Event #34: $1,500 Freezeout No-Limit Holdem

An action-packed Day 3 of the 2022 World Series of Poker Event #34: $1,500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em has come to an end with Justin Pechie taking home his second WSOP bracelet.

A total of 1,774 players started the tournament creating a total prize pool of $2,368,290, and there were just ten remaining at the start of Day 3 to battle it out for the lion's share of the prize money and the coveted gold bracelet.

Pechie was the chosen one that the stars and cards aligned for to take home the top prize of $364,899. He also added a second gold bracelet to his collection, with his first one being from 2011 in Event #41: $1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout.

Event # 34: $1,500 Freezeout No Limit Hold'em Final Table Results

Winner's Reaction

When talking to PokerNews about how his win felt, Pechie said, "I haven't really processed it. I never really looked at the amounts or payouts; I just came in and played how I felt I should play, and now it's kind of sinking in."

Pechie started the third day in chips but steadily climbed to the top. He was hovering around second in chips for most of the day before taking the lead shortly after Level 34 with five players remaining. He was then back and forth with France's Maxime Parys throughout the next two levels before he caught a double up off Parys and had nearly three-quarters of the chips in play for a dominating lead that carried him to victory.

Final Day Recap

Ten players started the final day with Orson Young getting eliminated shortly after play began in Level 28, but there was not another one until two hours later when a double elimination occurred, and Pechie took out Dwayne Sullivan and former bracelet winner, Jeremy Wien.

The next elimination was France's Michel Leibgorin who was taken out by David Dibernardi. The French brigade was out in full force at the rail, cheering on the three players from France who were sitting at the final table and with one down, they only had two left.

Dibernardi chipped up from taking out Leibgorin was it was short lived and he was the next one out. Soon after, fan favourite and poker legend Steve Zolotow fell victim to Pechie and received applause as he left the table.

Kenny Robbins was the next to go, and then there were three. Pechie versus the two Frenchman, and he did not back down, getting a huge dent out of the stack of Maxime Parys and acquiring 70% of the chips in play.

Parys was knocked out by fellow Frenchman, Samuel Bifarella, which took it down to the final two.

Pechie and Bifarella then battled back and forth, with Pechie never really relinquishing his enormous chip lead. It all ended when Bifarella, with king-deuce, was all in on the flop and Pechie snap-called with five-six for two pair. Bifarella had 19 outs to hit on the river but missed them all, ending the long 3-day battle to be crowned champion.

This concludes PokerNews' coverage of the event, but there is still plenty more to come from the 2022 WSOP, so be sure to keep it locked in.

Samuel Bifarella called on the button with    and Justin Pechie checked his   .

The flop came     and despite both players getting a piece, they both tapped the table.

On the   turn, Pechie bet 700,000, which was quickly called.

The river brought the   and Pechie checked over to the Frenchman, who put out a bet of 2,200,000.

Unfortunately for Bifarella, Pechie made a key laydown.

Justin Pechie	32,700,000	-1,900,000
Samuel Bifarella	11,525,000	1,900,000

Justin Pechie called with    and Samuel Bifarella checked with   .

The flop came     giving Bifarella trip twos against Pechie's top pair. Pechie bet 500,000 and Bifarella called.

On the   turn, both players would see a free card.

On the   river, Bifarella put out a bet of 1,700,000 but Pechie would put his cards into the muck.

Justin Pechie	27,875,000	-2,700,000
Samuel Bifarella	16,350,000	2,700,000

Samuel Bifarella called with    and Justin Pechie checked with   .

The flop came     and Bifarella took a stab for 500,000. Pechie called with his straight call.

The   gave Pechie the straight and both players checked.

On the   river, Pechie bet 650,000 and, with the nut low, Bifarella folded.

Pechie has been running pure early on in heads-up play and has won each and every pot so far.

Justin Pechie	33,175,000	2,000,000
Samuel Bifarella	11,050,000	-2,000,000

With 22 minutes left in the level, the two remaining players are taking a break in order to prepare for heads-up play.

The players will come back with the bracelet on the table.

Second-placed Samuel Bifarella moved all in for 9,050,000 and chip leader Justin Pechie went into the tank for nearly four minutes.

Maxime Parys anxiously awaited Pechie's decision, one that could have given him a ladder of over $61,000 if Pechie won.

Eventually, Pechie tossed his cards into the muck.

Justin Pechie	32,175,000	3,500,000
Samuel Bifarella	9,050,000	-3,250,000
Maxime Parys	3,000,000	-1,250,000

Justin Pechie called from the small blind and Maxime Parys checked.

The flop came     and Pechie bet 650,000. Parys raised to 2,000,000 and Pechie called.

With 5,500,000 in the middle, the turn came the   and Pechie checked it over to Parys after about 30 seconds. Parys bet 3,000,000 and Pechie shoved for his remaining 12,400,000. Parys puffed out his cheeks upon the all-in and eventually called, leaving just 1,625,000 behind.

Justin Pechie:   
Maxime Parys:   

Pechie had the nut straight against Parys' flopped two pair.

With 30,300,000 in the pot and Parys drawing to just four outs, the all-important river came the   to give Pechie a massive chip lead.

Parys, meanwhile, was left with just a little over three blinds.

Justin Pechie	30,300,000	11,950,000
Samuel Bifarella	12,300,000	3,250,000
Maxime Parys	1,625,000	-14,000,000

Justin Pechie opened for 900,000 from the button with    and Maxime Parys three-bet from the small blind to 3,200,000 with   .

Pechie folded and Parys went back into the lead.

Samuel Bifarella opened from the cutoff with    for 900,000 and Justin Pechie called from the button with   . Maxime Parys also called with his    from the big blind.

The flop came     giving Parys the lead. Everyone checked.

The   turn gave Bifarella a straight draw. Parys bet his top pair to the tune of 1.025,000. Both players folded and Parys further cut into Pechie's advantage.

Justin Pechie	18,350,000	-900,000
Maxime Parys	14,375,000	2,000,000
Samuel Bifarella	9,050,000	-900,000
Kenny Robbins	2,450,000	-200,000