A six-shooter of a day in the World Series of Poker saw shots fired in half a dozen events at both Bally’s and Paris in Las Vegas. There were first-time bracelets for Jessica Teusl and Nacho Barbero, but the biggest news of all came in the final event to produce a winner on the day – as David Jackson took the title after a thrilling heads-up victory over Phil Hellmuth in the $3,000 NLHE Freezeout event.
Phil Hellmuth Defeated by David Jackson Heads-Up
An incredible day’s play in the $3,000 NLHE Freezeout event concluded with David Jackson beating Phil Hellmuth to the title and denying the Poker Brat his 17th WSOP bracelet. In his 70th final table and 30th heads-up match at the WSOP, the record-extending Hellmuth came oh so close to grabbing gold as he ploughed through the field and made heads-up, albeit with a deficit of 4:1 to the previously dominant Jackson.
Inside four hands of heads-up play, the Poker Brat took the lead, pocket aces in that fourth hand giving him full value as Hellmuth allowed Jackson to bet off millions of chips on each street, putting Hellmuth a few million ahead. That situation reversed, however, as Jackson come back then claimed victory when his 
made a straight against Hellmuth’s 
failed to hold up despite being the better hand heads-up.
A stunning result for Jackson gave him his second WSOP bracelet, but for Hellmuth it was a case of so near and yet so far, as the 16-time winner lost heads-up for the bracelet for the 14t time in his career.
WSOP 2022 Event #65 $3,000 NLHE Freezeout Final Table Results:
- David Jackson – $598,173
- Phil Hellmuth – $369,698
- Jeffrey Lo – $266,559
- Justin Saliba – $194,525
- Timothy Sullivan – $143,699
- Renan Bruschi – $107,472
- Onur Unsal – $81,390
- Richard Scardina – $62,423
- Anton Wigg – $48,494
Teusl Wins Ladies Event for First Bracelet
Austrian player Jessica Teusl won her first WSOP gold bracelet as she conquered a thrilling, fast-paced Ladies Event final table to claim the $166,975 top prize. The previous evening, Day 3 chip leader Cherish Andrews had been eliminated by Lynh Nguyen, who entered the final day at the top of the chipcounts. That didn’t last, however, as it was all change on the final day.
Two short stacks started the final knowing that they needed a double up to put themselves back into contention. Natalie Hof Ramos was one of those, but her attempt at boosting her stack saw her eliminated in eighth place for $16,710 instead. All-in with 
, she couldn’t catch a river card to double against Julie Le’s 
as the board came 
with Hof Ramos’ flush and Big Slick draws all missing.
Teusl was the other short stack coming into play but scored a vital double-up to catapult herself back into the reckoning. A short time later, the Austrian was right back in contention for the title after winning a series of pots and after Sandy Tran busted in seventh place for $21,852 to Le also, Teusl chipped up more to leave herself near the top of the leaderboard behind German player Felisa Westermann.
The overnight chip leader Nguyen was gone in sixth place, earning $28,989 when her 
failed to overtake Teusl’s 
, with three kings on the board giving the Austrian a full house. Soon afterwards, Meikat Su left in fifth for $39,004 when her 
ran into Teusl’s As] and Teusl grabbed the chip lead.
Felisa Westermann had run out of cards and left in fourth, also losing to Teusl as the German’s 
was dominated by Teusl’s 
. A board of 
flopped the chip leader Broadway and saw Westermann hit the rail for $53,213.
Three-handed poker saw Teusl build a big lead over both Le and Christina Gollins, and it was the latter who eventually slid out in third place for $73,604. By that time, Le had become chip leader after a prolonged period where the chips moved around the table, but Teusl retook the lead as Gollins busted with 
to Teusl’s 
.
Heads-up, Teusl had almost a 4:1 chip lead, but the chips went both ways before Teusl had the bracelet. Teusl’s was ahead of Le’s 
with all the chips in pre-flop. The board of 
saw Le cash for $103,196 in second place and Teusl win her first gold bracelet and the top prize of $166,975.
WSOP 2022 Event #61 $1,000 Ladies Event Final Table Results:
- Jessica Teusl – $166,975
- Julie Le – $103,196
- Christina Gollins – $73,604
- Felisa Westermann – $53,213
- Meikat Siu – $39,004
- Lynh Nguyen – $28,989
- Sandy Tran – $21,852
- Natalie Hof Ramos – $16,710
- Cherish Andrews – $12,965
Barbero Claims Maiden Gold in Super Turbo
Argentinian player Nacho Barbero won his first WSOP bracelet too as the $10,000-entry Super Turbo Event #67 reached its conclusion. At a final table that raced to a winner in no time at all, Andrew Lichtenberger was the first player to leave the six-handed action as he busted with for six big blinds with his conqueror Barbero’s 
hitting the flop as it came 
, sending ‘Lucky Chewy’ home for $97,002.
Outlasting Lichtenberger by one place was Maria Ho, who won $131,655 as she slid out of the final five with losing to Fabiano Kovalski’s . The flop of 
put Ho in a cage, and sadly for her and her many fans, the hand was locked up for Kovalski on the , meaning the river meant nothing as play moved four-handed.
Next to go was Rob Hollink, who busted in fourth for $181,667 when his 
lost out to Barbero’s to miss the podium places. Just after, Ilya Nikiforov busted in third for $254,791 when Barbero won with despite the Estonian holding the dominant , a seven on the turn sending play heads-up.
In the final duel, Barbero had a 2:1 lead and in no time at all, it was over. Kovalski shoved with , Barbero called with 
and the board produced a king but no deuce to give the Argentinian victory over his Brazilian opponent.
WSOP 2022 Event #67 $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty Final Table Results:
- Nacho Barbero – $587,520
- Fabiano Kovalski – $363,116
- Ilya Nikiforov – $254,791
- Rob Hollink – $181,667
- Maria Ho – $131,655
- Andrew Lichtenberger – $97,002
- Rainer Kempe – $72,683
- David Mzareulov – $55,401
- Paul Chauderson – $42,970
Five Remain in Mini Main Event
Just five players still have hopes of winning Event #66, the $1,000 buy-in Mini Main Event, and in doing so grabbing the $593,985 top prize. With Romanian player Cosmin Joldis (180,000,000) running over the table, Kartik Ved (58.5 million) is the leader’s closest challenger, with Japanese player Kei Nitta (49.2 million) Young Sik Eum (33.5 million) and Phillip Lee (28.4 million) still holding on to the runaway leader’s coattails.
WSOP 2022 Event #66 $1,000 Mini Main Event Final Table Chipcounts:
- Cosmin Joldis – 180,000,000
- Kartik Ved – 58,500,000
- Kei Nitta – 49,200,000
- Young Sik Eum – 33,500,000
- Phillip Lee – 28,400,000
Two Other Events End in Day 1 Drama
In Event #68, the $1,000-entry Million Dollar Bounty event, a huge field of 3,598 players saw only 182 players make the Day 2 cut, with French player Vincent Meli (2,725,000) top of the shop. Others to bag big stacks included Russian pro Artem Sloitsev (1,935,000) 2021 bracelet winner Leo Margets (1,275,000), ludicrously well-named Nathan Gamble (1,020,000) and British poker legend Chris Moorman (700,000), all of whom can have realistic expectations of a very deep run one Day 2 kicks off.
Finally, Event #69, the $10,000-entry PLO 8-Max Championship, saw 641 entrants, with only 264 players surviving a busy opening day at the felt. Scott Seiver (452,000) leads the field and will fire for his fifth bracelet against foes such as Patrick Leonard (342,000), 2021 event winner Allan Le (330,000), Ken Aldridge (312,000) former event winner Dash Dudley (65,000), Bruno Fitoussi (60,000), bracelet winner Matt Glantz, (39,000), and 2022 bracelet winner Phil Hui (26,500). Others to fail on a day where four cards were more fun than two included Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey and Shaun Deeb, who between them may have 21 WSOP bracelets but won’t be adding to them with this event’s title.
Speaking of Deeb, the bracelet winner and WSOP legend stayed true to his word after his good lady wife wondered where he was.
Wife thought I was lying but I have the receipts #imalwaysright pic.twitter.com/1p8SIbCt3d
— shaun deeb (@shaundeeb) July 2, 2022
David Williams needed a little post-bust-out consolation and knew where to find it.
Found exactly what I needed to cure this pain ? pic.twitter.com/ujTpXxzHdW
— David Williams (@dwpoker) July 3, 2022
As the field narrowed in Event #65, PokerNews photographer Alec Rome captured a stunning image of the Poker Bracelet trying to stay focused at the felt.
Going for @WSOP Bracelet #17 takes a lot of focus, and @phil_hellmuth is trying to remain clear through the commotion.#WSOP2022 pic.twitter.com/sjdbO1B3Yq
— Alec Rome (@RomeForReal) July 3, 2022
As Tim Duckworth remarked, Hellmuth’s participation in the final table action created a new record for the Brat.
He's at it again folks! @phil_hellmuth has his 184th @WSOP cash which is also his 93rd in No-Limit Hold'em.
There are only eight players left and he's sitting at his 70th WSOP final table … 70!!!! pic.twitter.com/l85JuIqW5S
— Tim Duckworth (@tRaMSt0p) July 3, 2022
Hellmuth was about to do something incredible, and the moment was captured in one of the best videos of the summer so far. Did anyone say Jaws?
Phil Hellmuth eats a sandwich like an absolute psychopath and the booth goes nuts ??? pic.twitter.com/vjnFk2tevP
— Cracking Aces (@CrackingAAces) July 3, 2022
Finally, Barry Carter adjudged where Hellmuth’s shark attack on the roast beef sandwich ranks in terms of epic poker eating moments.
I'm starting a new NFT collection called 'Poker Players Eating' pic.twitter.com/bUqIldv8yv
— Barry Carter (@Barry_Carter) July 3, 2022
Official photographs courtesy of PokerGO, the home of live-streamed action throughout the 2022 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
