Paul Hizer almost ended his poker tournament life twice in the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Colossus, but a king saved him. The card earned him $414,490 and a WSOP bracelet.
Hizer has played professional poker for six years and recreational poker for over eight years. Still, he has never won any tournament before. His career winnings before the Colossus stood at $474,000.
The poker pro got into four heads-up battles but came short in each instance. But he broke the monotony on June 29 when he beat 13,564 entrants. He stated after the event that the win meant a lot to him as he had many deep runs but had never had any major win before.
The Final Table's Results
- Paul Hizer from the United Kingdom – $414,490
- Sam Laskowitz from the U.S. – $256,170
- Jordan Pelon from France – $193,240
- James Scott from the United Kingdom – $146,680
- Luong Quach from the U.S. – $112,060
- Jeff Loiacono from the U.S. – $86,160
- Anthony Ruttler from the U.S. – $66,670
- William Gian from the U.S. – $51,930
- Sean Shah from the U.S. – $40,710
Action on Day 4
Hizer held the second stack position when he advanced to the final table as Sam Laskowitz led the pack. The average stack was 19 big blinds, and making a slight mistake could cause someone their run.
Anthony Ruttler was the first player to bust. But, he finished in the seventh position after Luong Quach's pocket queens beat him. Jeff Loiacono held aces as he went all in with 19,000,000, while Hizer used {3-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds} to call in a big blind.
The latter didn't improve and allowed the former to double up. Yet, Loiacono's {q-Clubs}{10-Clubs} lost to Laskowitz's {a-Clubs}{q-Spades}, thus leaving the table in sixth place.
Quach followed him in fifth place as Hizer's big blinds dropped to less than three in a four-handed play. But, he used {a-Diamonds}{2-Spades} to double up against James Scott's {j-Hearts}{5-Hearts}. The Englishmen clashed in a crucial pot that would determine their fate.
Scott placed 59,500,000 as he went all-in from a small blind as Hizer called. The latter would have a short stack if he lost the pot, and his dream to win the bracelet would die. Scott held {10-Hearts}{10-Clubs} and crushed Hizer's {k-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}.
A {7-Spades}{3-Spades}{3-Hearts} flop occurred, and Hizer's rail celebrated as a {k-Clubs} appeared on the turn. Scott got busted in fourth place as a {4-Hearts} appeared on the river.
Hizer's Victory
Laskowitz ended Jordan Pelon's run in the third position hence getting a 412,00,000:131,500,000 as heads-up play began.
Hizer went all-in on the button with 169,500,000 as Laskowitz used two threes to snap-call and faced his opponent's {a-Spades}{q-Hearts}. {10-Clubs}{8-Hearts}{5-Spades}{j-Spades} appeared on the board, and Laskowitz required only one card to win the tournament.
Unfortunately, the river turned {k-Hearts} and Hizer's rail celebrated again. He stated after the tournament that he tried to manifest a great run the previous night when he went to bed.
The player increased his stack lead after he got a {j-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}{6-Clubs}{6-Spades}{a-Clubs} from the board having {k-Clubs}{7-Clubs}. He increased his blinds to 8,000,000-16,000,000, thus prompting Laskowitz to stake his remaining 118,500,000 chips.
The latter used {8-Clubs}{2-Clubs} to call as Hizer turned a {a-Clubs}{3-Clubs}. None of the players got a {j-Clubs}{7-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}{k-Spades}{10-Spades} board, and Laskowitz finished as a runner-up winning $256,170.
