A bumper day in the 2022 World Series of Poker saw four players win gold WSOP bracelets as the Poker Players Championship, $600 Deepstack, $10k Short Deck Championship and $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty events all produced champions. From first timers to multiple bracelet winners, there were millions won at the felt on Day 31 of this year’s WSOP.
Cates Claims Back-to-Back Wins in Poker Players Championship
Dan Cates won the 2022 version of the $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship on Thursday evening as the early hours of Friday morning ticked round to see last year’s champion win his second PPC title in just eight months.
Cates, who won after an incredible, lengthy heads-up battle with Brazilian online poker legend Yuri Dzivielevsk, had dressed up as Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage for much of the five days of battle and upon winning, Cates could almost have quoted the wrestling legend he is clearly is awe of, adapting his quote to being the “Best [PPCchampion] there is, past, present and future!”
At the five-handed final table, Germany’s Johannes Becker lost out in fifth, losing in no limit hold’em as his 
lost out to Benny Glaser’s 
after a board of 
saw the field reduced to four.
Despite winning that hand, Glaser would bust next, looking disconsolate as his words ‘Stand Pat’ ended his hopes of a fifth WSOP bracelet in a brutal hand of NL 2-7 Single Draw against
Noya Kihara. The Japanese player was trying to spin his way back into contention, but instead, the next hour or so proved fatal to his chances as he eventually slid out of contention to Cates, busting for $639,257.
That gave Cates a big lead, with the American going into the final duel with 25.9 million chips to the Brazilian’s 7.6 million. The lead would swap hands dozens of times during the next seven hours, however, until two hands of Limit 2-7 Triple Draw decided the championship. First, Cates made a bet that forced Dzivielevski to reappraise his better hand, eventually leading to him swapping away the better holdings to fall 3:1 down in chips. In the next hand, Cates had the second-best hand possible, and the Brazilian made the opposite choice standing pat to see almost all of his remaining chips disappear.
Minutes later, it was all over in no limit hold’em, as Dzivielevski, despite five straight double-ups, the Brazilian’s 
couldn’t double his five big blinds against Cates’ 
when the board fell 
gave Cates a magnificent back-to-back Poker Players Championship victory.
WSOP 2022 Event #56 $50,000 Poker Players Championship Final Table Results:
- Daniel Cates – $1,449,103
- Yuri Dzivielevski – $895,614
- Naoya Kihara – $639,257
- Benny Glaser – $464,420
- Johannes Becker – $343,531
Lendvai Claims Dramatic Win in Deepstack Event
Hungarian player Tamas Lendvai claimed a first bracelet victory in an emotional Event #57, the $600-entry Deepstack event. With seven coming into the final day’s play, Lendvai started in seventh place with just eight big blinds, but span it up to make himself a champion.
Out first was Tsuf Saltsberg, who cashed for $46,347 in seventh place when he called off his stack on a board showing 
with his open-ended straight draw of 
. Lendvai had already turned that straight with 
, however, with the river of 
not helping Saltsberg catch up.
Next to go was Abdullah Alshanti, who busted in sixth place for $60,196 when his shove for his last 11 big blinds with 
marched into the brick wall of Lendvai’s 
. He was followed from the felt by Daniel Marcus with 
falling to Lendvai’s , as the board of 
board showing Marcus the door for $78,793.
Overnight chip leader Alex Jim lost his stack in fourth place, cashing for $103,994 when Van Fleet’s 
’s proved better than Jim’s 
, as the board of 
paid off the bigger stack. Van Fleet was to last only one place longer, after his four-bet shove for 31 big blinds with ace-ten was slaughtered by Lendvai’s pocket aces.
Heads-up, Lendvai had a mammoth 10 to 1 lead, but he still managed to get lucky in the final hand. Shoving from the small blind with , Lendvai managed to triumph over Frank Reichel’s 
when the river paired his hand on a board of 
. Reichel cashed for $185,027 in second place, but Lendvai had the win for $299,464.
WSOP 2022 Event #57 $600 Deepstack Final Table Results:
- Tamas Lendvai – $299,464
- Frank Reichel – $185,027
- Jon Van Fleet -$138,149
- Alex Jim – $103,994
- Daniel Marcus – $78,793
- Abdullah Alshanti – $60,196
- Tsuf Saltsberg – $46,347
Dash Dudley Races to Turbo Win
Dash Dudley came into the action with just four big blinds to his name, but a few hours later, he had won his third WSOP bracelet after running it up to take the title. The nine-handed final table began with a quick elimination, as Ken Drewry busted for $27,526. Drewry was followed from the felt, as Dimitre Dimitrov left for $35,240 in eighth place, his last hand seeing ace-queen bust to John Bredengerd’s pocket kings.
By this point, of course, Dudley had more than bounced off the canvas, and as play raced to a winner, he only got stronger. Jan Bednar was another who looked strong, and his 
were good enough for another elimination, this time Kevin Davis busting with to see the latter escape with a cash of $45,517.
Yuhei Sanada busted in sixth place, his micro-stack giving him a cash worth $59,306 as his laddering finally ended, before Harpreet Padda followed him to the rail, Padda’s king-jack being shot down by Dudley’s ace-king, Padda winning $77,945 in fifth place. Czech player Bednar was the next player to bust, with his ace-jack shot down with David Sanchez’ ace-king.
Sanchez and Dudley would battle for the bracelet after Bredengerd left in third place for $138,142. Dudley was short stack with 28.2 million to Sanchez’ stack of 36 million, but he turned around that lead quickly then got it in good with 
and was called by . That saw the event concluded as David Sanchez cashed $186,258 and Dudley mopped up the top prize of $301,396.
WSOP 2022 Event #62 $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty Final Table Results:
- Dash Dudley – $301,396
- David Sanchez – $186,258
- John Bredengerd – $138,142
- Jan Bednar – $103,325
- Harpreet Padda – $77,945
- Yuhei Sanada – $59,306
- Kevin Davis – $45,517
- Dimitre Dimitrov – $35,240
- Ken Drewry – $27,526
Nakanishi Claims First Bracelet Against Legends
Japanese player Shota Nakanishi won his first WSOP bracelet as he claimed $277,212 by winning the Short Deck Championship, otherwise known as the $10,000-entry Event #60. Taking on four players all of whom had won a WSOP gold bracelet before, Nakanishi conquered them all as he utilized his special talent in the poker format to reign supreme.
With Stephen Chidwick busting first, the British poker legend cashing for $65,143, Sean Winter was next to go, losing out in fourth place for $88,168. The Japanes player had a big lead and it forced both his opponents, Brian Rast and Ben Lamb to clash in a bid to survive to heads-up with a realistic chance.
Lamb it was who prevailed in that battle, as Rast lost to Lamb’s pocket aces when he shoved with king-queen. Heads-up, Lamb went in behind but drew almost level when he had pocket aces again, only for the Japanese to scrape a chop pot and Lamb’s momentum didn’t last. Trips for Nakanishi soon after ended matters, giving Lamb the runner-up cash of $171,331, and seeing Nakanishi win his first-ever WSOP gold bracelet and $277,212.
WSOP 2022 Event #60 $10,000 Short Deck NLHE Championship Final Table Results:
- Shota Nakanishi – $277,212
- Ben Lamb – $171,331
- Brian Rast – $121,718
- Sean Winter – $88,168
- Stephen Chidwick – $65,143
Five Remain in Super Seniors Event
The Super Seniors Event has just five players remaining as Massoud Eskandari (19,000,000) built a powerful chip lead in the event. Two of the five players who will contest the final are female with Jennifer Gianera (16,500,000) second in chips and close to the chip leader. Others still chasing gold are James Jewell (8,425,000) and both Peter Mylenki and Sharri Crawford, who ended the day level at the bottom of the chip counts with 4,200,000 chips, the equivalent of just over 20 big blinds.
Earlier, the two-time bracelet winner Barny Boatman (68th) defending champion Jean-Luc Adam (40th) and Peter Kamaras (11th) all left the party, eventually leaving just five players who will battle it out for the top prize of $330,609.
WSOP 2022 Event #59 $1,000 Super Seniors Final Table Chipcounts:
- Massoud Eskandari – 19,000,000
- Jennifer Gianera – 16,500,000
- James Jewell – 8,425,000
- Peter Mylenki – 4,200,000
- Sharri Crawford – 4,200,000
Ladies Led by Dominant Andrews
A huge day of action in Event #61 saw the $1,000 Ladies Event go through the money bubble. A total of 1,074 entries were reduced to 274 on Day 1, and that number was slashed to just 42 survivors the top prize of $166,975 was confirmed to be on the line as well as the much-coveted WSOP bracelet.
After the dust settled, the chip leader at the final five tables was Cherish Andrews (1,800,000), whose lead is a huge one from Natalie Hof Ramos (1,100,000). Behind Hof Ramos, Chenyi Liu (785,000), Amanda Baker (580,000), Melanie Weisner (560,000), Lexy Gavin (401,000), Charlotte Van Brabander (380,000), Tiffany Michelle (250,000) and Pamela Balzano (165,000) all have chips.
Some players to go close but fail to make the next day include British player and broadcaster Natalie Bromley, last year’s winner Lara Eisenberg, Spanish 2021 WSOP bracelet winner Leo Margets, Loni Hui, Molly Mossey and Xuan Liu.
WSOP 2022 Event #61 $1,000 Ladies Event Top 10 Chipcounts:
- Cherish Andrews – 1,800,000
- Natalie Hof Ramos – 1,100,000
- Chenyi Liu – 785,000
- Marybeth Anderson – 760,000
- Christina Gollins – 745,000
- Ranae Warren – 675,000
- Felisa Westermann – 665,000
- Gargee Sharma – 625,000
- Jessica Teusl – 615,000
- Kultida Berman – 605,000
Chino Rheem Leads PLO8 Championship By a Chunk
Chino Rheem will take a big lead in to the next day’s play in the PLO 8 or Better Championship, as reigning champion enjoyed a topsy-turvy day of defending his title from 2021. Rheem’s stack of over 25 million is a huge one, with only Filippos Stavrakis (1,880,000) and Seungjin Lee (1,860,000) within swinging range.
Other big names still bagged up, however, and with 20 players left, Arieh (370,000) ended the day in the bottom half of the counts after being leader with a couple of hours remaining. Earlier he had been short stack, but after racing to the top of the leaderboard and eliminating Phi Ivey, Arieh’s mini-slump at the close of play will leave the redoubtable pro in need of his trademark ability to win from anywhere. He joined Felipe Ramos (1,010,000), Robert Cowen (840,000) and Allen Kessler (725,000) in the draw for what could be the final day of the event.
WSOP 2022 Event #63 $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha 8 or Better Top 10 Chipcounts:
- Chino Rheem – 2,595,000
- Filippos Stavrakis – 1,880,000
- Seungjin Lee – 1,860,000
- Damjan Radanov – 1,275,000
- Amnon Filippi – 1,275,000
- Ken Aldridge – 1,075,000
- Felipe Ramos – 1,010,000
- Sterling Savill – 910,000
- Robert Cowen – 840,000
- Sean Remz – 825,000
Two Day 1s Close in Style
There were 2,858 entries in Event #64, which saw 102 players survive the $600-entry PLO event. Guillaume Soumier ended the day with 3,055,000 chips, a decent stack ahead of Finnish player Tommi Lankinen (2,440,000) and Irish player Geln Keogh (2,385,000).
With a top prize of $199,466 on the line, others such as Michael Mizrachi (1,105,000), 888poker ambassador Vivian Saliba (830,000), and reigning world champion Koray Aldemir (265,000 will all have high hopes of getting closer to that prize on Day 2.
WSOP 2022 Event #64 $600 Pot Limit Omaha Top 10 Chipcounts:
- Guillaume Soumier – 3,055,000
- Tommi Lankinen – 2,440,000
- Geln Keogh – 2,385,000
- Xiaohui Yu – 1,930,000
- Stanislav Halatenko – 1,780,000
- Jihyun Min – 1,775,000
- Daniel Tordjman – 1,770,000
- Michael Newman – 1,590,000
- Igor Ioffe – 1,545,000
- Barry Leventhal – 1,500,000
From 1,359 entries, only 220 players remain in Event #65, with Onur Unsal (1,244,000) leading the $3,000-entry NLHE event, with players such as Krasimir Yankov (784,000), Niko Koop (741,000), Blake Bohn (738,600), Jarrett Hlavaty (699,000), and Alex Lindop (680,000) all chasing him down.
Other players to make Day 2 include the 16-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth (349,000), his good friend Mike Matusow (322,000) and 2022 Super High Roller winner Alex Foxen (68,000) , but stars such as Daniel Negreanu, Justin Bonomo, Eoghan O’Dea, David Peters, Maria Ho and Tony Dunst all busting.
WSOP 2022 Event #65 $3,000 NLHE Freezeout Top 10 Chipcounts:
- Onur Unsal – 1,244,000
- Joel Micka – 829,000
- Krasimir Yankov – 784,000
- Niko Koop – 741,000
- Blake Bohn – 738,000
- Jarrett Hlavaty – 699,000
- Ali Eslani – 683,000
- Dan Wagner – 681,000
- Alex Lindop – 680,000
- Timur Margolin – 645,000
Joey Ingram showed the world what Dan ‘Jungleman’ Cates was taking on when he made the heads-up against Yuri Dzivielevski in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship.
Jungle heads up for the title against all of Brazil pic.twitter.com/iKI7ipYfBf
— Joey Ingram ? (@Joeingram1) July 1, 2022
Niall Farrell summed up professional poker players everywhere as he identified why Cates’ incredible interviews weren’t quite so good for appearances.
Explaining to my mum that I gave up on becoming a lawyer to compete in an industry where this is one of the top players https://t.co/GEthakPvrG
— Firaldo (@Firaldo87poker) July 1, 2022
David Peters continued his quiet ascent to Poker Twitter poster of the Series.
We really need to stop rating people on the 1-10 scale. We’re perpetuating the notion that all that matters is looks. From now on, we need overall Madden rating. Sure, 97 speed and agility is great and all, but you’re not gonna be the face of the franchise if you’re 67 overall
— David Peters (@dpeterspoker17) June 30, 2022
Finally, there was something of a mix-up in the Ladies Event as the bubble burst… or did it?
Floor announces we are itm in the Ladies Event. Everyone cheers, high fives, and give hugs for a solid minute. Then he tells us it's a false alarm, and now we're back on the bubble ?
Poor bubble girl getting slow rolled hard
— Xuan Liu (@xxl23) June 30, 2022
Official photographs courtesy of PokerGO, the home of live-streamed action throughout the 2022 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
