WSOP Update: Dan Cates Goes Big With Second-Straight PPC Win; Dash Dudley Takes Third Bracelet & More
Dan Cates highlighted the week’s action at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. The poker pro originally from Florida scored his second straight win in the Poker Players Championship.
In other action, Dash Dudley staged a huge comeback to land his third bracelet. The Colossus wrapped up again with a truly colossal field and an Englishman coming out on top for his first-ever tournament win. Here’s a look at those events as well as other WSOP action from the last few days..
No WSOP this year for Doyle Brunson
Many poker fans may have hoped Poker Hall of Famer and 10-time bracelet winner Doyle Brunson would again be making an appearance this year. He’s posted on Twitter in recent weeks about his desire to get to Bally’s/Paris for some action.
However, some COVID concerns have kept Brunson away from the series. Last week he noted that he planned to play the Main Event. It now appears those plans have changed and he won’t be heading to the action after all.
I'm passing all of the WSOP on the advice of my doctor.
— Doyle Brunson (@TexDolly) June 30, 2022
That may disappoint fans of the Texas legend. Even at age 88, Brunson regularly plays in some of the biggest cash games including appearances on PokerGO’s High Stakes Poker. However it looks like another WSOP appearance may have to wait until next year.
Event 51: $400 Colossus
This is one of the WSOP’s original massive-field tournaments and it delivered again, garnering 13,565 entries for a $4.5 million prize pool. When the dust settled on Tuesday, Paul Hizer not only won the Colossus but it was also his first live poker tournament victory. The player from London, England, snagged a bracelet and a score of $414,490.
In the heads-up battle, Hizer trailed opponent Sam Laskowitz when play began. A key call with just King high proved a huge hand when he caught his opponent bluffing.
“Played many tournaments, had lots of deep runs,” he said afterward. “But I’ve never actually won a tournament outright. I don’t know if many people know that about me. I’m sure my close friends do.
“Maybe today was just written in the stars and I was meant to go all the way. I felt really confident, I felt like I had a really good game plan, and I’m just really thankful that it worked out.”
Laskowitz took home $256,170 for runner-up.
Event 54: $500 Salute to Warriors
This event honors military veterans and helps raise funds for the USO. Many former members of the military now jump in the action each year. The tournament saw 3,209 entries for a $1.4 million prize pool and raised $74,809 for the USO.
In the end, James Todd, of Wellington, Colorado, landed his first bracelet and $161,256. While not a veteran himself, Todd was pleased to see so many players turn out and plenty of money heading to the cause.
‘”It’s going to help a hell of a lot of people,” he said. “I did not serve, but my father served in the military. I love our service men and women.”
Brett Coltman finished runner-up for $99,676.
Event 56: $50,000 Poker Players Championship
This event has become one of the most prestigious events at the WSOP for big-name poker pros. The game’s elite turn out each year to chase a PPC bracelet.
After winning the event in 2021, Dan Cates (pictured in lead image) went back to back. He found the winner’s circle again this year, joining Brian Rast (2) and Michael Mizrachi (3) to win the event more than once.
Cates, who dressed as Randy “Macho Man” Savage throughout the action, added $1.4 million to his poker record. He now has $10.4 million in live tournament winnings and also finished fifth in the event in 2019 for $168,305.
Brazil’s Yuri Dzivielevski, a partypoker ambassador, finished runner-up for $895,614 and Japan’s Naoya Kihara took third for $639,257. The tournament attracted 112 entries for a $5.5 million prize pool.
Cates becomes the first player in history to win the PPC in two straight years and seemed to have some good vibes in the event as it progressed.
Ok gang I’ve basically already won the Poker Players Championship. I’ve successfully duped my opponents into thinking they had a CHANCE!! Time to go SAVAGE on them
— Daniel Cates 🇺🇸 🌎 (@junglemandan) June 29, 2022
Event 57: $600 Deepstack Championship
A nice field showed up for this lower price point event. The tournament brought in 4,913 entries for a $2.5 million prize pool.
Hungary’s Tamas Lendvai took the top spot and his first bracelet for $299,464. He entered the final table as the lowest chip stack but was able to turn things around for the victory.
Germany’s Frank Reichel finished runner-up for $185,027. USPoker contributor Anthony Cicali finished 179th for $2,142.
Event 58: $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
The WSOP featured numerous players from Texas in the series’ early years and a player from the Lone Star State came out on top in this event. Lawrence Brandt hails from Arlington and won his first bracelet for $289,610.
“It honestly was the best tournament I’ve ever played,” he said. “I haven’t played too many PLO8 tournaments, and obviously luck plays a factor, but I was really happy with my performance.”
The event brought in 1,303 entries for a $1.7 million prize pool. Corey Wade, of Arkansas, finished in second for $179,010.
Event #60: $10,000 Short Deck
This form of poker has grown in popularity in recent years and features all 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s removed from the deck. Japan’s Shota Nakanishi took the title for $277,212 and his first bracelet.
The Short Deck action saw 110 entries for a $1 million prize pool with Ben Lamb finishing runner-up for $171,331. Brian Rast took third for $121,718.
Online Event #6: $500 NLHE Turbo Deepstack
The online poker action at WSOP.com was back on Tuesday with Bulgaria’s Martin “115FTW” Stoyanov winning his first bracelet for $132,783.
Arkadiy “WBGTour” Tsinis finished runner-up for $81,870. The event brought in 1,746 entries for a $785,700 prize pool.
Event 62: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty
Dash Dudley, of Lansing Michigan, made it a trio of bracelets after winning this event for $301,396. He topped a field of 2,569, which created a $2.4 million prize pool. He spoke afterward about starting the final day of action on an extremely short stack and then turning things around.
“Feeling amazing, this is the story you dream of,” Dudley said. “Three blinds left to start the day with 20 players left and somehow catch enough heat to get here and then close it out for number three. That was the goal this summer so it feels amazing.”
It's bracelet #3 for @DashDudley, this one comes in the $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty: pic.twitter.com/O7RU1E0QZY
— Jeff Platt (@jeffplatt) July 1, 2022
New Mexico’s David Sanchez took runner-up for $186,258. USPoker contributor Anthony Cicali took 358th for $1,502.
Upcoming events
The Independence Day holiday weekend brings plenty of action ahead including the start of the $10,000 Main Event. Here’s a look at some of the upcoming tournaments.
- $1,000 Mini Main Event (Event 66) – July 1
- $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty (Event 67) – July 2
- $1,000 Million Dollar Bounty (Event 68) – July 2-4 (three starting flights)
- $10,000 MAIN EVENT (Event 70) – July 3-6 (four starting flights)
- $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Eight-Handed Championship (Event 69) – July 3-6 (four starting flights)
- Online Event 7: $500 NLHE Deepstack – July 3