How many WSOP bracelets is too many?

After the summer series wrapped in Las Vegas and the World Series of Poker announced more WSOP Online bracelet events, we took a look at the history of bracelets. We focused on 2006 forward, as this was the period in which the most changes occurred.

• 2006: 45 bracelets
• 2007: 58 (including 3 in Europe)
• 2008: 59 (including 4 in Europe)
• 2009: 61 (including 4 in Europe)
• 2010: 62 (including 5 in Europe)
• 2011: 65 (including 7 in Europe)
• 2012: 68 (including 7 in Europe)
• 2013: 75 (including 8 in Europe and 5 in Asia/Pacific)
• 2014: 75 (including 10 in Asia/Pacific)
• 2015: 78 (including 10 in Europe)
• 2016: 69
• 2017: 84 (including 11 in Europe)
• 2018: 88 (including 10 in Europe)
• 2019: 105 (81 in Las Vegas, 15 in Europe, and 9 online)
• 2020: 86 (1 live and 85 online)
• 2021: 188 (88 in Las Vegas, 15 in Europe, and 85 online)
• 2022: 214 gold bracelets (including 89 in Las Vegas, 15 in Europe, and 110 online)

When we looked at this just a couple of months ago, there were 107 online events in 2022. That was before the WSOP launched in Ontario, Canada. It did so on the GGPoker online poker platform. So, they put three bracelet events on the WSOP Ontario site.

Those events, complete with GG branding in every event title, are:

• October 23 (Event 1): C$150 buy-in Big 150 MILLIONCAD$
• October 30 (Event 2): C$210 buy-in PLO Bounty MILLIONCAD$
• October 30 (Event 3): C$1,050 GGMasters Online Championship Freezeout

Who Won Online This Year?

The debate in the last few years has focused on whether or not online bracelet events are worth the same as live WSOP events. Online players will argue that they are very much the same, while live players and longtime WSOP players often dismiss online bracelets as a lesser valued knockoff.

Even the Hendon Mob has not yet equated live and online bracelet events. Its WSOP leaderboards now track “live event results” and “live event bracelet victories,” and WSOP leaderboards that list cashes and bracelets only feature live events. The Hendon Mob does record the online bracelet results, but they don’t count toward its WSOP lists.

It is difficult to follow the online WSOP results. There are no photos of the action, streaming of actual humans at a final table, winner photos, or bracelet ceremonies. In fact, information about the online tournaments is often difficult to find. The Hendon Mob displays all of the results, while the WSOP often doesn’t record the number of entries and total prize pool. In fact, the WSOP website makes it quite difficult to find lists of online bracelet events and results of those tournaments.

Even the WSOPcom Twitter account doesn’t list its own bracelet winners or celebrate their victories.

Who could blame someone for not knowing who won online bracelets this year?

So, we decided to compile a list of all online bracelet winners in 2022.

Summer 2022 for NV/NJ

First up, there were WSOP Online bracelet events that took place during the summer World Series of Poker. This was the list of winners located in Nevada or New Jersey, as they played together in the same player pool.

• $5,300 NLHE HR Freezeout: Norbert Szecsi (Hungary) $288,850 (218 entries)
• $500 NLHE Big 500: Manig Loeser (Germany) $127,153 (1,213 entries)
• $400 NLHE Ultra DS: Brian Altman (USA) $110,662 (1,641 entries)
• $1K PLO: Matt Szymaszek (USA) $141,705 (470 entries)
• $600 NLHE DS Championship: William Corvino (USA) $149,319 (1,248 entries)
• $500 NLHE Turbo DS: Martin Stoyanov (Bulgaria) $132,783 (1,746 entries)
• $500 NLHE DS: Sane Chung (USA) $149,729 (1,509 entries)
• $7,777 NLHE Lucky 7s HR: Harry Lodge (England) $396,366 (161 entries)
• $1K NLHE Championship: Yevgeniy Minakrin (USA) $238,315 (994 entries)
• $3,200 NLHE HR 8-Max: Julien Perouse Canada) $324,767 (340 entries)
• $777 NLHE Lucky 7s 2^nd Chance: Fred Li (USA) $159,060 (781 entries)
• $5,300 NLHE Encore Freezeout: Gianluca Speranza (Italy) $324,625 (245 entries)
• $500 NLHE Summer Saver: Shaun O’Donnell (USA) $125,330

Summer for PA

This set also took place during the summer but catered to players located in Pennsylvania only.

• $500 NLHE Big 500: Joseph Kuczewski (USA) $30,970 (204 entries)
• $400 NLHE Ultra DS: Christopher Perkins (USA) $24,960 (218 entries)
• $500 PLO 6-Max: Mark Dellavecchio (USA) $17,292 (90 entries)
• $600 NLHE DS Championship: Stephen Jarrett (USA) $26,979 (153 entries)
• $500 NLHE DS: Jonas Wexler (USA) $19,615 (136 entries)
• $1K NLHE Championship: Alex Schwint (USA) $27,055 (94 entries)
• $777 NLHE Lucky 7s 2^nd Chance: Peter Williamson (USA) $20,519 (89 entries)
• $500 NLHE Summer Saver: Ryan Messick (USA) $24,300 (166 entries)

Summer for MI

And this set was also in the summer months but for players located in the state of Michigan.

• $500 NLHE Big 500: Brent Blackwood (USA) $35,559 (242 entries)
• $400 NLHE Ultra DS: Todd Estes (USA) $27,896 (275 entries)
• $500 PLO 6-Max: John Macleod (USA) $21,387 (141 entries)
• $600 NLHE DS Championship: Adam Kittle (USA) $30,420 (176 entries)
• $500 NLHE DS: Freddie Kirkland (USA) $26,038 (180 entries)
• $1K NLHE Championship: Cade Lautenbacher (USA) $28,829 (108 entries)
• $777 NLHE Lucky 7s 2^nd Chance: Ryan Hiller (USA) $21,947 (98 entries)
• $500 NLHE Summer Saver: Matthew Garza (USA) $27,824 (179 entries)

Late Summer on GG

Next on the schedule was the WSOP Online International series, one hosted by GGPoker for international players. This excluded countries like the United States and others like France and Spain (just to name two) that have laws against global player pools. This series offered 33 events.

• $500 NLHE Housewarming: Stefan Schillhabel (Germany) $296,410 (5,099 entries)
• $1,111 NLHE Charity: Claas Segebrecht (Germany) $102,152 (730 entries)
• $2,500 LHE Championship: Rafael Caiaffa (Brazil) $64,671 (124 entries)
• $1,050 NLHE Bounty DS: Jacopo Achille (Italy) $39,862 (986 entries)
• $315 NLHE 6-Handed Bounty: Jon Garde (France) $28,356 (2,312 entries)
• $800 NLHE Monster Stack: Jonas Lauck (Germany) $173,224 (1,797 entries)
• $210 NLHE M$ Bounty: Tapio Vihakas (Finland) $348,723 (51,003 entries)
• $5K NLHE 6-Handed Championship: Pieter Aerts (Belgium) $400,213 (430 entries)
• $525 PLO Bounty: Amichai Barer (Canada) $23,711 (1,142 entries)
• $10K NLHE HU Championship: Dimitar Danchev (Bulgaria) $327,668 (97 entries)
• $400 NLHE Double Stack Bounty: Gustavo Mastelotto (Brazil) $51,498 (3,550 entries)
• $10K NLHE SuperMillions HR: David Yan (Australia) $985,565 (593 entries)
• $1,500 NLHE Millionaire Maker: Markus Prinz (Germany) $1,188,098 (4,706 entries)
• $2,500 NLHE DS Championship: Almaz Zhdanov (Russia) $246,495 (705 entries)
• $777 NLHE Lucky 7s Bounty: Pete Chen (Taiwan) $53,999 (1,778 entries)
• $1,500 NLHE Ultra DS: Jonathan Gilliam (USA) $149,520 (1,156 entries)
• $500 NLHE Big 500: Vicente Delgado (Spain) $174,497 (3,141 entries)
• $100 NLHE Flip & Go: Ewald Mahr (Peru) $143,267 (13,719 entries)
• $5K PLO Championship: Rui Ferreira (Portugal) $287,736 (272 entries)
• $888 NLHE Crazy Eights Bounty: Sean Prendiville (Ireland) $66,770 (1,922 entries)
• $500 NLHE Ladies Championship: Long Huanhua (China) $31,326 (362 entries)
• $1,050 NLHE HR Freezeout: Mario Navarro (Spain) $288,507 (2,372 entries)
• $400 PLO PLOSSUS: Jose Castillo (Spain) $54,500 (3,850 entries)
• $2,100 NHLE Bounty Championship: Hernan Restrepo (Colombia) $79,643 (985 entries)
• $315 NLHE Superstack Turbo Bounty: Jonathan Therme (France) $36,600 (3,015 entries)
• $1K NLHE Double Chance: Jans Arends (Netherlands) $129,745 (1,777 entries)
• $1,500 NLHE Fifty Stack: Mark Radoja (Canada) $95,460 (1,597 entries)
• $400 NLHE Colossus: Ourania Zarkantzia (Greece) $378,508 (10,090 entries)
• $5K NL Short Deck Championship (USA) Benjamin Miner (USA) $172,678 (145 entries)
• $840 NLHE 6-Handed Bounty: Joni Johkimainen (Finland) $66,004 (2,024 entries)
• $1,050 NLHE Beat the Pros: Claas Segebrecht (Germany) $54,315 (1,318 entries)
• $500 NLHE Closer: Marc Radgen (Germany) $147,983 (3,403 entries)
• $5K NLHE Main Event: Simon Mattsson (Sweden) $2,793,575 (4,984 entries)

Autumn for NV/NJ

With 33 bracelets available for international players on GG, the US market wanted some of that action, too. So, the WSOP offered 33 events for the Nevada and New Jersey crowd.

• $400 NLHE Kickoff: Ori Hasson (Israel) $58,491 (474 entries)
• $500 NLHE Monster Stack: Benjamin Garrick (USA) $64,590 (508 entries)
• $3,200 NLHE HR: Drew O’Connell (USA) $96,087 (99 entries)
• $1K PLO 6-Max: Soheb Porbandarwala (USA) $57,125 (273 entries)
• $500 NLHE DS Turbo: Christopher Castiglia (USA) $44,704 (515 entries)
• $800 NLHE Ultra DS: Vito Distefano (USA) $57,355 (393 entries)
• $365 NLHE: Jeremy Ausmus (USA) $51,807 (571 entries)
• $1K NLHE 6-Max: Jesse Lonis (USA) $73,370 (384 entries)
• $600 NLHE DS Championship: Timothy Faro (USA) $50,864 (515 entries)
• $2,500 NLHE: William Romaine (USA) $79,753 (153 entries)
• $400 PLO 6-Max: Tanner Bibat (USA) $29,460 (365 entries)
• $400 NLHE Ultra DS: Jesse Yaginuma (USA) $47,520 (763 entries)
• $1K NLHE: Nathan Zimnik (USA) $69,741 (365 entries)
• $500 NLHE 6-Max: Jeremiah Williams (USA) $48,698 (561 entries)
• $365 NLHE DS Turbo: Tanner Bibat (USA) $42,054 (701 entries)
• $500 NLHE DS: Connor Stuewe (USA) $45,679 (555 entries)
• $777 NLHE Lucky 7s: Michael Holtz (USA) $76,157 (564 entries)
• $1K NLHE DS Turbo: Michael Gagliano (USA) $62,756 (344 entries)
• $1,500 NLHE: Jordyn Miller (USA) $96,915 (332 entries)
• $500 NLHE Turbo: Mark Dibello (USA) $41,580 (479 entries)
• $600 NLHE 6-Max: Maxx Coleman (USA) $46,666 (448 entries)
• $500 NLHE Big 500: Matthew Paoletti (USA) $61,070 (462 entries)
• $1,500 NLHE: Michael Mercaldo (USA) $68,005 (244 entries)
• $7,777 NLHE Lucky 7s HR: Jared Strauss (USA) $181,769 (88 entries)
• $2K NLHE 8-Max: Evan Sandberg (USA) $94,568 (162 entries)
• $3,200 NLHE HR 6-Max: Christopher Staats (USA) $111,609 (111 entries)
• $500 NLHE Super Turbo: Patrick Eskandar (USA) $37,489 (411 entries)
• $365 NLHE Monster Stack: Desmond Haynes (USA) $44,828 (790 entries)
• $1K NLHE Championship: Frank Funaro (USA) $94,097 (542 entries)
• $5,300 NLHE HR: Brian Kim (USA) $119,000 (85 entries)
• $600 NLHE Deep Freeze: Qinghai Pan (USA) $36,148 (366 entries)
• $10K NLHE SHR 8-Max: Justin Saliba (USA) $154,752 (52 entries)
• $500 NLHE Fall Finale: Hung Truong (USA) $52,675 (640 entries)

Autumn for PA

Pennsylvania players had a few bracelet opportunities during the fall months as well.

• $500 NLHE Monster Stack: Richard Ali (USA) $20,716 (198 entries)
• $365 NLHE: Jeffrey Cole ($13,277 (255 entries)
• $400 NLHE Ultra DS PKO: no info
• $777 NLHE Lucky 7s: Boris Kravets (USA) $30,701 (169 entries)
• $1,500 NLHE: Andrew Voor (USA) $20,507 (133 entries)
• $1K NLHE Championship: Cherish Andrews (USA) $31,986 (129 entries)

The third event of the six showed no results on the WSOP website or on Hendon Mob. And the results have since disappeared from the WSOP online poker client, so there is no way to know if the event actually happened.

Autumn for MI

The same series happened in Michigan as well, with these results.

• $500 NLHE Monster Stack: Michael Hepworth (USA) $18,205 (174 entries)
• $365 NLHE: George Janssen (USA) $12,963 (247 entries)
• $400 NLHE Ultra DS PKO: no info
• $777 NLHE Lucky 7s: Thomas Metz (USA) $26,389 (153 entries)
• $1,500 NLHE: Andrew Korby (USA) $17,786 (170 entries)
• $1K NLHE Championship: Jonathan Schiller (USA) $31,490 (142 entries)

Again, it is unclear if the third event even ran, as there is no information on Hendon Mob or the WSOP website regarding results.

And that's all she wrote! The final two events of the 2022 WSOP Online concluded last night to wrap up another successful online bracelet series!

Here is the final recap, presented by your dynamic duo – Lon (@lonmceachern) and Norm (@NormanChad): pic.twitter.com/6E4vUhWYXf

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) October 19, 2022