João Vieira Outlasts Lander Lijo to Win Second WSOP Bracelet ($1,384,415)
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
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | João Vieira | Portugal | $1,384,415 |
| 2 | Lander Lijo | Spain | $855,631 |
| 3 | Galen Hall | United States | $625,941 |
| 4 | Dan Colpoys | United States | $463,589 |
| 5 | Brian Rast | United States | $347,658 |
| 6 | Sean Perry | United States | $264,034 |
| 7 | Fedor Holz | Germany | $203,107 |
| 8 | Stephen Chidwick | United Kingdom | $158,278 |
| 9 | Alexandros Theologis | Greece | $124,974 |
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 bricking 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.