WSOP Roundup: European Players Score Online Bracelets; Aldemir, Sammartino Find Early Success

The World Series of Poker is now underway at Bally’s/Paris in Las Vegas with action running through July 21. The annual festival brings in players from around the world and with international travel restrictions lifted, organizers are expecting the largest series in history.

The first week has seen some big names rise to the top and some players from outside the US scoring nice finishes. That has included the first two online poker bracelet events seeing players from Germany and Hungary find the winner’s circle.

Here’s a quick look at some international players finding some deep runs in Las Vegas.

Winning big in WSOP.com online events

The online bracelet schedule began on Sunday with two opening events both won by European players. Hungary’s Norbert “Balkan500” Szecsi scored the title in Online Event 1: $5,300 High Roller Freezeout.

That event brought in 218 entries for a $1.1 million prize pool and Szecsi took $288,850 for the win. This became his third WSOP bracelet after winning an event in 2013 and WSOP Europe tournament in 2018. He now has more than $3.8 million in live tournament winnings.

Getting to the title didn’t come easy. He faced World Poker Tour commentator and two-time bracelet winner Tony Dunst in heads-up play. Greg Merson, winner of the 2012 Main Event, finished third for $96,465 with Phil Galfond getting sixth for $52,320.

In Online Event 2: BIG $500, Germany’s Manig “Ohio77” Loeser took the top spot for $127,153. The tournament brought in 1,213 entries for a $799,200 prize pool.

This was Loeser’s second bracelet after winning the $600 Monster Stack in 2021 for $104,313. He now has more than $11.4 million in live tournament winnings. It looks to have been a nice celebration after the win.

Livingston takes gold in Seven Stud

Alex Livingston, of Canada, continues coming through on big stages. In 2019, he finished third in the Main Event and now has captured his first bracelet after several close calls.

This event produced a field of 329 for a $439,215 prize pool with Livingston grabbing $103,282 of that. The huge run in the Main Event inspired Livingston to begin playing tournaments more in recent years. That certainly paid off with Monday’s victory.

“I used to be mostly just a cash game player,” he told WSOP.com. “Since the Main Event, it got me more inspired to play a few more tournaments, especially going harder during the world series. So this win doesn’t really change my plans for this WSOP as I was going to play a full schedule anyway.”

Another Canadian also made a deep run in this event. Thomas Taylor finished third for $44,112.

Sammartino, Aldemir shine in early events

Players with some recent success in the Main Event have shown some skills in the series’ first week. Austra’s Koray Aldemir won the 2021 championship for $8 million and has a nice start this year as well.

In Event 2: $100,000 High Roller Bounty, he finished fifth for $249,693. He followed that up with a sixth-place finish in Event 8: $25,000 High Roller Eight-Handed for another $241,791.

Dario Sammartino finished runner-up in the 2019 Main Event for $6 million and continues standing out this year. The Italian poker pro took third in the High Roller Bounty for $498,686. He followed that up with another third in Event 6: $25,000 Heads Up Championship for $193,537.

Sammartino has $11.1 million in live tournament winnings but is still seeking that first bracelet. He has yet another opportunity in Event 12: $50,000 High Roller Eight-Handed. With 22 players returning Tuesday, Sammartino sits fourth in chips in that one as well.

Other players finding nice finishes

Several other players are also finding some nice scores so far. One of the more impressive runs came from Canada’s Jaswinder Lally in Event 4: $1,500 Dealers Choice Six-Handed. He finished runner-up for $78,048 after winning the same event in 2021 for $97,915.

Japan’s Naoya Kihara also took third in that event for $52,282. He’s also among the chip leaders in Event 10: $10,000 Dealers Choice Six-Handed Championship with only 15 players left.

In Event 3:  $2,500 Freezeout NLHE, Spain’s Sergio Aido took fifth for $72,233. Brazil’s Murilo Figueredo found a fourth-place finish in Event 7:  $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better for $80,671.

A look ahead

Plenty of big events stand out on the schedule this week. Event 15: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship kicks off on Tuesday and should bring in some big names.

A $1,000 freezeout event on Thursday should offer a nice prize pool for bargain price point players. That continues into the weekend with the $1,500 Monster Stack beginning on Friday.

GGPoker’s $1,000 Flip & Go NLHE continues to be a fun event for players and begins on Saturday. The online action continues again on Sunday with a $400 Ultra Deepstack. Here’s a look at the remaining WSOP schedule for events beginning Tuesday and beyond.

2022 World Series of Poker

DateTimeEventTournamentBuy-inStarting chipsRe-entry
June 7, 202211am146-Handed No Limit Hold’em (3 day event)$1,50025,0001
June 7, 20223pm15Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship (4 day event)$10,00060,0000
June 8, 202211am16No-Limit Holdem (4 day event)$3,00040,0001
June 8, 20223pm17Mixed Triple Draw Lowball  (Limit) (A-5, 2-7, Badugi) (3 day event)$2,50035,0001
June 9, 202211am18Freezeout No-Limit Holdem (2 day event)$1,00020,0000
June 9, 20221pm19High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) (4 day Event)$25,000150,0002
June 9, 20223pm20Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw (3 day event)$1,50025,0001
June 10, 202210am21AMONSTER STACK No Limit Hold'em Flight A (players who are eliminated in flight A may re-enter into flight B) (5 day event)$1,50050,000Bust A Play B
June 10, 20223pm22Seven Card Stud Championship (3 day event)$10,00060,0000
June 11, 202210am21BMONSTER STACK No Limit Hold'em Flight B$1,50050,0000
June 11, 20223pm236-Handed Limit Hold’em (3 day event)$3,00040,0000
June 12, 202211am24FLIP & GO No Limit Hold’em Presented by GG Poker - Flight A (2 day event)$1,00020,000unlimited
June 12, 20221pm25No Limit Hold’em Deepstack (2 day event)$80040,0001
June 12, 20223pm26Limit Hold'em Championship (3 day event)$10,00060,0000
June 13, 202211am27Shootout No Limit Hold'em (2,000 player max) (3 day event)$1,50025,0000
June 13, 20221pm28High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha (3 day event)$50,000300,0002
June 13, 20223pm29No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw (3 day event)$1,50025,0002
June 14, 202211am30Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed (3 day event)$1,00020,0002
June 14, 20223pm31Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship (3 day event)$10,00060,0000
June 15, 202211am32H.O.R.S.E. (Limit Hold'em; Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Razz; Seven Card Stud; Seven Card Hi-Lo 8 or Better) (3 day event)$1,50025,0000
June 15, 20223pm336-Handed No Limit Hold’em (2 day event)$3,00040,0001
June 16, 202211am34Freezeout No-Limit Holdem (3 day event)$1,50025,0000
June 16, 20221pm35Mixed Big Bet Event - NLHE, PLO, 2-7 NL, NL 5 Card Draw, Big O, PLO Hi-Lo, 2-7 Pot-Limit Triple Draw (3 day event)$2,50035,0002
June 16, 20223pm36Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better (3 day event)$1,50025,0000
June 17, 202210am37AMILLIONAIRE MAKER No Limit Hold’em Flight A - $1,000,000 Guaranteed for 1st Place (5 day event) $1,50025,0001/flight
June 17, 20223pm38No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship (3 day event)$10,00060,0001
June 18, 202210am37BMILLIONAIRE MAKER No Limit Hold'em Flight B$1,50025,0001/flight
June 18, 20221pm396-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha (4 day event)$3,00040,0002
June 18, 20223pm40Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship (3 day event)$10,00060,0000
June 19, 202211am41Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) (every player is a $300 bounty) (1 day event)$1,00020,0000
June 19, 20223pm42High Roller No Limit Hold’em (3 day event)$100,000600,0001
June 20, 202211am43Freezeout No-Limit Holdem (2 day event)$50025,0000
June 20, 20223pm44H.O.R.S.E. Championship (Limit Hold'em; Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Razz, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Hi-Lo 8 or Better) (4 day event) $10,00060,0000
June 21, 202211am45Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) (3 day event)$1,50025,0002
June 21, 20223pm466-Handed No Limit Hold’em (4 day event)$5,00050,0001
June 22, 202210am47ASeniors No Limit Hold’em Championship (Must be 50 years of age or older) Flight A (5 day event)$1,00020,0001 / flight
June 22, 20223pm48Eight Game Mix 6-Handed (3 day event)$1,50025,0001
June 23, 202210am47BSeniors No Limit Hold’em Championship Flight B$1,00020,0001 / flight
June 23, 20221pm49No-Limit Holdem (3 day event)$2,00030,0001
June 23, 20223pm50Super High Roller No Limit Hold'em (3 day event)$250,0001,500,0001
June 24, 202210am51ACOLOSSUS No Limit Hold’em Flight A (Payouts each flight) (4 day event)$40040,0001 / flight
June 24, 20223pm52Nine Game Mix 6-Handed (3 day event)$2,50035,0001
June 25, 202210am51BCOLOSSUS No Limit Hold’em Flight B (Payouts each flight)$40040,0001 / flight
June 25, 20223pm53Mixed No Limit Hold'em; Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) (2 day event)$5,00050,0002
June 26, 202211am54Salute to Warriors - No Limit Hold’em Proceeds to be donated to the USO and other Veteran Organizations (3 day event)$50050,0001
June 26, 20221pm55TAG TEAM No Limit Hold'em (2 person team, each team must register together) (3 day event) $1,000/Team20,0000
June 26, 20223pm56Poker Players Championship 6-Handed (5 day event)$50,000300,0000
June 27, 202211am57Deepstack Championship No Limit Hold'em (4 day event)$60030,0001
June 27, 20223pm58Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better (8-Handed) (3 day event)$1,50025,0002
June 28, 202210am59Super Seniors No Limit Hold’em (Must be 60 years of age or older) (4 day event)$1,00020,0001
June 28, 20223pm60Short Deck No Limit Hold'em (3 day event)$10,00060,0001
June 29, 202211am61Ladies No Limit Hold’em Championship (4 day event) (Event Entry is $10K; Ladies Discounted Price is $1K)$10,000 men/$1,000 ladies20,0001
June 29, 20221pm62Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) (every player is a $500 bounty) (1 day event)$1,50025,0000
June 29, 20223pm63Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship (8-Handed) (4 day event)$10,00060,0000
June 30, 202211am64Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack (8-Handed) (2 day event)$60030,0002
June 30, 20223pm65Freezeout No Limit Hold'em (3 day event)$3,00040,0000
July 1, 202211am66Mini Main Event No Limit Hold’em (freezeout) (3 day event)$1,00060,0000
July 1, 20223pm67Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) (every player is a $3,000 bounty) (2 day event)$10,00060,0000
July 2, 2022Main Event Satellite Days July 2 - 7
July 2, 202212pm68AMillion Dollar Bounty No Limit Hold'em - Payouts begin on Day one - Bounties begin on Day 2 - Top bounty guranteed $1,000,000$1,00040,0001/flight
July 2, 20223pm69Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Championship (4 day event)$10,00060,0000
July 3, 202211am70AMAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1A$10,00060,0000
July 3, 202212pm68BMillion Dollar Bounty No Limit Hold'em - Flight B$1,00040,0001/flight
July 4, 202211am70BMAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1B$10,00060,0000
July 4, 202212pm68CMillion Dollar Bounty No Limit Hold'em - Flight C$1,00040,0001/flight
July 4, 20227pm68DMillion Dollar Bounty No Limit Hold'em - Flight D - Turbo 15 minute levels$1,00040,0001/flight
July 5, 202211am70CMAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1C$10,00060,0000
July 6, 202211am70DMAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1D$10,00060,0000
July 7, 202211amMAIN EVENT - Day 2AB (combine all surviving players 1A + 1B)
July 7, 202212pm71AOne More for One Drop No Limit Hold'em Flight A (5 day event)$1,000 + $11140,000unlimited
July 7, 20223pm72Mixed: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Omaha Hi Lo 8 or Better; "Big O" (5 Card PLO Hi-Lo 8) (3 day event)$1,50025,0002
July 8, 202211amMAIN EVENT - Day 2CD (For all surviving 1C + 1D players)
July 8, 202212pm71BOne More for One Drop No Limit Hold'em Flight B$1,000 + $11140,000unlimited
July 8, 20223pm73Razz (3 day event)$1,50025,0000
July 9, 202211amMAIN EVENT - Day 3 (combine all fields into one for first time)
July 9, 202212pm71COne More for One Drop No Limit Hold'em Flight C$1,000 + $11140,000unlimited
July 9, 20223pm74BOUNTY Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed (every player is a $500 bounty) (3 day event)$1,50025,0002
July 10, 202211amMAIN EVENT - Day 4
July 10, 202212pm75ALucky 7's No Limit Hold'em 7-Handed Flight A $777,777 Guaranteed 1st place - (5 day event) (Payouts every flight) $77740,000unlimited
July 10, 20223pm76Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) (every Hall of Famer is a bounty) (2 day event)$1,97930,000unlimited
July 11, 202211amMAIN EVENT - Day 5
July 11, 202212pm75BLucky 7's No Limit Hold'em 7-Handed Flight B$77740,000unlimited
July 11, 20221pm77Mixed No Limit Hold'em; Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) (3 day event)$1,50025,0002
July 11, 20223pm78No Limit Hold’em (3 day event)$2,50035,0001
July 12, 202211amMAIN EVENT - Day 6
July 12, 202212pm75CLucky 7's No Limit Hold'em 7-Handed Flight C$77740,000unlimited
July 12, 20223pm79Razz Championship (3 day event)$10,00060,0000
July 13, 202211amMAIN EVENT - Plays down to 9 players
July 13, 202212pm80Mixed No Limit Hold'em; Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack (8-Handed) (2 day event)$60030,0002
July 13, 20223pm81Freezeout No Limit Hold’em 8-Handed (3 day event)$5,00050,0000
July 14, 202211amMAIN EVENT - Day Off
July 14, 202212pm828-Handed No Limit Hold’em Deepstack (2 day event)$80040,0001
July 14, 20221pm83HIGH ROLLER No Limit Hold’em (3 day event)$50,000300,0001
July 14, 20223pm84H.O.R.S.E. (Limit Hold'em; Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Razz; Seven Card Stud; Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better) (3 day event)$3,00040,0000
July 15, 2022TBDMAIN EVENT - Final Table
July 15, 202212pm85AThe Closer - No Limit Hold’em Flight A (payouts each flight) (3 day event)$1,50050,0001 / flight
July 15, 20223pm866-Handed No Limit Hold'em Championship (3 day event)$10,00060,0000
July 16, 2022TBDMAIN EVENT - Final Table
July 16, 202212pm85BThe Closer - No Limit Hold’em Flight B (payouts each flight)$1,50050,0001 / flight
July 16, 20223pm878-Handed No Limit Hold'em (2 day event)$5,00050,0001
July 17, 202211am88Super Turbo No Limit Hold'em (1 day event)$1,00020,0001
July 18, 202211am89Tournanent of Champions Day 1$0
July 19, 202211amTournanent of Champions Day 2$0
July 20, 2022TBDTournanent of Champions Day 3$0

* Lead image courtesy PokerGO

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