Event #6: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship
Day 1 Completed
2022 World Series of Poker
Event #6: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
2022 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$25,000
Prize Pool
$1,512,000
Entries
64
Level
55
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
0
Entries
64
Players Left
16
John Smith, Phil Ivey Among Those Advancing to Round 3 in Event #6: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship
Level 12
: 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
The opening two rounds of Event #6: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship have been completed, leaving just 16 players to return for Round 3 on Thursday. Among them is none other than heads-up specialist John Smith who is looking to make another deep run in this event.
Smith, who often only plays the Heads-Up Championship event at the World Series of Poker, has been known for making his presence felt at the table. The 75-year-old finished runner-up in back-to-back years in 2016 and 2017, accumulating over $400,000 in the process.
To kick things off in 2022 at the WSOP, Smith got past Michael Rocco in the first round but had a formidable opponent in Ali Imsirovic in the second round. Despite falling behind early, Smith was able to wrestle the chip lead away from the #1 GPI ranked player in the world. Holding a five-to-one chip lead, Smith finished the job with pocket jacks against the ace-seven of Imsirovic, sending Smith to Round 3 where he will take on Dylan Destefano.
Another big name that accumulated a massive rail throughout the day was Phil Ivey who is making his return to the WSOP this year. Ivey pushed his way past online heads-up specialist Henri Puustinen in the opening round and made short work of Jeremy Ausmus in Round 2. Ivey will be facing off against Kevin Rabichow in Round 3 as a potential matchup with Smith looms should they both advance.
The field reached its capacity of 64 players with many of the high-stakes professionals taking their shot at winning a WSOP gold bracelet. Unfortunately for the likes of Daniel Negreanu, Erik Seidel, Shaun Deeb, Phil Galfond, and David Peters, they were unable to get out of the opening-round matches. Others like Mikita Badziakouski, Joao Vieira, Darren Elias, and Cary Katz dropped out in the second round.
With just 16 players returning for Round 3 tomorrow, players will only have to win one more match to reach the money and lock up a min-cash of $75,045. Each of them will have their sights set on winning three more matches and walking away with over $500,000 and the WSOP bracelet.
Prizepool & Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $509,717 |
| 2nd | $315,029 |
| 3rd-4th | $193,537 |
| 5th-8th | $75,045 |
The action will get underway at 2 p.m. local time in the purple section of the Paris ballroom. Two more rounds will be on the schedule with the final four matchups taking place on Thursday. A couple of other intriguing matchups to keep an eye on tomorrow include the all-German affair between 2021 WSOP Main Event champion Koray Aldemir and high-stakes pro Christoph Vogelsang. Meanwhile, a couple of Americans in Alex Foxen and Dan Smith will also be duking it out on the lower half of the draw.
Keep it locked here as the PokerNews live reporting team will bring you all of the live updates throughout the tournament en route to crowning another bracelet winner.
Updated Bracket
Level 12
: 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
The first two rounds of Event #6: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship have been completed. Here is a look at the updated bracket and a recap will be posted shortly.
Vogelsang Defeats Vieira, Will Face Aldemir in Round-of-16
Level 12
: 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
Level 10: 3000/6000
Christoph Vogelsang has set up an all-German round-of-16 battle with Koray Aldemir after taking down a stubborn João Vieira in the second round.
After Vieira was chipped away to just 29,500, he went all-in with just under five blinds. Unfortunately, Vogelsang was sitting on 
, leaving Vieira's 
in danger.
The 
was little help, while the 
on the turn left Vieira drawing dead. The 
completed the board, giving Vogelsang two pair to go along with the victory.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
600,000 | 36,000 |
|
Busted |
WSOP Day 3 Highlights
Level 12
: 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
Vieira Getting Short
Level 12
: 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
Level 10: 3,000/6,000
Joao Vieira limped, Christoph Vogelsang raised to 17,000, and Vieira called.
The dealer spread the 
flop and Vieira check-folded to a bet of 10,000, extending Vogelsang's big lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
564,000 | 34,000 |
|
|
36,000 | -34,000 |
Rabichow Binks the River to Move Past Yokosawa
Level 12
: 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
With 40,000 chips in the pot and the board reading 
, Masato Yokosawa had a bet of 50,000 on the table. Kevin Rabichow check-raised all in and Yokosawa was put to the test for his remaining 65,000 chips. After giving it some thought, Yokosawa made the call.
Masato Yokosawa:
Kevin Rabichow: 
Yokosawa was in the lead with his two pair but it was the 
on the river that gave Rabichow the better two pair and the win in the match.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
600,000 | 165,000 |
|
Busted |
Vieira Running on Fumes After Vogelsang Forces River Fold
Level 12
: 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
João Vieira is down to just 70,000 chips after his overbet on the river was met with a raise from Christoph Vogelsang.
Vogelsang opened to 12,000 and Vieira called.
On the 
flop, both players took over a minute to check their hands.
The same would follow after the 
turn, with each player eventually tapping the table.
The saw Vieira go for a bet of 28,000 into the 24,000 chip pot. After roughly 90 seconds in the tank, Vogelsang came back with a 68,000 raise.
With only 70,000 behind, Vieira visibly winced and would take only a short while to eventually toss his cards into the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
530,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
70,000 | -30,000 |
Rabichow Extends Lead Over Yokosawa
Level 12
: 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
Masato Yokosawa raised to 20,000 and Kevin Rabichow defended.
The dealer spread the 
flop and Rabichow check-called for 10,000. The duo checked it down on the 
turn and river.
Rabichow revealed 
which was good for the pot as Yokosawa mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
435,000 | 185,000 |
|
|
165,000 | -185,000 |
Level: 12
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 0