Day 22 of the World Series saw the winners of the $1,500 pot-limit Omaha with rebuys and the $1,500 seven-card stud events. Things heated up as the $10,000 World Championship Omaha High-Low Split 8 or Better and the $1,500 no-limit hold’em events reached their final tables, and the field of the $2,000 pot-limit Omaha event was thinned out on its first day.

The $1,500 pot-limit Omaha with rebuys event saw its final table battling it out for first place. It looked like there was no stopping Italian Dario Alioto as he knocked out his opponents and moved into chip lead. In the early stages, he raised to 79,000 preflop and Frank Vizza made the call. The flop was dealt 1092 and Vizza moved all in for 149,000. Alioto made the call and they turned up their hands: Alioto with KJ93, and Vizza’s 6443. The turn and river were dealt AA and although both players made a flush, Alioto’s was superior and Vizza was eliminated in ninth place. He was awarded $54,160 in prize money.

Alioto was soon at it again, but this time against Tim West. The Italian raised to 65,000 preflop and West reraised all in for 156,000. Alioto took the pot down and eliminated West in eighth place.

With four players left, Alioto made his move once more and got all of his chips (1 million) into the middle preflop. Layne Flack who was chip leader called Alioto down and eliminated him in fourth place. The Italian took home $180,534 for his efforts.

German Daniel Makowsky and Flack were the final two to go heads-up. Makowsky committed the last of his chips preflop very early in the race for top prize. Layne Flack was victorious, earning his sixth gold bracelet and $577,710 in prize money. Makowsky was awarded $355,051 for his runner-up finish.

Other Europeans who cashed earlier in the event were Finn Thomas Wahlroos ($30,089), German Johannes Strassmann ($19,257), Englishman Barny Boatman ($16,849), Russian Nikolay Evdakov ($16,849), and Frenchman Martel De La Chesnaye ($16,849).

The winner of the $1,500 seven-card stud event was Michael Rocco. After grinding Al Barbieri down to his last few chips, all it took was a pair of kings to send him to the rail in second place. After realizing his pair had held, Rocco burst into celebration. As tears streamed down his face, he spoke about his victory for his five-year-old son. In a time where some bracelet winners take the prestige for granted, it was nice to see a man unafraid to show the world how much the win truly meant to him. He earned $135,753 and a gold bracelet for his valiant effort. The only European who cashed in the event was Daniel Studer from Switzerland. He took home $2,860 for his 25th place finish.

The final two-tables were set in the $10,000 World Championship Omaha High-Low Split 8 or Better. The late stages saw numerous eliminations including Frenchman Bruno Fitoussi, Russian Alexander Kostritsyn, and Italian Max Pescatori. The day ended with 18 players remaining. Among those returning for day 3 are David Benyamine from France, Brit Ram Vaswani, and Jason Gray who is also from the UK. Vaswani will begin the final day as chip leader.

Mid-session on day 2 of the $1,500 no-limit hold’em event, saw Frenchman Nadim Shabou making some good headway. While receiving a massage, Shabou pushed his remaining 25,000 in chips into the pot from middle position pre-flop. The action folded to the big blind who quickly called and turned over KQ. It was a coin flip race against Shabou’s 44, but the 96532 board brought a straight for Shabou who doubled up to stay alive.

Although attempting to manage his short stack, Shabou was able to eliminate opponent Roy Best, the only player at his table with less chips. Best pushed all in against Shabou’s big blind, and after pondering his situation Shabou called the additional 19,000. Best turned over A10, prompting Shabou to comment, “At least I have live cards.” Shabou turned over J4, and the board came QJ976, giving Shabou a pair of jacks.

His luck soon ran out however, as he was eliminated later at level 17.

Jesper Hougaard from Denmark played a blinder and battled his way up into the chip leaders by end of play. He was helped out by a Steed and some pocket rockets late session. After raising pre-flop from middle position, a severely short-stacked Chance Steed reraised all in for under 150,000 more. Hougaard instantly called and turned over AA. The board offered no help for Steed's Q9, and Hougaard added to his growing stack.

Before end of play, Jeremy Schofer went all-in and was called by Hougaard, who took him down. Schofer turned over Q9, dominated by Hougaard’s A9. The final board came 96522, giving them both the same pair. Hougaard’s kicker played, and the remaining players, including Englishman John Shipley, erupted with joy as they were guaranteed a spot at tomorrow’s final table. Nine players remain out of a total 2,447, but there can be only one winner. Tomorrow one player will be $610,304 richer.

Englishman Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott made some moves early on in the $2,000 pot-limit Omaha event. Michael Mizrachi raised to 325, just a quarter more than the minimum, from middle position and garnered four callers. Ulliott then made a big reraise from the big blind to 1,700 and everyone folded. Ulliot was eliminated later at level 7, alongside Finn Thomas Wahlroos.

Two Dutchmen sent to the rails were former CardPlayer Poker + Sports European Bureau Chief Rolf Slotboom, and Noah Boeken. Italian Dario Minieri was also eliminated at level 6.

Europeans left among the 63 who will carry forward into day two of the event are Russian Nikolay Evdakov, Englishman Paul Foltyn, Italian Marco Traniello, German Jan Von Halle, and Liv Boeree from England.

The winners of the $10,000 World Championship Omaha High-Low Split 8 or Better and the $1,500 no-limit hold’em events will emerge tomorrow, while the $2,000 pot-limit Omaha event will see its second day. Debuting tomorrow is event 39, the $1,500 no-limit hold’em tournament.

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