Eleven WSOP Main Event Champs Survive to Day 2, Many Stars Still Alive

The champion of the biggest World Series of Poker Main Event in it’s 54-year history could be someone who already done it as 11 former champs have found a bag into the second day.

Espen Jorstad

The 2022 WSOP Main Event champion Espen Jorstad is in contention to repeat. (Image: Twitter/PokerGo)


Stars through to Day 2

Many former WSOP Main Event champions and insanely good poker professionals made it through their Day 1s.

On Monday, those include four former champs: Joe Cada (2009), Martin Jacobson (2014), Damian Salas (2020) and Jamie Gold, who kicked-off the Main Event 17 years with “shuffle up and deal” after winning the largest one ever in 2006. 

Some of the more notable players who survived this day were Doug Polk, who has one of the biggest stacks, Poker Hall of Famers John Hennigan and Billy Baxter, six-time bracelet winner Shaun Deeb, four-time bracelet winner Dominik Nitsche, Bin Weng, Martin Jacobsen, Kyna England.

Top 10 Day 1A leaders

RankPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Yehuda DayanIsrael389,900487
2Shota NakanishiJapan360,100450
3Hai-Chi HoChina297,400372
4Doug PolkUnited States281,900352
5Neville CostaBrazil275,000344
6Samuel GagnonCanada271,000339
7Todd CollinsUnited States250,400313
8Rick MechammilUnited States247,600310
9Christine DoCanada237,300297
10Anirban DasItaly236,900296

Notables from Tuesday’s Day 1B is four-time bracelet winner Julien Martini and Patrik Antonius, who both finished their first days top 10 in chips.

Former Main Event champs Greg Raymer (2004) and Johnny Chan (1987 and 1988) made it through. Other proven bangers include super high roller Chris Brewer, six-time WSOP bracelet winner Jeff Lisandro, and running hot-as-as Las Vegas asphalt Isaac Haxton.

Top 10 Day 1B leaders

RankPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Jean-Pierre van der SpuySouth Africa287,000359
2Julien MartiniFrance286,000358
3Yuze DingUnited States284,500356
4Gar CheungUnited States281,500352
5Andrew GrahamUnited States277,700347
6Scott NumotoUnited States268,200335
7Patrik AntoniusFinland263,500329
8Jevon LamUnited States243,000304
9Robert LofasoUnited States233,500292
10Anatoly FilatovRussia231,000289
Another group of former Main Event champs bagged chips on Day 1C yesterday: Joe McKeehen(2015), Tom McEvoy (1993), Scott Blumstein (2017), Espen Jorstad (2022), and Ryan Riess (2013).

Chris Brammer, solid tournament player with more than $2 million in winnings, led this field.

Top 10 Day 1B leaders

RankPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Christopher BrammerUnited Kingdom386,100483
2Michael BanducciUnited States292,600366
3Lawrence ChangUnited States280,900351
4Roman ValersteinUnited States273,300342
5Michael PintoNetherlands266,600333
6Daniel KirschCanada252,800316
7DID NOT REPORT 11United States248,100310
8Adrian BuckleyUnited States245,000306
9Patrick BeuterUnited States244,200305
10Keith CumminsIreland244,000305

To the rail

Those who found themselves wandering punch-drunk after being knocked out on the first day of the Main Event include many big names. Here’s just a few of them:

Venessa Selbst, Erik Seidel, Kevin Martin, Mario Ho, and Darren Elias all joined 2021 Main Event champ Koray Adelmir on the sidelines.

They at least got to play a little poker during their flights, unlike Mikolaj Zawadzki, who was eliminated the very first hand of his flight today.

Jamie Smith quickly became the day’s chip leader after his set of queens held against Zawadzki’s set of eights. Both players hit on the flop.


Tips, corrections or kudos: CardsChatBob@gmail.com.

Written by
Bob Pajich
Bob Pajich is a poker news reporter, creative writer, and poker player who never met suited connectors he didn't like. Tips, corrections, complaints and kudos should go to CardsChatBob@gmail.com.

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