Event #85: $1,500 The Closer
Day 2 Completed
2022 World Series of Poker
Event #85: $1,500 The Closer
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2022 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$3,962,280
Entries
2,039
Level
43
Blinds
1,500,000 / 3,000,000
Ante
3,000,000
Entries
235
Players Left
17
Nguyen Leads Final 17 as Extra Day is Needed to Decide The Closer
Level 34
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Day 2 of Event #85: $1,500 The Closer was a combination day that included the last few levels of Day 1b that started at noon and went through to Day 2, which began at 5 p.m. The field generated a total of 2,039 entries, who generated a prize pool of $3,962,280. At the end of the day, 17 players out of an original 235 that started Day 2 remained, meaning that an extra day is necessary to play down to a winner.
Leading the final 17 players at the end of a hectic day of play was Minh Nguyen, who bagged up 20,275,000, which just barely edged out in front of Michael Liang who finished the night with 19,200,000.
Event #85: $1,500 The Closer Top 10 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minh Nguyen | United States | 20,275,000 | 41 |
| 2 | Michael Liang | United States | 19,200,000 | 38 |
| 3 | Rudy Cervantes | United States | 16,475,000 | 33 |
| 4 | Daniel Tabello | United States | 14,450,000 | 29 |
| 5 | Zachary Johnson | United States | 12,050,000 | 24 |
| 6 | Madelyn Carr | United States | 9,075,000 | 18 |
| 7 | Tjan Tepeh | United States | 8,975,000 | 18 |
| 8 | Ahmed Karrim | South Africa | 7,700,000 | 15 |
| 9 | Sean Ragozzini | United Kingdom | 6,875,000 | 14 |
| 10 | Vincent Lam | Canada | 6,000,000 | 12 |
Rudy Cervantes ended up third in chips with 16,475,000, while Daniel Tabello (14,350,000) and Zach Johnson (12,050,000) rounded out the top five stacks at the end of the evening.
Chris Moorman was one of the most well-known players to finish the night with some chips, as he was able to bag the Day 1b chip lead after a strong early day chip up. He continued his success throughout Day 2 to make it through to the final two tables.
There were many players who made Day 2 but who did not finish the day with chips, including; David Pham, David “ODB” Baker, JJ Liu and Shaun Deeb; the latter was one of the final eliminations of the night as his quest for a last minute series bracelet snatch was denied.
The final 17 will converge for Day 3 at 12 p.m. at Level 35 with blinds at 250,000/500,000. PokerNews will again be on the scene, as the extra day of coverage will be brought to you live.
Seat Draw For the Final Day
Level 34
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
| Casino | Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally's | 654 | 1 | Tjan Tepeh | United States | 8,975,000 | 18 |
| Bally's | 654 | 2 | Daniel Tabello | United States | 14,450,000 | 29 |
| Bally's | 654 | 3 | Samuel Brown | United States | 4,550,000 | 9 |
| Bally's | 654 | 4 | Phillip Martin | United States | 4,400,000 | 9 |
| Bally's | 654 | 5 | Elhadj Yaye | United States | 5,725,000 | 11 |
| Bally's | 654 | 6 | Tigran Gasparyan | United States | 3,200,000 | 6 |
| Bally's | 654 | 7 | Zachary Johnson | United States | 12,050,000 | 24 |
| Bally's | 654 | 8 | Ahmed Karrim | South Afrcia | 7,700,000 | 15 |
| Bally's | 654 | 9 | Rudy Cervantes | United States | 16,475,000 | 33 |
| Bally's | 662 | 2 | Minh Nguyen | United States | 20,275,000 | 41 |
| Bally's | 662 | 3 | Manuel Herreragarcia | United States | 2,725,000 | 5 |
| Bally's | 662 | 4 | Madelyn Carr | United States | 9,075,000 | 18 |
| Bally's | 662 | 5 | Michael Liang | United States | 19,200,000 | 38 |
| Bally's | 662 | 6 | Sean Ragozzini | United Kingdom | 6,875,000 | 14 |
| Bally's | 662 | 7 | Vincent Lam | Canada | 6,000,000 | 12 |
| Bally's | 662 | 8 | Pedro Neves | Portugal | 2,900,000 | 6 |
| Bally's | 662 | 9 | Chris Moorman | United Kingdom | 5,475,000 | 11 |
End of Day 2 Chip Counts (full)
Level 34
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,275,000 | 4,675,000 |
|
19,200,000 | 1,400,000 |
|
16,475,000 | -2,025,000 |
|
14,450,000 | 1,850,000 |
|
|
12,050,000 | -3,250,000 |
|
9,075,000 | -1,225,000 |
|
8,975,000 | 1,975,000 |
|
7,700,000 | 2,600,000 |
|
6,875,000 | -925,000 |
|
6,000,000 | 4,050,000 |
|
|
5,725,000 | 1,725,000 |
|
5,475,000 | 775,000 |
|
4,550,000 | -1,950,000 |
|
4,400,000 | -900,000 |
|
3,200,000 | -300,000 |
|
2,900,000 | 2,900,000 |
|
2,725,000 | -2,975,000 |
Jiawei Mao Eliminated in 18th Place ($20,570)
Level 34
: 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Before the two-table redraw was set up, Jiawei Mao found himself all in with the 
in trouble vs the 
of Michael Liang.
The flop sent Liang further ahead as it came down the 
. The turn was the 
and the 
on the river confirmed the elimination of Mao.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
17,800,000 | 7,950,000 |
|
Busted |
Brian Ganon Eliminated in 19th Place ($20,570)
Level 34
: 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
The rapid eliminations continued as Brian Ganon held the 
against the 
of Sean Ragozzini in a preflop all in.
The board came 
and Ganon hit the rail in 19th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,800,000 | 5,600,000 |
|
Busted |
Tim Bishop Eliminated in 20th Place ($20,570)
Level 34
: 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Tim Bishop was at risk preflop holding the 
while El Hadj Yaye had him dominated with the .
There would be no help given to Bishop as the board ran out 
and he was sent away in 20th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,200,000 | 6,200,000 |
|
Busted |
Rhonda Shepek Eliminated in 21st Place ($20,570)
Level 34
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Zach Johnson raised to 1,000,000 and Rhonda Shepek three-bet to 2,000,000. Action folded back around and Johnson shoved with Shepek covered. Shepek called and was at risk in heads-up action.
Rhonda Shepek:
Zach Johnson: 
The board ran out 
and Johnson flopped a set of kings to eliminate Shepek in 21st place for $20,570.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
15,300,000 | 15,300,000 |
|
Busted |
Germano Cervetti Eliminated in 22nd Place ($20,570)
Level 34
: 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Zach Johnson was all in and at risk against Germano Cervetti, who had only 50,000 behind after the chips were counted out.
Zach Johnson: 
Germano Cervetti:
The board ran out 
and Johnson held on with aces to leave Cervetti with crumbs.
A few hands later, Cervetti got his last 50,000 in from under the gun. Michael Liang raised to 800,000 from the cutoff and Jiawei Mao came along from the big blind. The flop was 
and both remaining players checked to see 
on the turn. Mao checked the turn and folded when Liang bet 500,000.
With Mao out of the way, the remaining players turned their cards up. Liang had 
and Cervetti had . The river was and Liang eliminated Cervetti with a pair of kings in 22nd place for $20,570.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,850,000 | 850,000 |
|
|
8,750,000 | 4,750,000 |
|
|
4,500,000 | -800,000 |
|
Busted |
Ian Steinman Eliminated in 23rd Place ($20,570)
Level 34
: 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Ian Steinman shoved for 3,775,000 and Michael Liang shoved from the button with around 5,000,000. The blinds got out of the way and action was heads-up with Steinman at risk.
Ian Steinman: 
Michael Liang:
The board ran out and the kings held to eliminate Steinman from the tournament in 23rd place for $20,570.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,000,000 | 4,800,000 |
|
Busted |