The 2022 WSOP got underway with a bang. The employee's event and the $100k buy-in event kicked things off on Day 1.
Event #1, the employee's event saw the first bracelet go to Katie Kopp, getting the first woman a bracelet right off the bat. Just a day later, David Peters took down Event #2: $100,000 High Roller Bounty earning the men their first bracelet of the year and Peters the first bracelet of his lifetime.
Peters also took down the first seven-figure prize of the 2022 WSOP, earning $1,166,810 for first place.
39 players bought into the event and when the rebuys ended there were 46 entries on the table. That put $3,300,500 in the main prize pool with top five players paid. Each player also had a $25,000 bounty on their head which went to whatever player knocked them out.
The win has proved motivational for the pro — as you might expect a cool million in U.S. fiat might.
"I think I’ll play a good amount," Peters said in his post-game interview. "I got a lot of points now, so maybe I’ll make a run at Player of the Year. I’m in the mood to grind so I think I’ll play a good amount."
The WSOP tweeted about his victory, writing, "Make it four! David Peters takes down the $100,000 High Roller Bounty event to earn $1,166,810 and his fourth gold bracelet."
Controversial final table
Phil Ivey was the first player to bust when the final table returned for Day 3 of the event. Ivey earned a min-cash of $249,693 for his seventh-place finish.
Matthew Steinberg (6th - $180,872) and Koray Aldemir (5th - $249,693) were the next two out.
Controversially, Ali Imsirovic made the final table. He remains under a cloud following allegations of cheating from Alex Foxen. With Alex Foxen, Bryn Kenney, and Sergi Reixach also in the running on Day 1, a full 10% of the 39 player field was under similar clouds, leading many to question the WSOP's policy on allowing such players in.
Imsirovic busted in 4th, taking home $350,158. Dario Sammartino followed him to the rail (3rd - $498,696). That left Peters heads up with Chance Kornuth.
"It’s always nice to beat someone that’s hot," Peters said of his opponent. Adding as an afterthought: "And someone that is a great player."
Heads up play was pretty brisk and after just a couple of hands, Kornuth followed Sammartino to the door.
Kornuth won $721,144 for second place.
2022 WSOP Event #2: $100,000 High Roller Bounty complete final table results
Position | Player Name | Country | Payout |
1st | David Peters | U.S.A. | $1,166,810 |
2nd | Chance Kornuth | U.S.A. | $721,144 |
3rd | Dario Sammartino | Italy | $498,696 |
4th | Ali Imsirovic | Bosnia and Herzegovina | $350,158 |
5th | Koray Aldemir | Germany | $249,693 |
6th | Matthew Steinberg | U.S.A. | $180,872 |
7th | Phil Ivey | U.S.A. | $133,127 |
Featured image source: Haley Hintze