WSOP Update: First-Timers Shine, Livingston Loses Bracelet, & Housewarming Pays Out $700K

June 9, 2022
WSOP Update: First-Timers Shine, Livingston Loses Bracelet, & Housewarming Pays Out $700K

After the first week of action saw several players win their fourth bracelets at the World Series of Poker, first-time winners became the theme this week. However, one of those winners lost that coveted piece of hardware along the way.

Several other players also found a series win for the first time. A few interesting names also winning debut bracelets included Chad Eveslage )pictured in lead image) and Jake Schindler. Here’s a look at some of the action so far this week.

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Lost and found bracelet 

Sometimes winning a bracelet can be a little overwhelming. After winning the $1,500 Seven Card Stud event for his first series hardware, Alex Livingston somehow lost his bracelet within 20 minutes of winning.

Livingston finished third in the 2019 Main Event for $4 million and now has a win under his belt as well. However, his bracelet was lost. Livingston believed he left the jewelry at a coffee shop in Paris, but was involved in a Day 2 at the time. He didn’t seem too worried about his gold bracelet going MIA however. 

“Meh, I figured it would turn up,” he told USPoker.

Indeed the bracelet was eventually corralled. Security tracked it down and returned it to the Seven Card Stud champ.

Event 5: $500 Housewarming

Henry Acain (photo via WSOP)

After four starting flights and two more days of action, the series’ first monster-sized event wrapped up on Tuesday. Henry Acain topped a field of 20,080 entries, which produced an $8.4 million prize pool.

The event was held to kick off the series and welcome players to the new venues on the Strip. Acain, of Stockton, California, scored his first bracelet and a hefty payout of $701,215. His previous best career cash was only $30,000.

“Amazing, I feel pretty good about it,” Acain said afterward. “It’s like my dream come true’.”

A key hand came in the final table when Acain’s A-3 cracked his opponent’s pocket Aces. In terms of field size, the Housewarming became the fourth-largest tournament in series history.

 

Event 7:  $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo

Longtime poker pro Amnon Filippi came out on top in this event for $252,718 and his first bracelet. Tournament officials added an extra day with Filippi battling Matt Vengrin heads-up for the title.

Filippi held more than a 2-to-1 chip advantage when the players returned and turned that into a WSOP victory. The New Yorker now has almost $3.7 million in live tournament winnings.

Event 8: $25,000 High Roller

Chad Eveslage has been on a hot streak over the last couple years. His record from 2021-22 includes a World Poker Tour title, a WSOP runner-up finish, and some nice high roller scores.

On Monday he added a bracelet to that list, topping a field of 251 for his first bracelet and $1.4 million. Jake Schindler took runner-up for $874,915 in an event with a $5.9 million prize pool. Last year’s WSOP Player of the Year Josh Arieh took third for $616,047.

With 15 players remaining, Eveslage was second in chips as the action played out on PokerGO. He faced a tough final table but felt good about having a shot at the win.

“This was such a tough field,” he said. “I mean, all the players are great. They’re all good players. But, I think it was a softer-than-average field in the final two days just because there were so many like absolute beasts and not that many of them really made it through.

“But they’re all still like … very above-average professionals. And like, Brek [Schutten], he’s an amateur, but he’s really tough. So, you know, they’re all very good. I still liked my chances, though.”

Event 9: $1,500 Seven Card Stud

As noted above, Livingston came out on top but had some troubles hanging on to his bracelet. He held the chip lead with eight players remaining and was able to ride that lead to victory.

The Canadian scored not only his first bracelet but also his first major tournament victory, bagging $103,282. The event brought in 329 entries for a $439,215 prize pool. Daniel Weinman took runner-up for $63,835.

Livingston described his own run as basically a dream tournament and now has $5.9 million in live tournament winnings.

“I did a good job of keeping my foot on the gas as others were battling for pay jumps but at the same time I ran so pure the entire tournament,” he told WSOP.com. “It honestly feels kind of fluky.”

Event 10: $10,000 Dealers Choice Six-Handed Championship

The first-time bracelet winning continued in this event with Ben Diebold reaching the winner’s circle for $299,488. The tournament saw 123 entries for a $1.1 million prize pool.

Hailing from Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, the 28-year-old faced some tough heads-up competition in two-time bracelet winner Mike Gorodinsky. But Diebold guided his 2-to-1 chip advantage to a massive mixed-game title. Gorodinsky took $185,095 for second and Brian Rast added $134,370 for third.

Diebold’s win turned out to be a nice score for one member of Daniel’s Negreanu’s $25K Fantasy Draft as well.

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Event 11: $600 NLHE Deepstack

The debut bracelet winning rolled on in this tournament. Florida’s Raj Vohra booked his first series title, winning $335,286 in the process. A former pro tennis player, Vohra traded the court for a poker table and now plays professionally.

This bargain-priced event brought in 5,715 players for a $2.9 million prize pool. Qing Liu took the runner-up spot for $207,192.

Jake Schindler (photo courtesy PokerGO)

Event 12: $25,000 High Roller Eight-Handed

Jake Schindler scored his first bracelet in this event as well for a $1.3 million payday. This five-figure buy-in affair produced a field of 85 for a $4.1 million prize pool.

The high-stakes pro comes off a huge win in the $250,000 Super High Roller Bowl for $3.2 million in April. He now adds a bracelet to that and has more than $34 million in live tournament winnings.

Schindler already has $2.2 million in series winnings so far this year with a win and a runner-up. Brek Schutten continued a nice run in the series so far as well, taking runner-up for $820,808. He also finished fifth in the $25,000 High Roller for $323,730.

Event 13: $1,500 Limit Hold’em

Chicago’s Michael Moncek added to the first-time bracelet winners, scoring $145,856. He said afterward that he’d never even played the game before.

The tournament attracted 522 entries for a $696,870 prize pool. Jumping in the Limit Hold’em action proved to be a nice decision for Moncek.

“It feels awesome, especially in a game that I’ve never played before,” he told WSOP.com. “I’m going to have to learn to play it now.”

Looking ahead

Plenty of big events ring in the weekend including the third online tournament on Sunday. Here’s a look at what to expect:

  • $1,000 Freezeout NLHE (Event 18) – June 9
  • $25,000 High Roller PLO (Event 19) – June 9
  • $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw (Event #20) – June 10
  • $1,500 Monster Stack (Event 21) – June 10
  • $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship (Event 22) – June 11
  • $3,000 Six-Handed Limit Hold’em (Event 23) – June 12
  • $1,000 GG Poker Flip & Go (Event 24) – June 12
  • $800 NLHE Deepstack (Event 25) – June 12
  • $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship (Event 26) – June 12
  • $400 No Limit Hold’em Ultra Deepstack (Online Event 3) – June 12

* Lead image courtesy PokerGO

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