2022 World Series of Poker

Event #70: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event World Championship
Event Info

2022 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q2
Prize
$10,000,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$80,782,475
Entries
8,663
Players Info - Day 8
Entries
10
Players Left
3

Event #70: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event World Championship

Day 8 Completed

Espen Jorstad Holds Commanding Lead Over Adrian Attenborough and Michael Duek in Pursuit of WSOP Main Event Title

Level 42 : Blinds 1,500,000/3,000,000, 3,000,000 ante
Espen Jorstad
Espen Jorstad

The 2022 World Series of Poker in its new home at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas is one step closer to crowning a new World Champion. Norway's Espen Jorstad started Day 8 with the most chips and will return as the commanding chipleader when the hunt in the pinnacle live poker event of the year concludes on Saturday, July 16, 2022. Jorstad has two times as many chips as Adrian Attenborough while Michael Duek from Argentina completes an international line-up for the final trio.

Out of a field of 8,663 entries in the second largest WSOP Main Event in history, all three finalists have locked up a large slice of the $80,782,475 prize pool and earn at least $4 million for their efforts. Significant pay jumps await as the runner-up will collect $6 million, and the new world champion walks away with the top prize of $10 million.

Jorstad carefully picked his spots for most of the day once the action resumed with ten contenders still in the mix and ended the night with 298,000,000. That's almost spot on twice as many chips as Attenborough (149,800,000), while Duek, the shortest stack (72,100,000), still has 24 big blinds at his disposal.

Seat Assignments for the Final Day

SeatPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Adrian AttenboroughAustralia149,800,00050
2Michael DuekArgentina72,100,00024
3Espen JorstadNorway298,000,00099

There will be 25:20 minutes left in Level 42 at blinds of 1,500,000/3,000,000 and a big blind ante of 3,000,000, Michael Duek will be on the button.

"I feel I played pretty good," chipleader Jorstad said with a chuckle. "I had a couple of spots where I could have played differently, but that's how it is every day. I made no big mistakes. I mean, I didn't play flawlessly, but no one ever does," the Norwegian clarified and added, "I think I played pretty much as good as I could."

For Attenborough, it was certainly a roller-coaster day as the Aussie was on the brink of elimination and last in chips after 60 hands, only to soar to the top of the leaderboard some 50 hands later.

"I was feeling really out of it at the start of the final table," he told PokerNews. "I just thought I was going to get ninth after things didn't go my way. I just thought to myself 'Oh it's not my time' but then I spun it up and suddenly I was like 'Oh, it's my time! I made a few mistakes along the way, but I ran really good."

Espen Jorstad
Espen Jorstad dictated the late stages on Day 8

Attenborough is looking to become the second-ever Australian since Joe Hachem won the WSOP Main Event. He says it's a surreal experience to even be at the final table.

"I definitely don't deserve to be here, but I'm just lucky to have made it this far."

At one point, Attenborough went on break with just six blinds, but he said a level head kept him composed and ready to grind.

"I can only play the cards I got dealt in front of me. I was already coming into today happy if I got tenth. I ran so good to even be here, so I'm here to play. You don't really have a chance to play for $10,000,000, so I'll be as strict as possible. I'm going to be ready to play. I'm going to be here to win."

While Duek may be last in chips when the action resumes, his rail may very well be the loudest as he was supported by boisterous chants throughout the contest in the Thunderdome. Born in Argentina and residing in Florida, more friends and family flew in for this special moment, and the evidence could be heard throughout the entire Bally's Event Center.

"I am here with friends, immediate family, friends I haven't seen in forever, friends I met playing poker and random poker cheering me on. It's been great."

The plan for the bottom stack is rather easy as he will soon be in push-or-fold mode in short-handed play and an increase in blinds on the horizon. He also comes into the final day full of confidence. Having fought back from a short stack on numerous occasions in the late stages, Duek rides on a heater after he finished in third place in Event #69: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Championship less than two weeks ago.

"I am going to try and get some rest, spend time with friends and family, and come out here and do what I do. I am going to try and play as good as I can against these two guys. They're both very good players to keep an eye out for."

Final Three
Michael Duek, Espen Jorstad and Adrian Attenborough

Action of the Penultimate Day

The action recommenced with the unofficial final table of ten, but that was soon reduced by one. Recent birthday boy Asher Conniff open-jammed his last 15 big blinds with pocket tens and was looked up by Duek with ace-king. What started as a rather ordinary coin flip let the rails on the main feature table explode when Duek flopped quads in one of the most remarkable runouts in WSOP Main Event history.

Nearly 100 hands followed with numerous all-in showdowns, but the field remained nine-handed nonetheless. That changed when the joint chipleader at the start of the day, Matthew Su, saw his pair of eights crushed by the pocket kings of fellow short-stack Philippe Souki.

It was then Souki who would become the next final table casualty in cruel fashion. He moved all in with aces and was called by the queen-jack suited held by Matija Dobric. Souki made a set on the flop but the Croatian sent Souki to the rail after making Broadway on the turn. Souki was unable to fill up on the river and bowed out in eighth place.

Half an hour later, John Eames slow-played aces and got it in against the ace-king suited of Aaron Duczak, who bricked his nut flush draw to be left with fumes. His last few blinds vanished one hand later when Duek notched up his second elimination of the day.

One hour later, it was all over for Day 6 chipleader Jeffrey Farnes. He had slipped to the bottom of the leaderboard and flat-called a raise with pocket deuces to then shove a six-high flop. Eames called with nine-eight suited for a gutshot straight flush draw and instead spiked running treys to deal the final blow with nine-high like a Brit.

Jorstad then pulled into the top spot and cemented his lead in a big flip against Dobric when ace-queen got there to beat pocket sixes. With one more elimination or the end of the level as the target set for the remainder of the night, the Norwegian lost and restored his comfortable lead before also notching up the final elimination.

As one of the two short stacks, Eames three-bet jammed for 24 big blinds with ace-jack and was snap-called by Jorstad with pocket kings. One jack on the board was not enough for the cash game player from the UK, and Eames had to settle for a consolation prize of $3 million, concluding Day 8 on the spot.

The final three players will return at 2 p.m. local time on July 16th when a new world champion is crowned. Once again, the action will be broadcast on the PokerGO platform, and all PokerNews updates will be based on the delay of the live stream.

Results on Day 8 and Remaining Payouts

PlaceWinnerCountryPrize (in USD)
1  $10,000,000
2  $6,000,000
3  $4,000,000
4John EamesUnited Kingdom$3,000,000
5Matija DobricCroatia$2,250,000
6Jeffrey FarnesUnited States$1,750,000
7Aaron DuczakCanada$1,350,000
8Philippe SoukiUnited Kingdom$1,075,000
9Matthew SuUnited States$850,675
10Asher ConniffUnited States$675,000

Tags: Aaron DuczakAdrian AttenboroughAsher ConniffEspen JorstadJeffrey FarnesJoe HachemJohn EamesMatija DobricMatthew SuMichael DuekPhilippe Souki

John Eames Eliminated in 4th Place ($3,000,000)

Level 42 : Blinds 1,500,000/3,000,000, 3,000,000 ante
John Eames
John Eames

Hand #186: Espen Jorstad raised to 6,000,000 as the first player to act. John Eames jammed it in for 72,000,000 in the big blind and was snap-called by the chipleader.

John Eames: {a-Diamonds}{j-Clubs}
Espen Jorstad: {k-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}

The {j-Spades}{10-Hearts}{8-Hearts} flop gave Eames more outs, but he bricked the {3-Spades} turn and {6-Hearts} river. Eames' run ended in fourth place as he collected a payday of $3,000,000 and that also ended Day 8 with Jorstad as the commanding chipleader.

Player Chips Progress
Espen Jorstad no
Espen Jorstad
298,000,000 76,500,000
Adrian Attenborough au
Adrian Attenborough
149,800,000 6,000,000
Michael Duek ar
Michael Duek
72,100,000 -7,500,000
John Eames gb
John Eames
Busted

Tags: Espen JorstadJohn Eames

Hands #180-185: Jorstad Extands His Lead

Level 42 : Blinds 1,500,000/3,000,000, 3,000,000 ante

Hand #180: Espen Jorstad limped in from the small blind with {j-Spades}{3-Hearts} and Adrian Attenborough checked in the big blind with {8-Spades}{5-Hearts}. The {q-Hearts}{q-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds} flop brought a min-bet by Jorstad and Attenborough sent his cards into the muck.

Hand #181: A button raise to 6,000,000 by Jorstad with {k-Clubs}{j-Clubs} won the blinds and big blind ante.

Hand #182: Jorstad raised to 6,000,000 with {a-Diamonds}{3-Clubs} as the first player to act, scooping the pot uncontested once more.

Hand #183: Michael Duek made it 6,500,000 to go from the button with {10-Spades}{8-Spades}. Jorstad called from the big blind with {a-Spades}{6-Hearts} and the flop brought {10-Hearts}{9-Spades}{7-Clubs}. The check by Jorstad triggered a bet worth 6,000,000 by Duek and that won the pot right there.

Hand #184: John Eames opened to 6,000,000 on the button with {5-Spades}{5-Diamonds}, picking up a call by Attenborough in the big blind with {j-Spades}{10-Spades}. The {j-Clubs}{9-Clubs}{6-Clubs} flop brought no betting action and was swiftly followed by the {8-Spades} on the turn. Attenborough led for 4,100,000 and Eames let go.

Hand #185: Adrian Attenborough {9-Spades}{8-Clubs} limped in the small blind and Michael Duek {7-Diamonds}{4-Clubs} called. The flop was {a-Diamonds}{q-Hearts}{6-Diamonds} and Duek folded to a continuation bet from Attenborough.

Player Chips Progress
Espen Jorstad no
Espen Jorstad
221,500,000 10,000,000
Adrian Attenborough au
Adrian Attenborough
143,800,000
Michael Duek ar
Michael Duek
79,600,000 3,500,000
John Eames gb
John Eames
75,000,000 -13,500,000

Tags: Adrian AttenboroughEspen JorstadJohn EamesMichael Duek

Hands #175-179: Jorstad Back Into Comfortable Lead

Level 42 : Blinds 1,500,000/3,000,000, 3,000,000 ante
Espen Jorstad
Espen Jorstad

Hand #175: Michael Duek made it 6,500,000 to go on the button with {6-Clubs}{5-Clubs} and earned a call from Espen Jorstad in the big blind from {j-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}. The flop fell {a-Spades}{k-Clubs}{k-Hearts} and Jorstad checked, Duek continued for 3,000,000 and shut down his opponent right away.

Hand #176: Duek raised it up to 6,500,000 with {k-Clubs}{7-Clubs} and Adrian Attenborough came along in the big blind with {a-Spades}{4-Spades}. The {q-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}{8-Hearts} flop was checked through to the {10-Spades} turn and Attenborough checked again. Another check by Duek led to the {4-Diamonds} river and Attenborough won the pot after both players checked.

Hand #177: Jorstad opened to 6,500,000 on the button and Duek called out of the big blind, as they headed to the {7-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}{3-Spades} flop. Duek opted for a bet worth 8,000,000 and Jorstad stuck around to the {q-Hearts} turn. A larger bet worth 21,000 by Duek followed and Jorstad called to see the {6-Spades} on the river.

Nearly one minute passed before Duek checked and Jorstad checked back for the former to reveal the {9-Spades}{8-Clubs}. Jorstad had that beat with the {7-Hearts}{5-Hearts} and recovered most of his previous losses.

Hand #178: Attenborough on the button raised to 6,000,000 with {a-Spades}{7-Hearts} and John Eames called in the big blind with {q-Clubs}{2-Clubs}. On a {k-Hearts}{10-Hearts}{5-Hearts} flop, Eames check-folded when Attenborough continued for 3,000,000.

Hand #179: Eames limped in from the small blind and Jorstad checked to the {a-Hearts}{8-Spades}{7-Diamonds} flop. Both quickly checked to the {10-Hearts} turn and Eames' bet worth 7,500,000 earned a call from Jorstad. The {3-Clubs} followed on the river and Eames now checked.

Jorstad checked back and Eames flashed the {q-Hearts}{j-Diamonds} while Jorstad won the pot with the {q-Clubs}{10-Diamonds}.

Player Chips Progress
Espen Jorstad no
Espen Jorstad
211,500,000 39,500,000
Adrian Attenborough au
Adrian Attenborough
143,800,000 17,000,000
John Eames gb
John Eames
88,500,000 -21,000,000
Michael Duek ar
Michael Duek
76,100,000 -35,500,000

Tags: Adrian AttenboroughEspen JorstadJohn EamesMichael Duek

Hands #169-174: Attenborough Pounces on Eames and Chipleader Jorstad

Level 42 : Blinds 1,500,000/3,000,000, 3,000,000 ante

Hand #169: John Eames made it 6,000,000 to go as the first player to act with the {a-Clubs}{q-Spades} and Espen Jorstad three-bet to 16,500,000 in the cutoff with the {k-Clubs}{q-Hearts}. Eames then four-bet jammed for 85,000,000 and Jorstad folded.

Hand #170: Adrian Attenborough opened to 6,000,000 on the button with {8-Hearts}{2-Clubs} for Eames to defend the big blind with {k-Spades}{j-Clubs} and the flop brought {a-Spades}{10-Hearts}{6-Clubs}. Eames check-called a min-bet worth 3,000,000 and checked again the {3-Clubs} on the turn. Attenborough now bet 18,000,000 and the Brit got out of the way.

Hand #171: Michael Duek raised to 6,500,000 with the {2-Spades}{2-Clubs} on the button for Eames to flat-call in the small blind. On the {10-Spades}{5-Diamonds}{3-Clubs} flop, Eames elected to check-call a continuation bet worth 6,000,000 and then checked on the {7-Clubs} turn. Duek checked it back this time and the {a-Hearts} followed on the river. Both checked and Eames won the pot with the {10-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds} for a superior pair.

Hand #172: Jorstad limped in the small blind {k-Diamonds}{3-Spades} for Attenborough to raise it up to 10,500,000 with the {j-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}. The fold by Jorstad followed and the Aussie raked in the pot.

Hand #173: Jorstad min-raised the button to 6,000,000 with the {10-Spades}{8-Clubs} and Attenborough three-bet to 24,000,000 with the {a-Spades}{k-Hearts} in the small blind, forcing another fold from Jorstad.

Hand #174: Attenborough raised the button to 6,000,000 with {a-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds} and collected the blinds and big blind ante.

Player Chips Progress
Espen Jorstad no
Espen Jorstad
172,000,000 -31,500,000
Adrian Attenborough au
Adrian Attenborough
126,800,000 28,500,000
Michael Duek ar
Michael Duek
111,600,000 -27,500,000
John Eames gb
John Eames
109,500,000 24,500,000

Tags: Adrian AttenboroughEspen JorstadJohn EamesMichael Duek

Matija Dobric Eliminated in 5th Place ($2,250,000)

Level 42 : Blinds 1,500,000/3,000,000, 3,000,000 ante
Matija Dobric
Matija Dobric

Hand #168: Matija Dobric raised to 6,000,000 as the first player to act and Espen Jorstad took the better part of two minutes before three-betting to 21,000,000 in the small blind. The four-bet shove of Dobric came within a minute, and Jorstad asked for an exact count before he made the call.

Both sides of the rail went on their feet as the cards were revealed.

Matija Dobric: {6-Diamonds}{6-Clubs}
Espen Jorstad: {a-Clubs}{q-Spades}

The {k-Hearts}{q-Clubs}{7-Clubs} flop propelled Jorstad into the lead and that didn't change on the {10-Diamonds} turn either. Another blank followed on the {8-Clubs} river and that sent Dobric to the rail in fifth place while Jorstad soared to the top of the leaderboard.

Dobric's rail kept chanting the first name of the Croatian for several moments before their favorite headed to the bustout interview.

Player Chips Progress
Espen Jorstad no
Espen Jorstad
203,500,000 76,100,000
Matija Dobric hr
Matija Dobric
Busted

Tags: Espen JorstadMatija Dobric

Hands #165-167: Back Comes Dobric; Wins Three in a Row

Level 42 : Blinds 1,500,000/3,000,000, 3,000,000 ante

Hand #165: Matija Dobric jammed out of the small blind for 38,600,000 with {j-Clubs}{9-Hearts} and chip leader Michael Duek in the big blind asked for an exact count with {q-Spades}{4-Diamonds}. No call followed and the pot was pushed to the Croatian, which was lauded by his rail with "Matija, Matija" chants.

Hand #166: Espen Jorstad opened the action with a raise to 6,000,000 with {a-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds} and Dobric jammed again, this time for 44,600,000 on the button with {k-Diamonds}{j-Hearts}. While staring towards the other end of the table behind his sunglasses, Jorstad needed around a minute before he sent the cards into the muck.

Hand #167: Dobric min-raised to 6,000,000 in the cutoff with {a-Clubs}{3-Clubs} and was called by John Eames in the small blind with {10-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}. The {k-Spades}{q-Hearts}{4-Spades} flop was checked by Eames and Dobric made it 4,000,000 to go. No call by Eames followed thereafter and Dobric collected the third pot in a row.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Duek ar
Michael Duek
139,100,000 -7,500,000
Espen Jorstad no
Espen Jorstad
127,400,000 -12,000,000
Adrian Attenborough au
Adrian Attenborough
98,300,000
John Eames gb
John Eames
85,000,000 -13,500,000
Matija Dobric hr
Matija Dobric
70,100,000 31,500,000

Tags: Espen JorstadJohn EamesMatija DobricMichael Duek

Hands #162-164: Dobric Tries Taking It To The Streets

Level 42 : Blinds 1,500,000/3,000,000, 3,000,000 ante

Hand #162: Michael Duek raised to 6,500,000 from the button with {k-Clubs}{7-Clubs}. Espen Jorstad three-bet to 29,000,000 from the big blind with {a-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}. Duek folded.

Hand #163: John Eames raised to 6,000,000 with pocket fives {5-Spades}{5-Hearts} and Adrian Attenborough defended his big blind with {j-Hearts}{9-Spades}. The flop came {j-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}{2-Spades} and Attenborough checked. Eames bet 4,500,000 and Attenborough called.

The turn was the {q-Clubs} and both players checked. The {2-Hearts} completed the board. Attenborough bet 6,500,000 and Eames folded.

Hand #164: John Eames raised to 6,000,000 with {a-Diamonds}{10-Hearts} and Matija Dobric defended his big blind {q-Hearts}{j-Spades}. The flop was {8-Diamonds}{8-Hearts}{5-Clubs} and Dobric checked. Eames continued for 4,000,000 and Dobric promptly folded.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Duek ar
Michael Duek
146,600,000 -6,500,000
Espen Jorstad no
Espen Jorstad
139,400,000 6,500,000
Adrian Attenborough au
Adrian Attenborough
98,300,000 10,500,000
Matija Dobric hr
Matija Dobric
38,600,000 -9,000,000

Tags: Adrian AttenboroughEspen JorstadJohn EamesMatija DobricMichael Duek

Not Su's Day: From Chip Leader to Out in 9th Place

Level 42 : Blinds 1,500,000/3,000,000, 3,000,000 ante
Matthew Su
Matthew Su

Matthew Su entered the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table on Friday with big dreams and a big stack. But he ran into some misfortune and was eliminated in ninth place.

The deep run paid out $850,675, his only live tournament score of any significance. Still, the high-stakes cash game player told PokerNews in his postgame interview that he was "disappointed" to have been just the second player out at the final table.

read the full story on pokernews.com!

Tags: Matthew Su