Event #83: $50,000 HIGH ROLLER No-Limit Hold’em

The 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #83: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em was full of big names playing for big money and the storied gold bracelet.

At the end of two days and a gruelling final table battle, there could be only one winner: Portugal's João Vieira.

Vieira outlasted a field of 107 entries and needed to come from behind multiple times to win his second bracelet and a career-high score of $1,384,415.

Vieira's previous best score was back in July 2019, when he took down $758,011, winning his first bracelet in Event #70: $5,000 No Limit Hold'em - 6-Handed.

Amazingly, this was Vieira's 15th cash at the 2022 World Series and his 79th career WSOP cash. It was also Vieira's 11th-career WSOP final table, having reached the final table four times in 2021.

Despite this being his second bracelet, Vieira is enjoying this achievement much more than the first time around.

Event #83: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results

Winner's Reaction

"This one was a little bit more enjoyable (than in 2019). The first one was more like getting the monkey off my back. I had already done a lot of stuff online, very accomplished, but I still needed the big one. So this kinda takes my name off the list of guys that didn't have it.

"This one is more enjoyable not only because it's my second one, it's also a big score. I've had a horrible summer this year in terms of results even though I came in really prepared and I was playing pretty good. But the results were not there.

"I caught a bunch (of cashes) and was breaking a lot, I also was picked third in the $25K Fantasy, so I had a lot of hopes… maybe go for Player of the Year… and all of a sudden I couldn't make a final table. But I was confident that this could come. I was waiting for my run and it finally came.

Vieira is going to come back for more and has some lofty ambitions for the future.

"I want to win five (bracelets) and then we'll see what life has in store for me."

Final Table Action

Alexandros Theologis was the first player eliminated at the official final table. His pocket jacks were no match for the ace-king suited of Brian Rast as Rast would hit, sending the Greek home with $124,974.

Not long after, Stephen Chidwick was the next to depart. On a short stack, he was forced to shove his final 3.5 big blinds from the cutoff with ace-deuce suited only to run into the ace-king of Sean Perry. Chidwick would settle for eighth place and $158,278.

In seventh place was Germany's Fedor Holz. After Rast opened from middle position, Holz shoved from the small blind with ace-queen suited only to run into the ace-king of Lander Lijo in the big blind. Holz couldn't improve and was eliminated, taking home $203,107.

Next to leave the final table was the aforementioned Perry. After Lijo opened from the button, Perry shoved nearly 16 bigs with king-jack offsuit from the small blind. Lijo called with ace-seven suited and made a flush to send Perry home with $264,034.

In fifth was the five-time bracelet winner Rast. Rast and Vieira got involved in a three-bet pot that saw Rast get in with ace-jack suited, holding the nut flush draw and a backdoor straight draw on the flop. Unfortunately for him, Vieira had top pair with his ace-king suited, making trips on the turn and fading the flush. Rast would make a cool $347,658 for his efforts.

A few minutes later, Dan Colpoys was sent home in fourth place. Colpoys called with pocket sixes from the small blind before Vieira raised from the big blind. Colpoys shoved and Vieira called with pocket eights. Colpoys would get absolutely no help and walked away with $463,589.

It would take nearly five-and-a-half hours to narrow the field from the final three to a champion. A long battle between the remaining three went on, with everyone holding a dominant chip lead at one point or another. In the end, it was Galen Hall that would wind up in third place. Vieira opened before Hall shoved for nearly 19 big blinds with ace-deuce offsuit from the small blind. Lijo woke up with ace-jack offsuit in the big blind and shoved over the top. Hall would not find his deuce and would be applauded by his fans after a valiant effort worth $625,941.

While Lijo would go into heads-up play with over 60% of the chips and at one point had a 5.5-to-1 chip advantage, but he would eventually fall short against Vieira. Down to less than four big blinds, Vieira open-shoved with pocket aces and Lijo had to defend with eight-five suited. Lijo wouldn't see more than a backdoor straight draw on the flop, with Vieira clinching the victory after making top set on the turn. Lijo, still in search of his first title, made a healthy $855,631, which is three-and-a-half times his previous best score.

That does it for PokerNews' coverage of Event #83: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold 'em, but there are still a handful of great events remaining at the 2022 WSOP. Click here to see what other tournaments are taking place now, including the exciting conclusion of the 2022 WSOP Main Event.

Joao Vieira opened to 1,200,000 and Lander Lijo called.

The flop came     and both players checked.

On the   turn, Lijo checked to Vieira, who bet 750,000. Lijo called.

The river brought the   and Vieira put out a huge bet of 5,200,000. Lijo deliberated and eventually called.

Vieira showed    for trip sevens for the win, making his rail erupt and nearly fall over the ropes as Vieira now has his opponent on just five big blinds.

Joao Vieira	28,850,000	7,150,000
Lander Lijo	3,250,000	-13,750,000

Matthew Su entered the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table on Friday with big dreams and a big stack. But he ran into some misfortune and was eliminated in ninth place.

The deep run paid out $850,675, his only live tournament score of any significance. Still, the high-stakes cash game player told PokerNews in his postgame interview that he was "disappointed" to have been just the second player out at the final table.

read the full story on pokernews.com!

Lander Lijo limped on the button and Joao Vieira raised to 2,100,000 in the big blind. Lijo called to send the two players to the flop.

Vieira did not continue his preflop aggression on the     flop, instead checking to Lijo who took the opportunity to lead out for 2,200,000. Vieira just called.

On the   turn Vieira checked for a second time and then, after asking for a count, folded when Lijo moved all in for 13,100,000. After significantly closing the gap in recent hands, Vieira has once again slipped down the chip counts.

Lander Lijo	22,300,000	4,200,000
Joao Vieira	9,800,000	-3,200,000

Lander Lijo has chipped away at Joao Vieira's stack and now has a 5.5-to-1 chip advantage, leaving Vieira with just 10 big blinds as the Spaniard seeks his first career bracelet.

The blinds will also be increasing in 15 minutes.

Lander Lijo	27,000,000	3,600,000
Joao Vieira	5,100,000	-3,600,000

Lander Lijo called from the small blind and Joao Vieira checked his option.

The flop came     and both players checked.

The turn brought the   and both players checked again.

On the   river, Vieira bet 1,500,000 and was snap-called by Lijo.

Lijo showed   , besting Vieira's   

Lander Lijo	23,800,000	2,200,000
Joao Vieira	8,300,000	-2,200,000

Joao Vieira limped from the button and Lander Lijo checked his option out of the big blind.

Action checked through the     flop to the   turn where Lijo led out for 600,000. Vieira made the call to send the two players to the river.

On the   river Lijo checked and Vieira fired off 2,800,000. Lijo went into the tank faced with a large bet. In the end he tossed in calling chips and tabled    for a winner.

Lander Lijo	21,600,000	2,100,000
Joao Vieira	10,500,000	-2,100,000

Joao Vieira opened to 800,000 and Galen Hall shoved for 7,500,000 from the small blind. Lander Lijo shoved from the big blind and Vieira folded.

Galen Hall:   
Lander Lijo:   

Hall was absolutely dominated and the     was no help as Lijo went way out in front.

The turn was the   and the river was the  , eliminating Hall in third place.

Decisions are now being made on what will happen heads up with eight minutes and 36 seconds remaining in the level.

Lander Lijo	19,500,000	7,500,000
Joao Vieira	12,600,000	200,000
Galen Hall	0	-7,900,000

Galen Hall was on a hot streak when three handed play began but has since lost that momentum. Hall opened to 800,000 on the button and Joao Vieira defended out of the big blind.

Vieira check-called a continuation of 600,000 from Hall on a flop of    .

On the   turn Vieira took over the betting lead, pushing 900,000 into the middle. Hall did not wait long to muck his holding, sending him slipping further down the chip counts.

Joao Vieira	12,400,000	2,700,000
Galen Hall	7,900,000	-2,500,000