Four Aussies to Watch at the 2022 WSOP
It is that time of year again when poker players from around the world descend on Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker. The 2022 WSOP is underway right now at its new home of Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas. Only a handful of the 88 live events have concluded or are in play, meaning there is plenty of time for Australians to head to “Sin City” and win a coveted 2022 WSOP bracelet.
The 2021 edition of the World Series of Poker took place in October instead of the traditional May to July. Travel restrictions and vaccination requirements regarding the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in player counts falling. However, the attendances for the 2022 WSOP are expected to be as high as ever. Aussie players should turn out in droves but who are the players to watch from Down Under?
All monetary amounts are USD unless stated
Robert Campbell Has Already Cashed at the 2022 WSOP
Robert Campbell has cashed once already at the 2022 WSOP. The mixed game specialist finished 42nd from 430 entrants in the $1,500 Dealer’s Choice event.
Campbell first cashed in a WSOP event in 2013 when the series headed to Melbourne for the first time. He narrowly missed out on a coveted WSOP bracelet in 2015 when he finished second in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. tournament. Five cashes in non-No Limit Hold’em event in 2016, including two final table appearances, put Campbell on the poker map.
However, he rose to prominence in 2019. Campbell won two bracelets and cashed in 13 events, including some in Europe. His amazing performances earned Campbell the coveted Player of the Year award.
Expect big things from Campbell at the 2022 WSOP.
Michael Addamo Is a Favourite in the Biggest 2022 WSOP Events
Michael Addamo is Australia’s biggest poker winner with $19.5 million in earnings. The Melbourne man is a beast of a poker player, one who specialises in super high stakes events. He won two Super High Roller bracelets in 2021, triumphing in $50,000 buy-in event for $1,132,968 and a $100,000 buy-in event for $1,958,569.
Addamo travelled to Madrid, Spain, for the Triton Poker Series. He won a €20,000 and a €75,000 buy-in event. There is nobody at the 2022 WSOP who wants Addamo on their table!
Sean Ragozzini Looking For a Repeat of 2021
Joe Hachem won the 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event and it looked like Australia was about to get its second Main Event champion last year. All but 11 of the $6,650 entrants busted out and Sean Ragozzini locked up $585,000. He was only ten eliminations away from an $8 million score and the title of champion. But disaster struck and he fell in 11th place.
Ragozzini has only cashed once since, three weeks after his Main Event exit, meaning he has been out of action for a year. However, going so deep in the Main Event means he must head to the 2022 WSOP and exorcise some demons.
Luke Martinelli The Online Grinder
Luke Martinelli has $759,859 in poker tournament winnings, which ranks him 74th in Oz. Martinelli is a prolific player who has more than 300 online poker tournament cashes. Many of those cashes are the online edition of the World Series of Poker.
Martinelli headed to Vegas in 2021 and cashed a WSOP and a World Poker Tour event. The poker refugee no longer lives in Australia so he can continue his online grind, but he returned to Sydney in April 2022 for the WPTDeepStacks Main Event. He finished 21st from 2,023 entrants for A$14,099. Mark Fester won that tournament for A$412,981.
We have a sneaking suspicion Martinelli will head to the 2022 WSOP and show the world wat he can do.
