On Tuesday, 21 players returned to play down to a winner in the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #54: $500 Salute to Warriors and it took just five hours to determine a winner in James Todd, who claimed a $161,256 top prize and the gold bracelet.
After three days of play, starting with a record-breaking 3,209 entrants, a $1,315,690 prize pool was built. Of those entrants, 482 made the money. The bubble boys were Mackenzie Horwitz and Scott Ayers, who split the $800 minimum cash between them. Mackenzie was really happy to cash in his first WSOP event, playing in memory of his veteran brother.
Event #54: $500 Salute to Warriors Final Table Results
| Place | Name | Country | Prize |
| 1 | James Todd | United States | $161,256 |
| 2 | Brett Coltman | United States | $99,676 |
| 3 | Patrick Pilko | Austria | $75,486 |
| 4 | Randy Levin | United States | $57,554 |
| 5 | Rigoberto Rodriguez | United States | $44,180 |
| 6 | Nicholas Sena-Hopkins | United States | $34,146 |
| 7 | Todd Saffron | United States | $26,574 |
| 8 | Elias Neto | Brazil | $20,824 |
| 9 | Maximo Martinez | El Salvador | $16,433 |
| 10 | Zyad Qasem | United States | $13,059 |
Some amazing stories emerged through the days, PokerNews caught up with Jimmy Rogers on the Day 2 dinner break, who finished in the money in the event. Check out Jimmy’s story here.
There were many notable runs from players with varied backgrounds including pro Barry Greenstein (63rd – $2,691), veteran and brain cancer survivor James Lovell (81st – $1,952), veteran and celebrity poker host Shaun Colquhoun (251st – $1,126), as well as many more.
Action was thick and fast, with the average stack coming into the day just under twenty big blinds. It didn’t take long to lose 11 players and be down to our 10-handed final table.
Final Table Action
Zyad Qasem was the first to fall to Todd. Followed by El Salvadorian Maximo Martinez who was all smiles all day. Martinez coined his own signature catchphrase when he doubled versus Qasem on Day 2, ”Punch to the Liver!”.
Next off the table was Elias Nato in eighth place, the Brazilian had his own cheering section and media team filming him on the day. He was short-stacked and couldn’t find the double up. In seventh place was the cool and collected Todd Saffron, who was also eliminated by Todd.
The sixth-place finisher was Nicholas Sena-Hopkins, who cashed for $34,146 for his run. Short stacked for most of the day, he did well to ladder to sixth and was all in for his last two big blinds in a three-way pot, busting to Todd.
Rigoberto Rodriguez ended up getting it in with fives versus the jacks of Brett Coltman, he couldn’t improve small blind versus button and his dance was done. Rodriguez was cracking jokes and having fun all tournament, bringing good energy to the tables.
Randy Levin lost out to Coltman, too. Short stacked, he tried to bluff Coltman off a flop, and unbeknownst to him, Coltman had bottom two pair and held. In third was Patrick Pilko, the Austrian busting to Todd in a flip situation. Pilko took over $75,000 for his finish.
Heads-up play took just three hands after Coltman moved all in and Todd called his all in of 26.8 million with an ace and three versus the king and seven of Coltman. With two pair on the flop, Todd had it all but locked up and the turn and river didn’t help Coltman survive.
Winner’s Interview
PokerNews caught up with a jubilant Todd after his victory. Todd, when asked what his expectations were this summer, said: ”I kinda did expect it, I came into this trip wanting and planning on leaving with a bracelet…I can’t explain it’.”
Confidence from Todd, but the confidence you need if you do actually intend on winning gold in such a big field.
Todd, who was composed all day long, credits both good sleep, his rail, and his work ethic for the victory. On that note, his girlfriend was on the rail nearly the entire Day 2 after flying in to support Todd.
”Her just being here, rooting for me, means the world … You know I’ve been showing her pictures of bracelets, telling her I’m going to win, showing my clients. She believed in me the whole time, and so has my son,” said Todd, who works as a personal trainer by trade.
“I did not serve, but my father served in the military. I love our service men and women, you know. It’s such an honorable position and able to give back a bit’.”
Todd also credits his spirituality for his victory. ”I felt God’s peace with me the entire time.”
It was by far Todd’s biggest win of his career, who says he has been seriously into poker for the last 25 years but has paid for teaching services to improve his game as of late. That has paid dividends as he is now has a nice bankroll boost. Todd has no plans to give up his job as a personal trainer though, and has no major spending plans in his head yet, though he may buy some land in the mountains (he lives in Colorado).
”Maybe I’ll take one more day off a week now,” Todd said with a smile on his face.
Finally, talking about the tournament itself, Todd was asked how it feels to be part of something that transcends just winning money. He responded: ”It’s going to help a hell of a lot of people. I did not serve, but my father served in the military. I love our service men and women, you know. It’s such an honorable position and able to give back a bit”.
The players raised $74,809 for the USO (United Service Organizations) among other charities. No doubt many individuals and families will be helped with those funds and the awareness raised for multiple charities and organizations to help veterans and those affected by war is invaluable.
Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2022 WSOP is here.
- 1 Can’t Stop Kopp: Katie Kopp Wins First Bracelet of the 2022 WSOP
- 2 David Peters Wins 2022 WSOP Event #2: $100K High Roller Bounty for 4th Gold Bracelet
- 3 Scott Seiver Wins 4th Bracelet in 2022 WSOP Event #3: $2,500 Freezeout NLH ($320,059)
- 4 For a Higher Cause: Brad Ruben Wins 4th Bracelet in 2022 WSOP Event #4: $1,500 Dealer’s Choice
- 5 Dan Smith Captures 1st Bracelet; Wins 2022 WSOP Event #6: $25K Heads-Up Championship
- 6 Norbert Szecsi Captures The Third Bracelet of his Career at the 2022 WSOP
- 7 Manig ”Ohio77” Loeser Wins Second Online Bracelet in as Many Years
- 8 Amnon Filippi Wins First WSOP Bracelet in Event #7: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better ($252,718)
- 9 Chad Eveslage Wins 2022 WSOP Event #8: $25,000 High Roller ($1,415,610)
- 10 Alex Livingston Wins 2022 WSOP Event #9: $1,500 Seven Card Stud ($103,282)
- 11 Henry Acain Wins 2022 WSOP Event #5: $500 The Housewarming ($701,215)
- 12 Raj Vohra Wins His First Bracelet at the 2022 WSOP; Takes Down the $600 Deepstack
- 13 Ben Diebold Wins 2022 WSOP $10,000 Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed Championship ($299,488)
- 14 Jake Schindler Wins First Bracelet and $1,328,068 in Event #12: $50,000 High Roller
- 15 First Time’s the Charm: Michael Moncek Wins Event #13: $1,500 Limit Hold’em
- 16 Frenchman Leo Soma Wins First WSOP Bracelet in Event #14: $1,500 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em ($456,889)
- 17 Dominick Sarle Wins 2022 WSOP Event #17: $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw Lowball ($164,243)
- 18 Bryan Schultz Wins 2022 WSOP Event #18: $1,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em ($330,057)
- 19 Stefan Lehner Wins First Bracelet in Event #16: $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em ($558,616)
- 20 Denis Nesterenko Wins Event #20: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw ($108,250)
- 21 Tong Li Wins $1,467,739 and First Bracelet in Event #19: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller
- 22 Adam Friedman Wins Fifth WSOP Gold Bracelet in Event #22: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship
- 23 Brian Altman Captures His Maiden WSOP Bracelet in the Online $400 Ultra Deepstack
- 24 Christopher Chatman Flips to Win First WSOP Bracelet in Event #24: $1,000 Flip & Go
- 25 Rob Wazwaz Ships Event #25: $800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstacks For $358,346
- 26 Mike Jukich Wins the $1,500 Monster Stack at the 2022 WSOP For $966,577
- 27 K9 & Canine Lucky for Jonathan Cohen in Event #26: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship ($245,678)
- 28 Michael Simhai Hits the Mark in 2022 WSOP Event #27: Shootout NLH ($240,480)
- 29 Robert Cowen Wins Bracelets in Back-to-Back Years; Binks $50K PLO High Roller for $1.4M
- 30 Maxx Coleman Wins Elusive First Bracelet in the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw
- 31 15 Years in the Making: Daniel Weinman Nabs 1st Bracelet in Event #30: $1,000 PLO
- 32 Nino Ullmann Wins His First WSOP Bracelet in the $3K NLHE 6-Max Event
- 33 Brian Hastings Captures Sixth Bracelet in Event #31: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship
- 34 Musician Steve Albini Wins (And Breaks!) Second Bracelet in 2022 WSOP $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.
- 35 Lok Chan Wins 2022 WSOP Event #35: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet on First Trip to WSOP ($144,338)
- 36 Ali Eslami Takes Down Event #36: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better for $135,260 and Maiden WSOP Bracelet
- 37 Justin Pechie Wins Second WSOP Bracelet in the $1,500 Freezeout
- 38 Pedro Bromfman Is Triumphant in Event #38: $10,000 2-7 Single Draw Championship
- 39 Ramsey Stovall Wins First Bracelet In 2022 WSOP $1,000 Super Turbo Bounty ($191,223)
- 40 “PmpknHead” Wins WSOP Online Bracelet Event #4: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Max
- 41 Aleksejs Ponakovs Defeats Phil Ivey to Win Event #42: $100,000 High Roller for $1,897,363
- 42 Zack Wins Second Bracelet of the 2022 WSOP; $10,000 Stud Hi-Lo Championship ($324,174)
- 43 David Perry Defeats Chris Moorman in the 2022 WSOP $500 Freezeout ($241,729)
- 44 Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! KFC Fan Kolev Wins 2022 WSOP Millionaire Maker ($1,125,141)
- 45 Phil Hui Mounts Comeback to Win Third Bracelet In $1,500 PLO at the 2022 WSOP
- 46 Andrew Yeh Rides to Victory in Event #44: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship ($487,129)
- 47 Frenchman Jonathan Pastore Wins 2022 WSOP Event #46: $5,000 6-Handed NLHE ($771,765)
- 48 First Bracelet for Cyprus; Menikos Panagiotou Wins 2022 WSOP Event #48: $1,500 Eight Game Mix
- 49 Alex Foxen Goes Wire-to-Wire in $250K Super High Roller on Way to Maiden Bracelet ($4,563,700)
- 50 Simeon Spasov Completes Come-From-Behind Win in Event #49: $2,000 NLH ($527,944)
- 51 Joao Simao Takes Down Second Bracelet For $686,242 In $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha
- 52 WSOP Rookie Kijoon Park Wins Event #52: $2,500 Nine-Game Mix 6-Handed ($219,799)
- 53 William “swaggyb” Corvino Captures First Bracelet in the $600 Online Deepstack Championship
- 54 Eric Smidinger Full of Emotion After Winning 2022 WSOP Seniors Event ($694,909)
- 55 James Todd Wins 2022 WSOP Event #54: $500 Salute to Warriors ($161,256); $74,809 Raised for USO
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