Who Won Events 51-55 at the 2022 World Series of Poker?

Five more WSOP events took place at Bally’s and Paris over the past few days as players were treated to some Tag Team tension, Colossus commotion and Warriors wonder. The action was hot and the prizes awarded were worth millions, as poker players in Vegas took to the felt. All this after learning in the past 24 hours that the Players Integrity Council will help keep fair play paramount in poker. If you missed what happened in WSOP Events #46-50, you can read all about them here.

British player Paul Hizer Wins the Colossus in 2022

The $400-entry Colossus, otherwise known as Event #51, saw a dramatic conclusion to the action as Paul Hizer managed to take on and beat the overnight chip leader, New Yorker Sam Laskowitz. With all the action playing out live on PokerGO, a final day of seven players saw some excellent pros and talented hopefuls gather under the lights at the final table.

It was Anthony Ruttler who lost his stack first as he busted in seventh place for a devilish cash of $66,670. Short-stacked, Ruttler couldn’t get back into the action, and he was followed from the felt by fellow Americans Jeff Loiacono and Luong Quach. Of the final four, half the field were British, but their number was cut down by one as James Scott busted for $146,680, leaving a Frenchman, an American and the eventual winner to battle it out.

When the former chip leader earlier in the event Jordan Pelon made his bow in third place for $193,240, it was the overnight leader Laskowitz who was looking to go wire-to-wire. He couldn’t get the job done and Paul Hizer of the United Kingdom won his first bracelet and the gigantic top prize of $414,490.

Park-Life is Great for First-Time Winner KT in Event #52

Event #52 concluded with some great action as the $2,500-entry Nine Game Mix saw big players like 16-time WSOP Phil Hellmuth (24^th), Scott Seiver (22^nd), Daniel Negreanu (13^th), Mike Gorodinsky (11^th) and Scott Bohlman (8^th) all leave the party ahead of the six-handed final table.

Once there, Michael Chow was the first player to bust as he left in sixth place for $30,713, before the renowned tournament regular Taylor Paur (5^th for $42,965) and David Bach (4^th for $61,588) both made their exits.

Phil Long has enjoyed a terrific start to the World Series this year and he finished third in this event too, claiming $90,411. That left KT Park to win his first bracelet by beating Brazilian pro Andre Akkari and win the top prize of $219,799 at the expense of the PokerStars player.

Joao Simao Wins Mixed Game Event and Second WSOP Bracelet

The Brazilian poker pro Joao Simao won his second-ever WSOP bracelet as he conquered a super standard of player in Event #53, the $5,000-entry Mixed NLHE/PLO event. Taking home the top prize of $686,242, Simao beat Marius Gierse heads-up after players such as Ryan Riess (3^rd for $302,980) and Dante Goya (4^th for $219,472).

Heads-up, German player Gierse had just 20% of the chips and while he fought back, he couldn’t take down Simao, who saw his boisterous rail celebrate wildly as he was proclaimed the winner.

James Todd Wins Salute to Warriors Event for First Gold

In Event #54, the $500-entry Salute to Warriors event closed with James Todd the winner, as 21 players began the final day, but only one remained at the end to claim the $161,256 top prize.

Play wound to the 10-handed final table whereupon players such as Zyad Qasem (10^th for $13,059, Maximo Martinez (9^th for $16,433) and Elias Neto (8^th for $20,824) all failed to make it to the very last stages of the tournament.  By the time play reached the final four, Randy Levin was the man to miss out on the podium places for $57,554.

Three-handed play saw Patrick Pilko as the man to miss out on heads-up play, with the Austrian cashing for $75,486. The final duel saw Todd in charge of the chips and he saw it out against Brett Coltman’s king-seven with ace-three the winning hand, earning Coltman the runner-up prize of $99,676 and Todd the $161,256 that came with his first-ever gold bracelet.

Tag Team Event #55 Win by Europeans Leonard and Jørstad

“One crucial pot for Leonard and Jørstad saw the latter make a five-bet all-in with ace-jack.”

The final event of our wrap-up to wrap was the $1,000-entry Tag Team event, which saw five duos take to the Thunderdome on the final day to battle for the bracelet. In the end, it was British poker player Patrick Leonard and Norwegian playing partner Espen Jørstad who won, taking down the chip leaders coming into play and the dominant force at the final table before the finale, Jamie Kertstetter and her partner Corey Paggeot.

Earlier, the former Day 2 chip leaders Mackenzie Kraemer and Jon Schiller busted in fifth place and as Jørstad did much of the work in the middle period of the final, both he and Leonard looked in great form coming into the heads-up match. PokerGO commentator and poker professional Jamie Kerstetter had played the bulk of the poker until the final table, and once there, she switched hats and railed Corey Paggeot, who had an almost 6:1 chip lead to defend.

One crucial pot for Leonard and Jørstad saw the latter make a five-bet all-in with ace-jack, and after gaining a pivotal fold, Leonard was tagged in by Jørstad and the U.K. online legend saw it home, winning the final duel to see him and Jørstad take home the $148,067 top prize between them… and their first-ever WSOP bracelets.

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