2022 World Series of Poker

Event #43: $500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
Event Info

2022 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j2
Prize
$241,729
Event Info
Buy-in
$500
Prize Pool
$2,010,120
Entries
4,786
Level Info
Level
41
Blinds
1,000,000 / 2,000,000
Ante
2,000,000
Players Info - Day 1
Entries
4,786
Players Left
202

Field is Growing

Level 4 : 200/400, 400 ante

The field has grown so big that a new section of the Paris Ballroom had to be opened up to accommodate all the new players.

Players seated in this section include Chance Kornuth and Jesse Sylvia.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chance Kornuth us
Chance Kornuth
25,000
25,000
25,000
WSOP 4X Winner
Chip Leader Coaching
Profile photo of Jesse Sylvia us
Jesse Sylvia
25,000
25,000
25,000
Profile photo of Natalie Hof
Natalie Hof
25,000
25,000
25,000
Profile photo of Drew Scott ca
Drew Scott
25,000
25,000
25,000
Profile photo of Jessica Teusl at
Jessica Teusl
25,000
-8,100
-8,100
WSOP 1X Winner

Level: 5

Blinds: 300/500

Ante: 500

French Finds Miracle River

Level 5 : 300/500, 500 ante
Dominick French
Dominick French

A player opened under the gun to 1,000 and was called by Dominick French one seat over. Action folded to the cutoff, who moved all in for 7,100. The blinds got out of the way as did the initial raiser to send the action back to French, who made the call with the larger stack.

Cutoff Player: {q-Spades}{q-Hearts}
Dominick French: {8-Hearts}{8-Clubs}

Though the cutoff player was at risk he was also way ahead of French, who came into this tournament fresh off a deep run and cash in Event #37: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Millionaire Maker. The {j-Hearts}{a-Hearts}{k-Spades} flop changed nothing except to give the cutoff player a gutshot to go with his superior pocket pair. No help came for French on the {6-Clubs} turn either, leaving him drawing to just two outs. His razor thin equity did not matter though as French was able to spike the {8-Spades} on the river to eliminate his opponent in brutal fashion.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Dominick French ca
Dominick French
29,000

Tags: Dominick French

Level: 6

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 600

Firebaugh Stacking Chips at "Fun Table"

Level 6 : 300/600, 600 ante

Taylor Firebaugh and Frank Funaro saw a {2-Spades}{2-Hearts}{4-Diamonds} flop in a multi-way pot when Firebaugh bet out 700 in early position. Funaro raised to 2,000 and everyone else got of the way before Firebaugh called.

The turn came the {2-Diamonds} and Firebaugh led out again, this time betting 2,500. Funaro took his time before calling as they saw the {a-Diamonds} fall on the river.

Firebaugh put out another 2,500 and this time Funaro let his hand go.

"Everything about that was weird," Funaro said.

"How did you get all those chips," a new tablemate asked Firebaugh following the hand.

"From us," another player at the table responded. "This is a fun table."

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Taylor Firebaugh us
Taylor Firebaugh
45,000
Profile photo of Frank Funaro us
Frank Funaro
15,000
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Frank FunaroTaylor Firebaugh

Lanoue Gets Aggressive

Level 6 : 300/600, 600 ante

Matt Lanoue opened to 1,200 from late position and was called by Humberto Brenes in the small blind. A player in the big blind then three-bet to 5,200. Lanoue made the call while Brenes folded to send action heads up to the flop.

The big blind player continued for 3,000 on a flop of {6-Spades}{k-Diamonds}{9-Clubs}. Lanoue responded with a raise to 8,000, which was called.

The {3-Hearts} turn saw the big blind slow down, checking to Lanoue who fired off another bet, this time a much meatier 10,000. The big blind player went into the tank but ultimately emerged having decided to let go of his hand to send a sizable pot Lanoue's way.

Elsewhere at the table, a player who "loves PokerNews" was under the false impression that popular poker pro Doug Polk purchased PokerNews earlier this year. That was in fact an April fool's prank.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Matt Lanoue
Matt Lanoue
52,000
52,000
52,000
Profile photo of Humberto Brenes cr
Humberto Brenes
15,500
15,500
15,500
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Doug PolkHumberto BrenesMatt Lanoue

Set Over Set Over Set Rockets Di Santo Ahead

Level 6 : 300/600, 600 ante

Fabrizio Di Santo is sporting a massive stack, and it was thanks to a cooler that sent two players to the rail.

According to Di Santo, he three-bet to 5,000 with {k-Clubs}{k-Hearts} and two players called. The flop came {k-}{10-}{9-} and the small blind jammed for 30,000.

The player under the gun called for his last 20,000 and Di Santo snap-called with his set of kings. The two all-in players showed {10-}{10-} and {9-}{9-}, having both flopped sets.

Neither could hit the miracle one-outer as Di Santo moved into contention for the chip lead.

On other tables, the tournament has come to an early end for Ryan Laplante, Maria Konnikova, and Michael Perrone.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Fabrizio Di Santo ar
Fabrizio Di Santo
145,000
92,000
92,000
Profile photo of Ryan Laplante us
Ryan Laplante
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Michael Perrone us
Michael Perrone
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Maria Konnikova us
Maria Konnikova
Busted

Tags: Fabrizio Di SantoMaria KonnikovaMichael PerroneRyan Laplante

Level: 7

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800