2022 WSOP Day 7: Dan Smith Flying High in the $50K High Roller

Day 7 of the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is done and dusted, and what an incredible day of poker it turned out to be. No fewer than three players became world champions, while five other events whittled down their fields as they prepare to dish out poker's most coveted piece of poker jewelry.

Amnon Filippi won his first bracelet in Event #7: $1,500 Omaha hi-Lo 8 or Better, a tournament that required an unscheduled fourth day. Chad Eveslage won his maiden bracelet and a cool $1,415,610 when he came out on top in Event #8: $25,000 High Roller.

There was also a first WSOP bracelet for Alex Livingston, who bulldozed his way to victory in Event #9: $1,500 Seven Card Stud.

Away from winning bracelets, Dan Smith is riding high in Event #12: $50,000 High Roller only a couple of days after winning the $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship, while several other players are now within touching distance of realizing their poker dreams of becoming a WSOP champion.

Smith Riding The Crest of a Wave in the $50,000 High Roller

Dan Smith finally shook off the unwanted tag of being the best poker player without a bracelet when he triumphed in the $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship a couple of days ago. Like a shark gets a taste for blood, Smith has a taste for poker gold as is evident by him leading the way in the $50,000 High Roller.

Eighty-three players bought in on Day 1 but only 23 of them made it through unscathed. Smith bagged up 2,035,000 chips and was the only player to break through the two million barrier. However, Michael Rocco (1,990,000) came close, as did David Peters (1,910,000) who is hunting for his fifth WSOP bracelet after securing number four last week.

Eight other players in this stacked field have already tasted victory in a WSOP event. They are Mikita Badziakouski (1,780,000), Chance Kornuth (1,545,000), Andrew Lichtenberger (1,200,000), Erik Seidel (1,200,000), Elio Fox (920,000), Justin Bonomo (685,000), Dylan Linde (565,000), and Eelis Parssinen (545,000).

Play resumes at 1:00 p.m. local time with late registration open until play begins.

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Event #12: $50,000 High Roller Top 10 Chip Counts

Bracelet Winner Hufty in the Mix in The Housewarming Event

Only 12 of the 20,080 players who started The Housewarming event still have chips in front of them, including a certain Jordan Hufty (42,925,000). Hufty won the 2018 Employees Event and is now only 11 eliminations from receiving his second bracelet and what is an incredible $701,215 top prize.

Hufty's stack places him ninth when play resumes at 1:00 p.m. on June 7, and he has plenty of work to do if he wants to reel in the current chip leaders. Christian Taylor is the player to catch courtesy of amassing 221,300,000 chips. Only thre others have more than 100 million. They are Isidro Martinez (155,000,000), Orez Mokedi (125,450,000), and Henry Acain (108,425,000).

Event #5: $500 The Housewarming Top 10 Chip Counts

Ohel Leads $10K Dealers Choice Going Into Day 3

Only 15 players of the original 123 who started the $10,000 Dealer's Choice remain in contention for the title, the $299,488 top prize and, of course, the tournament's bracelet. It is Randy Ohel (1,101,000) who will be the most confident going into Day 2 because he is in the envious position of chip leader.

That said, any of the 14 players in the chasing pack would also make a worthy champion and they certainly are not only there to make up the numbers. Ten other bracelet winners are still in the hunt, including three-time champions Nick Schulman (904,000) and Greg Mueller (377,000), four-time champion Jeff Madsen (573,000), and five-time bracelet winner Brian Rast (574,000).

Everything points this this even having a thrilling finale, and PokerNews will be with you every step of the way from 2:00 p.m. local time on June 7.

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Event #10: $10,000 Dealer's Choice 6-handed Championship Top 10 Chip Counts

Big Field Specialist Fashakin Stacks 'em high in the $600 Deepstack

Femi Fashakin knows his way around big field tournament. In 2019, Fashakin won The Big 50, topping a filed of 28,371 to win a WSOP bracelet and $1,147,449 in prize money. He now finds himself at the top of the chip counts of the $600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack, a tournament that drew in 5,720 entrants.

Fashakin finished Day 1 with 3,215,000 chips, a stack so large that WSOP staff had to color him up so he could fit his chips into a single overnight bag. His stack contains almost one million more than second-placed Roberto Bendeck (2,235,000). While there are still 289 players remaining in this event, the ball is firmly in Fashakin's court.

Further down the chip count you find Georgios Sotiropoulos, a three-time WSOP bracelet winner. The Greek star returns to the action armed with 1,125,000 chips. Ankush Mandavia (605,000) is another owner of some poker hardware who is through to Day 2, as are Yuri Dzivielevski (540,000), Kevin MacPhee (510,000), and Men "The Master" Nguyen (409,000).

Play resumes at noon local time on June 7.

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Event #11: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack Top 10 Chip Counts

Fixed Limit Guru Hsiung Tops $1,500 Limit Hold'em Day 1 Counts

Kenny Hsiung (248,500) topped the chip counts after Day 1 of the $2,500 Limit Hold'em event, where the 522 strong field was reduced to a more manageable 160 after 15 levels of action. Hsiung won his bracelet in the $3,000 version of this event back in 2012 and is now in pole position to secure a second.

Venkata Tayi (238,000) returns to the action in second place. Tayi came close to winning this event in 2017 but ultimately fell in second place. No doubt he'll be going all out to finish one place deeper this time around.

There are some very talented fixed limit players among the 160 returning players, including Jon Kyte (168,500), Tom Schneider (157,500), Rami Boukai (129,000), former Main Event champion Joe McKeehen (114,000), Brandon Shack-Harris (48,500), and defending champion Yuval Bronshtein (42,500).

Play resumes at 2:00 p.m. local time with the plan to play ten one-hour levels.

Event #12: $1,500 Limit Hold'em Top 10 Chip Counts