It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the tables have been packed at the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP), the first year the series has been held at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas. But how will that translate into attendance in the most important event of them all — the Main Event?
Last year was a unique WSOP in that the series was held in the fall and only those vaccinated against COVID-19 were permitted to play. Still, the field in the $10,000 buy-in world championship event attracted 6,650 entries, impressive considering the circumstances, but nearly 2,000 fewer than in 2019 (the live WSOP was canceled in 2020).
Outside of the venue switch, things are back to normal this summer. So, we'll compare turnout up to this point at the 2022 WSOP to similar events in 2019 as we attempt to handicap turnout in the upcoming Main Event, which begins later today.
On a flop of , the shorter stack of Matt Szymaszek went into the middle with the for a set of nines.
He was looked up by Patrik Jaros with the for the top pair and open-ended straight draw with back door hearts. Nothing changed on the turn and the river kept Szymaszek in contention.
Firas Sadou raised to 13,000 in the cutoff and was called by both players in the blinds. "You guys are not scared, eh? That will soon be a mistake," Sadou joked with a smile on the face. On the flop, it checked to Sadou who bet 30,000 and Nitesh Rawtani in the small blind was the only caller.
The fell on the turn and Rawtani check-called for another 80,000 as both then checked the on the river. Rawtani tabled the and that was good enough to win the pot as Sadou mucked the face-up.
Philip Wiszowaty had taken several hits to his stack recently but was spotted with an above-average stack just now. He provided the details for his double-up hand in which he defended the big blind with the against the raise by Vincent Lam to 12,000 from under the gun and the button call by Kris Burchfield.
On the flop, it checked to Lam who bet 15,000 and Burchfield called. Wiszowaty then check-raised to 100,000 and Lam was the only caller. Wiszowaty then jammed the turn for 189,000 and was called by Lam with the for a wrap and no spades. The river was the and the mighty pair of sixes won the pot.
Details of the hand are limited, but Scott Seiver was just seen passing over 300,000 chips to his left into the stack of Eduardo Bernal Sanchez.
The board read and Sanchez's cards showed for a flopped top set.
After sitting with a healthy stack most of the day, Seiver has taken the biggest hit of the day at one of the worst possible times as the bubble approaches.