The 2022 WSOP Main Event Kicks Off with Over 2,000 Players on Day 1a and Day 1b

After nine months of waiting only, the 2022 World Series of Poker Main Event is underway, and what a start we have enjoyed at Bally’s and Paris in Las Vegas. With 900 entries on Day 1a, Day 1b hosted even more hopefuls prepared to risk a buy-in of $10,000 for 60,000 chips and the dream of winning the likely $10 million top prize.

With some of the biggest names in poker rubbing shoulders with poker players of all levels from across the world, the truly worldwide event is the highlight of the poker calendar and this year’s incredible festival centerpiece looks to be no different.

Day 1a of WSOP Main Event Sees 900 Entries

Welcomed to the felt by Jack Effel, the first day’s players got underway after the traditional Day 1a declaration of “Shuffle Up and Deal!” from the reigning champion. That, of course, is Koray Aldemir, who won last year’s 2021 WSOP Main Event for $8 million in November. That seems a lot longer than only nine months ago, but at the same time, Aldemir has become a great ambassador for the game. We pondered how he might enjoy his reign nine months ago but clearly the German has been good for the game. Aldemir, playing other events on the day, could yet win back-to-back Main Events and become the first players to do so since Johnny Chan in 1988, as he has not yet entered this year’s Main, to delay the eagerly anticipated defense of his title.

On Day 1a, the chip leader in the Main Event was Cedrric Trevino (317,800), as 631 players remained, three fewer than would survive Day 1b. Others to bag big chip stacks included Wesley Fei (300,000), Suhaag Gandikota (269,700), Chanracy Khun (267,800), Thomas Eychenne (255,800), Andrew Moreno (238,200), Jimmy D’Ambrosio (213,000), Ryan Depaulo (188,800), Kelly Minkin (204,700) and Kevin Gerhart (149,900).

On one table, four WSOP bracelet winners played against each other as a battle for chips ensued. Amazingly, all four of Ryan Riess (139,900), Qui Nguyen (74,400), Martin Jacobson (64,300) and Justin Bonomo (57,500) survived the day, with Riess ‘The Beast’ the strongest stack among them.

Not everyone made the cut for Day 2, with last year’s World Series of Poker Player of the Year Josh Arieh busting with the nut flush as he was ousted by a player who turned a full house. Johnnie ‘Vibes’ Moreno was another big name who failed to survive, while Spanish poker professional Ana Marquez, the 2022 $100k Super High Roller winner Aleks Ponakovs, and German tournament regular Robert Heidorn all busted on Day 1a.

Day 1b of the Main Brings Bumper Crowd

“Tomorrow’s gonna be big.” ~ Jack Effel, WSOP Tournament Director.

With 1,245 entries, Day 1b of the WSOP Main Event was even bigger on Monday night, with Patrick Hagenlocher locking in the lead on 332,800 chips. With German player Matthias Kribben (268,100), Paul Michaelis (213,700), Michael Gagliano (167,000), Roland Israelashvili (149,000), Andre Akkari (126,600), John Eames (120,500), Eugene Katchalov (106,300), Eric Afriat (100,500), Dan Shak (96,000), David ‘ODB’ Baker (96,000), Ben Heath (89,500) and Prahlad Friedman (70,700) all made Day 2 in good chip health.

The day was introduced by Jack Effel, who on the fourth of July, asked veterans in the room to stand up and announce the “Shuffle Up and Deal!” in an emotional moment for the World Series. He later spoke to PokerGO’s Jeff Platt to explain how the rest of the Day 1s on the schedule are likely to proceed.

“Tomorrow’s gonna be big,” said Effel. “We may have to cut it off and say ‘There’s no more for today’. We’re going to do everything we can to stay in front of that.”

Some stars of the felt busted, however, as bracelet winner and WPT champion Chance Kornuth busted, along with poker power couple Kristen and Alex Foxen, another Spanish female superstar Leo Margets, Scotland’s finest tournament player Niall Farrell and Welsh bracelet winner Robert Cowen all failed to make Day 2.

Check out who won Events 46-50 of the 2022 World Series right here.

Photo courtesy of PokerGO, home of the 2022 World Series of Poker, with final table live streams throughout June and July.