WSOP Day 19 Recap: Eslami, Pechie, Chan Win Gold

The 2022 World Series of Poker continued on Saturday, June 18, with more action from Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip. Three WSOP gold bracelet winners were crowned, including longtime mixed game player Ali Eslami getting his first. Let’s recap the action and take a look at the latest news from the 2022 WSOP.

Eslami Gets First Gold Bracelet

In Event #36: $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo, Ali Eslami emerged victorious to win his first career WSOP gold bracelet and $135,260 in prize money. Eslami topped a field of 471 entries to win the event and defeated Chris Papastratis in heads-up play. Also at the final table was Jeff Madsen, who placed third.

Prior to this victory, Eslami had 26 cashes and more than $800,000 in winnings at the WSOP. He had previously earned seven top-10 finishes at the WSOP, but Eslami had never made it to heads-up play before. Not only did Eslami reach heads-up play, but he made it count by closing the tournament out with a win.

After the victory, Eslami dedicated his first gold bracelet to the late Chad Brown.

Pechie Makes It Two Gold Bracelets

In Event #34: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout, Justin Pechie picked up his second career WSOP gold bracelet and $364,899. Pechie bested a big field of 1,774 entries to take it down.

Pechie came into the final day of action third in chips between chip leader Samuel Bifarella and second place’s Maxime Parys. It was those three that made it to three-handed play, with Pechie besting Bifarella in heads-up play after Parys fell in third place. The legendary Steve Zolotow finished in fifth place.

“I came in and I said I’m just going to play like I know how to play, and it worked,” Pechie told PokerGO after the win.

The last time Pechie was in the WSOP winner’s circle was in 2011 when he won the $1,500 Limit Hold’em Shootout. With this latest victory, Pechie passed $1,000,000 in career WSOP earnings.

Chan Wins Mixed Big Bet for $144,338

Lok Chan was the third gold bracelet winner crowned on Saturday, winning Event #35: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet for $144,338. Chan finished in first place from a field of 281 entries to take home the lion’s share of the $625,225 prize pool. Chan is just 22 years old. Also finishing at the final table of this event were Rami Boukai, Michael Trivett, and Galen Hall.

Nearly 8,000 Entries in WSOP Millionaire Maker

The 2022 WSOP $1,500 Millionaire Maker event drew a whopping field size of 7,962 entries, generating a prize pool of more than $10,600,000. At the end of the two starting flights, the event had 1,701 players remaining. The top 1,195 places will be paid and at least $1,000,000 will be going to the winner.

Leading those advancing to Day 2 was Rick Alvarado with 466,500 in chips. Steve Yea was in second to come out of the Day 1s with 444,500. Other notable big stacks include Jason Wheeler (369,500), Jake Daniels (315,500), and Ryan Leng (311,500).

Day 2 will begin at 10 a.m. Las Vegas time on Sunday, June 19, and the field will play another 10 levels. The final table of this event is scheduled to be live-streamed on PokerGO on Wednesday, June 22.

Hellmuth In Final 14 of $10,000 NL 2-7 Lowball

Phil Hellmuth is once again making a deep run at WSOP gold bracelet number 17. This time, he’s in the final 14 players of Event #38: $10,000 NL 2-7 Lowball Championship. Hellmuth earned his 181st career WSOP cash with this run and is guaranteed $20,000 in prize money, but it’s all about winning the gold for Hellmuth, who will return for Day 3 on Sunday, June 19, in fifth chip position.

Scott Seiver, who already won a bracelet at the 2022 WSOP, leads the field as the only competitor with more than 1,000,000 chips. Eli Elezra, Cary Katz, and Alex Livingston are among the stacked field that remains.

The final table of this event is scheduled to be live-streamed on PokerGO on Sunday starting at 7 p.m. Las Vegas time. The winner is set to take home $294,616 in prize money.

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