Event #66: $1,000 Mini-Main No-Limit Hold’em of the World Series of Poker (WSOP 2022 running in its new home Bally’s and Paris in Las Vegas came to a close with USA’s Young Sik Eum taking it down. Out of 5,833 entrants, who created a prize pool of $5,190,480, only five returned for the third and final day of the event with Romania’s Cosmin Joldis (180,000,000) holding the massive chip lead.
Joldis began the day on a cracking note by busting Kei Nitta in fifth place and extended his chip lead even further. However, he could not keep his momentum going as he doubled up Eum on the very next hand. Eum, who entered the day with just 10 big blinds, continued his momentum ahead and busted all his remaining opponents to win it for his maiden bracelet and a career-best $594,189.
Talking about his victory, the champion said, “I came into today with a 10 big blind stack. I wasn’t expecting too much out of it, but it turned out great. I liked it better being on the short stack. When there is a shorter stack, you feel more ICM pressure, but when you are the shortest, you can just play.”
It was a big event from India’s perspective as India’s Kartik Ved came very close to winning his second bracelet. The former WSOP (Online) bracelet winner was in great shape to win his second bracelet as he started the day with the second largest stack. However, it was not to be and he exited in third place, narrowly missing out on his second bracelet and earning a career-best $275,593.
Ved’s last hand in the event saw him with 4s 4s against As 3c of Young Sik Eum. The latter moved all-in for 85,000,000 from the button. Ved from the small blind called for his last 19,000,000 with Joldis folding in the big blind. The board ran out 8s 8d 2s Ac 9s where Eum’s AA, 88 bested Ved’s 88, 44.
Apart from Ved, Raghav Bansal (156th place for $4,133) who exited the event on Day 2 and Ankit Ahuja (645th place for $1,752) were the two other Indian players who cashed in this tournament.
Final Table Payouts (USD)
- Young Sik Eum – $594,189
- Cosmin Joldis – $367,233
- Kartik Ved – $275,593
- Phillip Lee – $208,275
- Kei Nitta – $158,515