2022 World Series of Poker

Tournament of Champions
Day: 3
Event Info

2022 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a6
Prize
$250,000
Event Info
Prize Pool
$1,000,000
Entries
470
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
100,000 / 150,000
Ante
150,000
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
16
Players Left
1

Garza Wins Last Hand Before the Break

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Raul Garza made it 200,000 to go from the small blind with the {q-Hearts}{10-Hearts} and Robert Cowen defended out of the big blind with the {7-Clubs}{5-Clubs}. The flop fell {10-Clubs}{8-Clubs}{5-Spades} and Garza slowed down as Cowen now bet 325,000, earning a call from Garza.

Both headed to the {2-Hearts} on the turn and that prompted another check by Garza, to which Cowen checked back this time. Following the {j-Spades} river, Garza bet 260,000 and Cowen sent his cards into the muck.

After the hand was over, the final four players were sent into a scheduled 15-minute break. Their updated counts and big blinds for the next level are below.

SeatPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
3Ryan MessickUnited States3,055,00038
4Benjamin KauppUnited States3,950,00049
5Raul GarzaUnited States4,185,00052
7Robert CowenUnited Kingdom2,905,00036
Player Chips Progress
Raul Garza us
Raul Garza
4,185,000 585,000
Benjamin Kaupp us
Benjamin Kaupp
WSOP 1X Winner
3,950,000 -50,000
Ryan Messick us
Ryan Messick
3,055,000 -45,000
Robert Cowen gb
Robert Cowen
WSOP 2X Winner
2,905,000 -595,000

Tags: Benjamin KauppRaul GarzaRobert CowenRyan Messick

Garza Rebuilds Stack Without Resistance

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Raul Garza opened the action with a raise to 125,000 with the {q-Hearts}{5-Hearts} and Ryan Messick flat-called in the small blind holding the {a-Spades}{3-Spades}. Both players checked the {8-Clubs}{7-Spades}{2-Hearts} flop and Messick check-called the {4-Hearts} turn for 180,000. On the {j-Clubs} river, Messick checked again and a bet worth 350,000 by Garza won the pot uncontested.

"I am pretty sure I beat all your bluffs", Messick said during the final stages of the hand and his instinct were right but he ended up folding anyways.

Player Chips Progress
Benjamin Kaupp us
Benjamin Kaupp
WSOP 1X Winner
4,000,000 -100,000
Raul Garza us
Raul Garza
3,600,000 600,000
Robert Cowen gb
Robert Cowen
WSOP 2X Winner
3,500,000
Ryan Messick us
Ryan Messick
3,100,000 -400,000

Tags: Raul GarzaRyan Messick

Cowen and Kaupp Chop; Messick Chips Up

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Benjamin Kaupp opened to 130,000 on the button for Robert Cowen came along in the big blind. On a {a-Diamonds}{j-Spades}{10-Clubs} flop, Cowen check-called a bet worth 60,000 and did so again for 175,000 on the {7-Clubs} turn.

After the {7-Hearts} river, Cowen checked again and Kaupp bet 340,000. That sent the Brit into a short tank but he called with the {a-Hearts}{6-Clubs} to chop it up versus {a-Clubs}{3-Hearts}.

Garza then raised to 125,000 on the button with the {2-Hearts}{2-Clubs} for Ryan Messick to three-bet for 450,000 out of the big blind with the {10-Clubs}{10-Hearts}. The call by Garza led to the {j-Clubs}{8-Hearts}{6-Spades} flop on which Messick continued for 275,000 and received a call by Garza.

Once the {k-Spades} followed on the turn, both players checked and headed to the {7-Clubs} on the river. No betting action followed and Messick took down the pot with his pocket tens.

Player Chips Progress
Benjamin Kaupp us
Benjamin Kaupp
WSOP 1X Winner
4,100,000
Ryan Messick us
Ryan Messick
3,500,000 800,000
Robert Cowen gb
Robert Cowen
WSOP 2X Winner
3,500,000
Raul Garza us
Raul Garza
3,000,000 -800,000

Tags: Benjamin KauppRobert CowenRyan Messick

Messick Gets Two Jams Through

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Ryan Messick three-bet jammed successfully against Raul Garza and then raised to 120,000 on the button with the {9-Spades}{9-Hearts}. Benjamin Kaupp three-bet to 400,000 in the small blind with the {k-Clubs}{10-Hearts} and Garza opted to flat-call in the big blind with {10-Spades}{10-Diamonds}.

That sent Messick into the think tank and he then pushed all-in after a minute consideration. Kaupp got out of the way quickly but Garza asked for a count. The shove was for 1,870,000 and Garza elected to fold, exposing his {10-Diamonds}{10-Spades} in the process.

"I am very happy with that," Messick said with a big smile on the face and then raked in the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Benjamin Kaupp us
Benjamin Kaupp
WSOP 1X Winner
4,100,000
Raul Garza us
Raul Garza
3,800,000
Robert Cowen gb
Robert Cowen
WSOP 2X Winner
3,500,000
Ryan Messick us
Ryan Messick
2,700,000

Tags: Benjamin KauppRaul GarzaRyan Messick

Another Showdown Pot for Garza Against Messick

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Raul Garza made it 125,000 to go on the button and Ryan Messick came along in the big blind. On the {9-Clubs}{8-Spades}{4-Spades} flop, Messick opted to check-call a bet worth 120,000 and the {8-Clubs} turn was checked by both. The {2-Diamonds} followed on the river and Messick checked once more.

Garza bet 150,000 and Messick paid it off very reluctantly for Garza to drag in the next pot with the {k-Clubs}{9-Hearts} for the top pair.

Player Chips Progress
Benjamin Kaupp us
Benjamin Kaupp
WSOP 1X Winner
4,800,000 850,000
Raul Garza us
Raul Garza
4,500,000 315,000
Robert Cowen gb
Robert Cowen
WSOP 2X Winner
3,100,000 195,000
Ryan Messick us
Ryan Messick
1,800,000 -1,255,000

Tags: Raul GarzaRyan Messick

Messick Pays Off Garza

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Ryan Messick made it 120,000 to go on the button and was called by Raul Garza in the big blind. The {j-Hearts}{7-Spades}{4-Spades} flop was checked and Garza bet the {k-Spades} turn for 100,000, earning a call from

On the {4-Diamonds} river, Garza bet another 250,000 by Messick and received the call. He flipped over the {k-Hearts}{7-Hearts} and that won the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Benjamin Kaupp us
Benjamin Kaupp
WSOP 1X Winner
4,800,000 850,000
Raul Garza us
Raul Garza
4,000,000 -185,000
Robert Cowen gb
Robert Cowen
WSOP 2X Winner
3,100,000 195,000
Ryan Messick us
Ryan Messick
2,200,000 -855,000

Tags: Raul GarzaRyan Messick

Ali Eslami Eliminated in 5th Place ($50,000)

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Ali Eslami
Ali Eslami

Ryan Messick raised to 120,000 with {a-Hearts}{6-Hearts} and Ali Eslami called out of the big blind with {k-Spades}{q-Clubs}. On the {k-Hearts}{8-Clubs}{4-Hearts} flop, Eslami check-called a bet worth 60,000 and they headed to the {3-Hearts} turn. Eslami bet 480,000 with just one chip behind and Messick snap-called and revealed the nuts without realizing Eslami was not all in. Knowing he was drawing dead, Eslami folded and saved his last 5,000.

In the very next hand, Eslami was all-in for the last 5,000 out of the big blind and Raul Garza limped in the cutoff, as did Robert Cowen on the button while Messick checked the option in the big blind. It checked to Cowen on the {10-Clubs}{7-Hearts}{3-Spades} flop, who bet 160,000 and isolated.

Ali Eslami: {k-Hearts}{j-Diamonds}
Robert Cowen: {a-Diamonds}{9-Spades}

While Eslami had some outs even after the {8-Hearts} turn, the {6-Diamonds} river only improved Cowen to the ten-high straight and Eslami departed in fifth place for $50,000.

Player Chips Progress
Benjamin Kaupp us
Benjamin Kaupp
WSOP 1X Winner
4,800,000
Raul Garza us
Raul Garza
3,700,000 -100,000
Robert Cowen gb
Robert Cowen
WSOP 2X Winner
3,400,000 200,000
Ryan Messick us
Ryan Messick
2,200,000 900,000
Ali Eslami us
Ali Eslami
WSOP 1X Winner
Busted

Tags: Ali EslamiRaul GarzaRobert CowenRyan Messick

Gregory Wish Eliminated in 6th Place ($37,500)

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Gregory Wish
Gregory Wish

Raul Garza raised to 125,000 on the button and then instantly called the shove by Gregory Wish from one seat over for 600,000 in total out of the small blind.

Gregory Wish: {a-Clubs}{10-Hearts}
Raul Garza: {a-Spades}{9-Spades}

The dominated ace improved on the {j-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds} flop and retained the lead throughout the {5-Spades} turn nor the {q-Hearts} river for Wish to depart in sixth place for a payday of $37,500.

Player Chips Progress
Raul Garza us
Raul Garza
3,800,000
Gregory Wish us
Gregory Wish
Busted

Tags: Gregory WishRaul Garza

Yuliyan Kolev Eliminated in 7th Place ($27,500)

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Yuliyan Kolev
Yuliyan Kolev

Yuliyan Kolev raised to 125,000 in the hijack and Benjamin Kaupp three-bet to 415,000 in the small blind. Kolev then four-bet jammed for 1,580,000 and Kaupp snap-called.

Yuliyan Kolev: {8-Spades}{8-Hearts}
Benjamin Kaupp: {q-Spades}{q-Clubs}

This time, the Bulgarian was dominated and found no help on the {a-Spades}{k-Clubs}{6-Spades}{6-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds} runout to become the seventh place finisher for a payday of $27,500.

Player Chips Progress
Benjamin Kaupp us
Benjamin Kaupp
WSOP 1X Winner
4,800,000
Yuliyan Kolev bg
Yuliyan Kolev
WSOP 1X Winner
Busted

Tags: Benjamin KauppYuliyan Kolev

Split Pot Between the Big Stacks

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

From under the gun, Benjamin Kaupp raised to 130,000 and Raul Garza made it 360,000 to go from one seat over which Kaupp elected to call. Both players saw a flop of {a-Diamonds}{8-Hearts}{3-Spades} on which Kaupp check-called a bet worth 200,000.

The {3-Hearts} followed on the turn and the action was quickly checked through, which led to the {k-Clubs} on the river. Kaupp checked again and so did Garza. The former showed {a-Spades}{q-Spades} and Garza chopped it up with the {a-Clubs}{q-Clubs}.

Player Chips Progress
Benjamin Kaupp us
Benjamin Kaupp
WSOP 1X Winner
3,200,000 100,000
Raul Garza us
Raul Garza
3,200,000 100,000

Tags: Benjamin KauppRaul Garza