Sunday, June 26, 2022 6:55 PM Local Time
Simeon Spasov Completes Come-From-Behind Win in Event #49: $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em ($527,944)
It took an extra day to find a winner in Event #49: $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em and Bulgaria's Simeon Spasov emerged as the newest champion at the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) after defeating Mike Watson in heads-up play for $527,944.
The event, which ran for the first time at the 2022 WSOP, drew 1,977 runners and generated a prize pool of $3,519,060.
Spasov, who began the day as one of the short stacks, completed the improbable victory over Watson after cracking aces to survive Day 3 before spinning it up on Day 4. It marked Spasov's first gold bracelet and his best finish after previously running to 19th in the 2021 WSOP $800 Deepstack event.
Event #49: $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em Day 4 Results
Place | Name | Country | Prize |
1 | Simeon Spasov | Bulgaria | $527,944 |
2 | Mike Watson | Canada | $326,296 |
3 | Daniel Custodio | Portugal | $239,679 |
4 | Ioannis Angelous Konstas | Greece | $177,761 |
5 | Walter Ripper | Brazil | $133,129 |
6 | Christopher Frank | Germany | $100,688 |
7 | Evan Sandberg | United States | $76,912 |
Day 4 Action
Watson came into the day as the chip leader, but he fell behind early when Spasov found a double with ace-queen. A short time later, Evan Sandberg got his short stack into the middle, but Daniel Custodio made a pair of aces on the river to eliminate him in seventh place.
Christopher Frank wasn't far behind in sixth place after Spasov's ace-queen outdrew his pocket nines. A short time later, Watson doubled through Custodio with pocket queens and he was back near the top of the leaderboard.
Brazil's Walter Ripper was aggressive throughout the final two days, but his run came up short when Ioannis Angelou Konstas left him short with pocket kings. Ripper was eliminated a few moments later as Spasov continued his hot final table run with the knockout.
Angelou Konstas went on a late run and started to build chips by doubling through the bigger stacks, but he was out in fourth place when he picked up pocket queens only to have Spasov spiked a straight on the river with pocket tens.
Three-handed play continued until Custodio got it all in with ace-deuce suited but Watson made a straight with king-queen to send him home with third-place money.
Watson and Spasov faced off for more than an hour after both dominated the final table throughout the afternoon. Spasov built his lead and kept Watson at bay until the big moment came when Watson got it in with ace-nine and lost to Spasov's ace-queen. It was the third big hand of the day he won with ace-queen after cracking pocket aces with the same hand to keep his tournament alive on Day 3.
Congratulations to Simeon Spasov for winning Event #49: $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em at the 2022 World Series of Poker!
Be sure to keep it with the PokerNews live reporting team for live updates from the floor throughout the 2022 WSOP in its new home at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.
Sunday, June 26, 2022 6:07 PM Local Time
Mike Watson Eliminated in 2nd Place ($326,296)
The cards were on their backs as Simeon Spasov moved all in and Mike Watson called for his tournament life.
Simeon Spasov:
Mike Watson:
The board ran out and Watson hit the rail finishing runner-up for $326,296.
Simeon Spasov | 59,000,000 | 21,000,000 |
Mike Watson | 0 | -21,000,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 5:25 PM Local Time
Time for a Break
The final two players are now on a 15-minute break.
Sunday, June 26, 2022 5:16 PM Local Time
Chip Count Update
Simeon Spasov | 38,000,000 | -2,000,000 |
Mike Watson | 21,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 4:48 PM Local Time
Spasov Pulling Away
After much back and forth action, Simeon Spasov started to pull away in this heads-up match. On a board showing in a pot of just over 15,000,000 in the middle, Simeon Spasov shoved the river for 25,000,000 into the shorter stack of Mike Watson.
Watson went deep in the tank, thinking for several minutes before painfully letting his hand go and the large pot was awarded to Spasov.
Simeon Spasov | 40,000,000 | 500,000 |
Mike Watson | 19,000,000 | -2,300,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 4:20 PM Local Time
Daniel Custodio Eliminated in 3rd Place ($239,679)
Action folded to Daniel Custodio in the small blind who jammed for roughly 6,000,000 and Mike Watson quickly called from the big blind.
Daniel Custodio:
Mike Watson:
On the flop of Custodio paired his ace and looked good to find a double up, but when the turn and river fell it was the straight of Watson that took the pot and eliminated Custodio in 3rd place.
Mike Watson | 21,300,000 | 8,300,000 |
Daniel Custodio | 0 | -6,200,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 4:16 PM Local Time
Spasov Climbs Even Higher
Action was heads up with around 8,000,000 in the pot and on the board when Simeon Spasov bet 4,600,000 and Daniel Custodio called.
Spasov turned over to take the pot with tens and sevens.
A short time later, Mike Watson went back and forth with Spasov before the flop. Spasov raised to 2,100,000 and Watson made it 7,100,000 before Spasov pushed in 30,000,000. Watson got away from it and Spasov's run picked up more steam.
Simeon Spasov | 39,500,000 | 19,500,000 |
Mike Watson | 13,000,000 | -9,000,000 |
Daniel Custodio | 6,200,000 | -10,500,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 4:03 PM Local Time
Spasov Scores Another Pot
Action was picked up in a pot of roughly 3,500,000 on a flop of . Simeon Spasov bet out 2,900,000 in the big blind and Daniel Custodio made the call on the button.
On the turn both players checked. The completed the board and Spasov bet 10,200,000. Custodio thought for a moment but eventually folded and another pot was slid to Spasov.
Simeon Spasov | 20,000,000 | -1,000,000 |
Daniel Custodio | 16,700,000 | 6,300,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 3:43 PM Local Time
Spasov Takes From Watson
The action was picked up in a pot of 1,800,000 on a flop of . Mike Watson bet 600,000 from the small blind and Simeon Spasov made the call from the big blind.
On the turn both players checked their option. The hit the river and Watson bet 800,000. Spasov put little thought before raising to 3,600,000 and Watson quickly folded.
Mike Watson | 22,000,000 | -9,000,000 |
Simeon Spasov | 21,000,000 | 4,000,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 3:19 PM Local Time
Level 36 started
Level: 36
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 600,000
Sunday, June 26, 2022 3:06 PM Local Time
Break Time
Players are now on a 15-minute break. Play will resume shortly.
Mike Watson | 31,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
Simeon Spasov | 17,000,000 | -2,100,000 |
Daniel Custodio | 10,400,000 | -2,000,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 3:01 PM Local Time
Custodio Doubles Through Spasov
Daniel Custodio raised to 5,500,000 and Simeon Spasov shoved with more before Custodio tossed in his last few chips. Action was heads up and Custodio was at risk for around 6,000,000.
Daniel Custodio:
Simeon Spasov:
The board ran out and Custudio made a straight to secure the important double in three-handed play.
Simeon Spasov | 19,100,000 | -6,000,000 |
Daniel Custodio | 12,400,000 | 6,400,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 2:57 PM Local Time
Ioannis Angelou Konstas Eliminated in 4th Place ($177,761)
Simeon Spasov shoved from the button and Ioannis Angelou Konstas called for around 3,500,000 from the big blind. Action was heads up and Angelou Konstas was at risk.
Ioannis Angelou Konstas:
Simeon Spasov:
The board ran out and Spasov made a straight on the river to send Angelou Konstas to the rail in 4th place for $177,761.
Simeon Spasov | 25,100,000 | 3,500,000 |
Ioannis Angelou Konstas | 0 | -3,500,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 2:54 PM Local Time
Angelou Konstas Doubles Through Spasov
Ioannis Angelou Konstas raised to 1,300,000 from the cutoff and Simeon Spasov shoved with more. Angelou Konstas called for a total of 1,550,000 and he was at risk.
Ioannis Angelou Konstas:
Simeon Spasov:
The board ran out and Angelou Konstas held on to double with ace-high.
Simeon Spasov | 21,600,000 | 925,000 |
Ioannis Angelou Konstas | 3,500,000 | 1,900,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 2:47 PM Local Time
Watson Back On A Tear
Action picked up when it folded to Ioannis Angelou Konstas in the small blind who opened for 1,350,000. Mike Watson three-bet to 3,000,000 from the big blind. Angelou Konstas decided on a min-click four-bet to 4,650,000. Watson took a moment before jamming all in and Angelou Konstas snap-folded his hand.
On the very next hand Angelou Konstas opened to 3,500,000 from the button, leaving himself with only 1,600,000 behind. Watson made the call from the small blind and the big blind got out of the way.
On a flop of both players checked. When the turn hit Watson bet out 1,000,000 and Angelou Konstas folded leaving himself very short.
Mike Watson | 28,000,000 | 12,500,000 |
Ioannis Angelou Konstas | 1,600,000 | -14,800,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 2:26 PM Local Time
Walter Ripper Eliminated in 5th Place ($133,129)
Simeon Spasov shoved from the small blind and Walter Ripper called from the big blind with just over 1,000,000.
Walter Ripper:
Simeon Spasov:
The board ran out and Spasov held with a pair of kings to eliminate Ripper in 5th place for $133,129.
Simeon Spasov | 20,675,000 | 3,975,000 |
Walter Ripper | 0 | -1,100,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 2:16 PM Local Time
Ripper Rips The Flop
Action started when Walter Ripper opened to 1,000,000 from under the gun. It folded to Ioannis Angelou Konstas on the button who three-bet to 2,200,000 and Ripper made the call.
On the flop of Ripper checked and Angelou Konstas bet 750,000. Ripper elected on a check-jam for roughly 6,400,000 and Angelou Konstas could not call fast enough.
Ioannis Angelou Konstas:
Walter Ripper:
Angelou Konstas flopped top set and had a strangle hold on the hand until the peeled off on the turn giving a straight draw to Ripper and a huge sweat. The river completed the board and the set of kings held propelling Angelou Konstas to one of the big stacks.
Ioannis Angelou Konstas | 16,400,000 | 7,025,000 |
Walter Ripper | 1,100,000 | -10,300,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 2:05 PM Local Time
Level 35 started
Level: 35
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
Sunday, June 26, 2022 1:59 PM Local Time
Watson Finds a Double Up
Mike Watson opened the action to 900,000 from the cutoff. It folded to Daniel Custodio in the big blind who moved all in and Waston snap-called.
Mike Watson:
Daniel Custodio:
The board ran out and after going from chip leader to short-stacked, Watson found a much needed double up.
Mike Watson | 15,500,000 | 5,800,000 |
Daniel Custodio | 6,000,000 | -8,500,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 1:49 PM Local Time
Ripper Tears Off a Double
Walter Ripper raised to 1,000,000 from under the gun and Daniel Custodio three-bet to 2,500,000 from the next seat over. The rest of the table got out of the way and Ripper shoved for a total of 5,300,000. Custodio called and action was heads up with Ripper at risk.
Walter Ripper:
Daniel Custodio:
The board ran out and Ripper's kings held to secure the double.
Daniel Custodio | 14,500,000 | -2,750,000 |
Walter Ripper | 11,400,000 | 6,100,000 |