson was confirmed as a WPT ambassador and used his first social media post since the announcement to confirm that he’ll hopefully be in the mix in the Main Event!
I probably am going to play the main event, hoping the covid has died down a little.
— Doyle Brunson (@TexDolly) June 21, 2022
Official photographs courtesy of PokerGO, the home of live-streamed action throughout the 2022 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
