As we enter the fourth weekend of action at the 2022 World Series of Poker, there is something for all fans of poker. If you are looking for the stars of the game, then the $250,000 High Roller is your cup of tea. If you are looking to get a cash for a much smaller expenditure, then the 2022 COLOSSUS is the game for you. Add in a few other non-Hold’em tournaments and it makes for a hectic schedule for Saturday at the 2022 WSOP.
Foxen Leads Final Table of High Roller
This was not your usual “high roller” table. It is this year’s largest buy-in tournament at the WSOP, the $250,000 Super High Roller No Limit Hold’em event, and 56 entries were received for the tournament. There is a reason to say “entries” is because we know that at least one player utilized the singular rebuy in the tournament – and failed again.
Utilizing that reentry option before the start of Day 2 on Friday, Daniel Negreanu was now $500,000 in for the event and would need to make the final table to earn a profit. Instead, Negreanu went up against David Peters with his remaining chips and he had the advantage pre-flop. Negreanu’s pocket tens were in decent shape for the double through Peters’ Q♠ 10♠, but poker needs five cards to determine a winner and those did not cooperate with ‘Kid Poker.’
The board rolled out K♦ 9♠ 6♥ 7♠ 3♠, giving Peters an unlikely flush and sending Negreanu into a tirade. He slammed his A/V equipment for video blogging (vlogging) on the table, scattering his chips around the felt, then pitched his tools at a nearby wall. It has been a tough WSOP for Negreanu, who only has four cashes (for slightly more than $90,000) for the $979,389 that he has put out in tournament fees.
The news was much better for the nine men who took home a cash in the event. Henrik Hecklen picked up a ninth-place finish for $414,815 before play was called for the night. Saturday will see the final eight men come to the tables with a WSOP bracelet and $4,563,700 awaiting the eventual champion:
1. Alex Foxen, 24.15 million
2. Martin Kabrhel, 17.8 million
3. Chris Hunichen, 12.375 million
4. Brandon Steven, 7.85 million
5. Phil Ivey, 7.3 million
6. Adrian Mateos, 6.95 million
7. Daniel Zack, 4.375 million
8. Sam Soverel, 3.2 million
Even though it looks like a race between Foxen, Kabrel, and Hunichen, you can go down as low as Mateos to look for a contender. If Mateos can get a double, he thrusts himself into the upper echelons of the leaderboard. Do not count out Zack and Soverel, either; even though they are on the short stack, they certainly have the skills to mount an assault on the leaders. The tournament is a part of the streaming package on PokerGO, which will start on a 60-minute delay after the 3PM resumption of hostilities between the players.
2022 COLOSSUS Expands Its Field
The $400 COLOSSUS, Event #51 on your WSOP scorecard, will move into its Day 1B action on Saturday. Day 1A brought out a throng of players that should see the event easily crack the 10K mark in entries and create a high six-figure first place payday.
Leading the way after Day 1A is Kao ‘Flexx’ Caechao, who was able to catch up Mary Dvorkin to hold the overnight lead. Dvorkin dominated the tables through the Friday action, holding the chip lead for most of the proceedings. These five players will sit on the top of the leaderboard while they watch the carnage of Day 1B on Saturday:
1. Kao ‘Flexx’ Caechao, 1.514 million
2. Mary Dvorkin, 1.388 million
3. Samuel Laskowitz, 1.297 million
4. Charles Peppers, 1.19 million
5. Eric Revak, 1.183 million
Play continues at 10AM in Bally’s, with the expectations that Day 1B for the 2022 COLOSSUS will be massively bigger than the Day 1A throng.
Nine Game Mix to Offer Day 2 Action
Event #52, the $2500 Six Handed Nine Game Mixed Game tournament, did not disappoint for those who appreciate the skill in playing multiple disciplines of poker. 456 entries came out for the Day 1 play on Friday, building a million-dollar prize pool ($1,014,600, to be exact) from the $2500 buy-ins received. 210 of those players will return on Saturday for Day Two action, looking to get to the bracelet on Sunday.
It is a tightly packed leaderboard, with Schuyler Thornton holding a tenuous lead with his 220,400 in chips. There is an array of players that are within 20K chips of Thornton, making his hold on the top of the standing a very shaky one:
1. Schuyler Thornton, 220,400
2. Nick Guagenti, 209,200
3. Scott Bohlman, 208,200
4. David Williams, 206,500
5. Dane Coltman, 200,400
