Monday, June 27, 2022 7:59 PM Local Time
Sam Laskowitz Holds Massive Lead at Final Table of the Colossus
The penultimate day of Event #51: $400 Colossus No-Limit Hold'em has come to an end with the final seven players set, and the top of the leaderboard is occupied by a player with no reported cashes.
Sam Laskowitz of New York seized the chip lead by shoving the turn in a big pot against bracelet winner David Jackson and never looked back, finishing Day 3 with 206,500,000 and a huge chip advantage over the rest of the final table.
Laskowitz increased his lead by busting Paul McMullin in 13th and Ryan McPherson in 12th. Once the final table began, he went all in on the river against former chip leader Jordan Pelon. He's never cashed in a live tournament before but has already secured himself at least $66,670, and with his chip lead his eye will be firmly on the $414,490 top prize tomorrow.
Behind him is Paul Hizer of Britain, who busted Jackson in 11th place with a queen on the river and finished the day with 132,000,000. In contrast to Laskowitz, Hizer has $474,000 in live earnings, including a 31st place finish in the Millionaire Maker earlier this series.
There was a time on Day 3 when it looked like the Frenchman Pelon was unstoppable. He began the day as the massive chip leader and kept up that advantage for the better part of the day before losing that pot to Laskowitz. He still ended up with 68,000,000 and in third place for Tuesday's final table.
Event #51: $400 Colossus Final Table Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|
| 1 | Sam Laskowitz | United States | 206,500,000 | 52 |
| 2 | Paul Hizer | United Kingdom | 132,000,000 | 33 |
| 3 | Jordan Pelon | France | 68,000,000 | 17 |
| 4 | Jeff Loiacono | United States | 56,000,000 | 14 |
| 5 | Luong Quach | United States | 38,500,000 | 9 |
| 6 | Anthony Ruttler | United States | 32,000,000 | 8 |
| 7 | James Scott | United Kingdom | 13,500,000 | 3 |
The final table is rounded out by Jeff Loiacono (56,000,000), Luong Quach (38,500,000), Anthony Ruttler (32,000,000), and short stack James Scott (13,500,000). They will return to play at 4 p.m. local time tomorrow on the main feature table inside the Bally's Thunderdome, with action being streamed on a one-hour delay on PokerGo. There are 20 minutes remaining on Level 43, with blinds at 2,000,000-4,000,000 and a 4,000,000 big blind ante. The average stack at the final table is only 19 big blinds, with three players below 10 big blinds.
They've already outlasted an enormous field of 13,565 players, and by the end of the day tomorrow, there will be only one holding up the World Series of Poker bracelet. PokerNews will be on hand providing all the updates as they play down to a Colossus champion.
Monday, June 27, 2022 7:25 PM Local Time
End-of-Day Chip Counts
| Sam Laskowitz | 206,500,000 | -8,500,000  |
| Paul Hizer | 132,000,000 | 27,000,000  |
| Jordan Pelon | 68,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
| Jeff Loiacono | 56,000,000 | 0 |
| Luong Quach | 38,500,000 | -7,500,000 |
| Anthony Ruttler | 32,000,000 | 13,000,000 |
| James Scott | 13,500,000 | -10,500,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 7:16 PM Local Time
William Gian Eliminated in 8th Place ($51,930)
Action was picked up when William Gian moved all in for his last 14,000,000 and only Jeff Loiacono made the call from the big blind.
William Gian:
Jeff Loiacono:
The board ran out securing the knockout on the turn with aces-full and William Gian was eliminated in 8th place.
| Jeff Loiacono | 56,000,000 | 14,500,000 |
| William Gian | 0 | -12,000,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 7:06 PM Local Time
Sean Shah Eliminated in 9th Place ($40,710)
One hand after tripling up William Gian, action folded to Paul Hizer who raised enough to put Gian and Sean Shah all in from the blinds. Gian folded, but Shah snap-called for around 15,000,000 with .
Hizer didn't have kings again, but he did have one better, . Shah could only give a shrug of resignation as the board came to send him out in ninth place.
| Paul Hizer | 105,000,000 | 10,000,000 |
| Sean Shah | 0 | -30,000,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 7:03 PM Local Time
Gian Triples Up Blind
William Gian was all in from the big blind as Sam Laskowitz and Paul Hizer limped in.
Laskowitz and Hizer checked down the board of when Hizer turned over for a straight.
"Yes," Gian yelled as he showed for a full house.
"I didn't look at all," he admitted as he raked in the pot.
| Sam Laskowitz | 215,000,000 | 19,000,000 |
| Paul Hizer | 95,000,000 | -10,000,000 |
| William Gian | 12,000,000 | -11,000,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 6:58 PM Local Time
Ruttler Cracks Queens
Action folded to Jordan Pelon in the cutoff who opened for 8,000,000 and Anthony Ruttler moved all in for his last 9,000,000 total in the big blind, Pelon called.
Jordan Pelon:
Anthony Ruttler:
After losing the big pot with queens to ace-jack earlier, Ruttler was left just over two big blinds and needed help against the queens of Pelon now.
The board ran out and Ruttler cracked the queens with two-pair, starting his comeback.
| Jordan Pelon | 60,000,000 | -17,000,000 |
| Anthony Ruttler | 19,000,000 | 9,000,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 6:49 PM Local Time
Level 43 started
Level: 43
Blinds: 2,000,000/4,000,000
Ante: 4,000,000
Monday, June 27, 2022 6:47 PM Local Time
Scott Drills the Turn to Leave Ruttler With Crumbs
Jordan Pelon raised to 6,500,000 from early position and James Scott shoved for 8,500,000. Anthony Ruttler then re-shoved for 21,000,000, and Pelon went into the tank for about two minutes before folding.
James Scott:
Anthony Ruttler:
Ruttler stayed ahead as the flop came , but the on the turn propelled Scott into the lead as he raised his arms into the air. The river was the and Ruttler was forced to hand over most of his stack.
| Jordan Pelon | 77,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
| James Scott | 24,000,000 | 9,000,000 |
| Anthony Ruttler | 10,000,000 | -5,000,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 6:44 PM Local Time
Loiacono Stays Alive
Paul Hizer raised to 6,500,000 from middle position, then called when Jeff Loiacono moved all in from the big blind for around 20,000,000.
Loiacono showed . "We need an eight," Hizer said to his rail as he showed .
He wouldn't be the one to flop a set, however, as the board came to earn Loiacono a double up.
| Paul Hizer | 105,000,000 | -20,000,000 |
| Jeff Loiacono | 41,500,000 | 31,500,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 6:39 PM Local Time
Massive Blind on Blind Battle
Action was picked up in a pot of roughly 30,000,000 on the turn of a board showing . Jordan Pelon in the small blind checked to Sam Laskowitz in the big blind who bet 16,500,000 which was called.
The river came the and Pelon checked again. This time Laskowitz put the maximum pressure on by moving all in for 130,000,000, covering Pelon's stack. Pelon went deep in the tank, thinking for several minutes. Eventually Pelon released his hand and the massive pot was shipped to Laskowitz, increasing his lead even more.
| Sam Laskowitz | 196,000,000 | 36,000,000 |
| Jordan Pelon | 70,000,000 | -40,000,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 6:22 PM Local Time
Patrick Choueiri Eliminated in 10th Place ($32,130)
Action folded around to big stack Paul Hizer on the button who shoved, easily covering Patrick Choueiri and William Gian in the blinds. Choueiri called off his last 8,000,000 in the small blind and Gian got out of the way.
Patrick Choueiri:
Paul Hizer:
Neither player connected with the flop and Hizer won the pot with a pair of tens, ace kicker, to eliminate Choueiri in 10th place.
| Paul Hizer | 125,000,000 | 10,000,000 |
| Patrick Choueiri | 0 | -8,000,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 6:19 PM Local Time
Final Table Seat Draw
| Seat | Player | Chip Count |
| 1 | Jordan Pelon | 110,000,000 |
| 2 | Sam Laskowitz | 160,000,000 |
| 3 | James Scott | 15,000,000 |
| 4 | Jeff Loiacono | 10,000,000 |
| 5 | Anthony Ruttler | 15,000,000 |
| 6 | Paul Hizer | 115,000,000 |
| 7 | Patrick Choueiri | 8,000,000 |
| 8 | William Gian | 23,000,000 |
| 9 | Sean Shah | 30,000,000 |
| 10 | Luong Quach | 46,000,000 |
| Sam Laskowitz | 160,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
| Paul Hizer | 115,000,000 | -2,000,000 |
| Jordan Pelon | 110,000,000 | 35,000,000 |
| Luong Quach | 46,000,000 | -1,000,000 |
| Sean Shah | 30,000,000 | -12,000,000 |
| William Gian | 23,000,000 | 0 |
| Anthony Ruttler | 15,000,000 | -3,500,000 |
| James Scott | 15,000,000 | -11,000,000 |
| Jeff Loiacono | 10,000,000 | -7,000,000 |
| Patrick Choueiri | 8,000,000 | -8,500,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 6:15 PM Local Time
David Jackson Eliminated in 11th Place ($32,130)
Action picked up when David Jackson moved all in for roughly 26,000,000 and was called by Paul Hizer who had him covered.
David Jackson:
Paul Hizer:
On the flop of it was Jackson now in the lead with his pair of fives. The hit the turn and Jackson only needed to fade the queen. The river came the and the roller-coaster of a hand saw Jackson eliminated in 11th place.
| Paul Hizer | 117,000,000 | 32,000,000 |
| David Jackson | 0 | -39,000,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 6:04 PM Local Time
Level 42 started
Level: 42
Blinds: 1,500,000/3,000,000
Ante: 3,000,000
Monday, June 27, 2022 5:55 PM Local Time
Break Time
The remaining 11 players are headed off on a 15-minute break.
Monday, June 27, 2022 5:54 PM Local Time
Ryan McPherson Eliminated in 12th Place ($25,520)
Ryan McPherson shoved for 27,000,000 from under the gun and chip leader Sam Laskowitz called next to act.
Ryan McPherson:
Sam Laskowitz:
It was a race situation, with Laskowitz coming out on top as the board came to bust McPherson and increase his massive chip lead.
| Sam Laskowitz | 153,000,000 | 153,000,000 |
| Ryan Mcpherson | 0 | -12,000,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 5:53 PM Local Time
Paul McMullin Eliminated in 13th Place ($25,520)
Action picked up when Paul McMullin was all in for his last 13,000,000 and called by the big stack of Samuel Laskowitz.
Paul McMullin:
Samuel Laskowitz:
The board ran out and the flush of Laskowitz took the pot, eliminating McMullin in 13th.
| Samuel Laskowitz | 113,000,000 | 25,000,000 |
| Paul McMullin | 0 | 0 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 5:52 PM Local Time
Scott Doubles Through Loiacono as Pelon Folds the Winner
Jeff Loiacono raised all in for 29,000,000 from under the gun. James Scott called for his last 12,000,000 in middle position before action folded to Jordan Pelon on the button.
Pelon gave the decision some thought before folding, leaving Loiacono and Scott going heads-up to the flop.
James Scott:
Jeff Loiacono:
The board ran out and Loiacono improved no further than the pair of sevens on the flop. Pelon admitted after the hand he folded pocket nines and would've busted both players.
| James Scott | 26,000,000 | 14,000,000 |
| Jeff Loiacono | 17,000,000 | -13,000,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 5:49 PM Local Time
Raymond Downing Eliminated in 14th Place ($20,410)
Action started when the cutoff opened to 8,000,000 and Raymond Downing moved all in from the small blind for 27,200,000. Paul Hizer tanked for awhile in the big blind but eventually made the call and the cutoff got out of the way.
Raymond Downing:
Paul Hizer:
The board ran out and it was the end of the road for Downing as he exited in 14th place.
| Paul Hizer | 85,000,000 | 25,000,000 |
| Raymond Downing | 0 | -38,000,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 5:42 PM Local Time
Daniel Negreanu on Justin Bonomo: "Indoctrinated & Brainwashed Beyond Repair"
Justin Bonomo & Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu went off on Justin Bonomo in his Monday WSOP vlog, accusing his high-stakes foe of being a "cheater" and said that he's "totally indoctrinated" by his social justice beliefs.
On Friday, after busting his second bullet in Event #50: $250,000 Super High Roller No-Limit Hold'em on a runner-runner bad beat, "DNegs" slammed his phone in frustration on the way out.
Most poker players on social media seemed to understand the frustration considering he's down nearly $1 million for the summer, but Bonomo was highly critical and went so far as to accuse the Poker Hall of Famer of "violence" and that incidents such as this could make others feel unsafe at the table.
Negreanu began his Day 27 World Series of Poker vlog by defending himself against Bonomo's tweets, and he didn't hold back.
"Someone sent me a tweet where Whacko Bonomo said that if he tied his shoes in front of someone that he wouldn't do it, because he's totally indoctrinated and a lost cause," Negreanu said. "The guy is a completely lost cause."
Read the full story on what was said here!