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2025 WSOP Daily Recap: Ian Johns Grabs Bracelet #3, David “ODB” Baker Eyes Fourth, Carlos Leiva & Allan Le Command Respective FTs
Saturday might have seemed like a slow burn on paper at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP), but behind the scenes, the action kept building. Only one bracelet was handed out, yet five other events continued to gather momentum—each inching closer to a finale, with three of them expected to crown winners on Sunday.
One event that continues to draw heavy interest is Event #37: $1,500 Monster Stack. Known for attracting deep fields and even deeper runs, the event had once again seen a strong wave of Indian participation on Day 1D. Twenty Indian players (from the four starting flights) are now through to Day 2 and will be back in action with their sights set on a deep run.
Event #41: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship served as a reminder that even as poker evolves, the classics still draw their loyalists—and a fair share of legends. The event drew 118 entries, and while that might not match the scale of some No-Limit Hold’em tournaments, the quality of the field spoke for itself.
At the end of it all, it was Ian Johns who stood tall, collecting $282,455 and his third WSOP Limit Hold’em title. For those keeping count, this is also the second time he’s won this particular event—nearly a decade after he first did it in 2016.
Ian Johns captures his 4th WSOP bracelet in Event #41: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship, taking home $282,455! #WSOP2025 pic.twitter.com/sfl73Zchxx
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 15, 2025
The road to the win wasn’t without challenges. Swedish star Viktor Blom had entered the final day with the chip lead and was looking for his first-ever bracelet. For a while, it seemed like he might just make it happen. But once the heads-up match began, Johns took control and held it till the end, not letting Blom gain any momentum. Blom had to settle for second place and a $188,295 payday—a strong finish, but likely a frustrating one for a player of his caliber chasing that elusive first title.
As for Johns, this win adds to an already remarkable WSOP resume. His first bracelet came way back in 2006 in a $3,000 Limit Hold’em event. A decade later, he turned heads by winning not one but two bracelets in 2016, taking down the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E and this same $10K Limit Hold’em Championship.
Now, in 2025, he’s proved once again that his skills haven’t dulled with time. Reflecting on the win, Johns shared that what means the most to him is the satisfaction of proving, year after year, that he can still show up and compete at the highest level.
In an era dominated by flashy high-rollers and rapid-fire turbo formats, Johns’ quiet consistency in the slow-burn grind of Limit Hold’em stands out—and earns respect.
The final starting flight of Event #37: $1,500 Monster Stack lived up to its name. Day 1D saw a massive 3,604 entries pour in, pushing the combined field across all four flights to a record-shattering 9,920 entries—smashing past the 8,703 entries from 2024 and the 8,317 from 2023. The enormous turnout has generated a staggering $13,148,390 prize pool, setting a new benchmark for this fan-favorite WSOP event. By the end of Day 1D’s play, 1,222 players had bagged chips for Day 2.
The final flight of Event #37: $1,500 NLH Monster Stack has bagged for day 2. With the four flights bringing in a player field just under 10k players. The remaining 3217 will be fighting to make it into the money.
Follow the action on the WSOP+! #WSOP2025 pic.twitter.com/nW9cRMuEeE
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 15, 2025
Topping the Day 1D leaderboard was Australia’s Keolin Naidoo, who ended the day with 535,000—just a single 1K chip ahead of Indo-American Chander Jain (534,000). Close behind was Amit Sharma, another Indo-American, with 526,500.
From the Indian contingent, six players made it through Day 1D. Himmat Singh led the group with a healthy 260,000 in chips, followed by Paawan Bansal (99,500), Srinivasa Yarlagadda (85,000), Siddharth Karia (68,500), Dilip Ravindran (59,500), and Anuj Murali, who advanced with 22,000.
With these additions, 20 Indians have now qualified for Day 2. Young Gun Gaurav Sood remains the top Indian stack so far with 429,500.
Indian Chip Counts at the Start of Day 2
Player Chip Counts Qualifying Flight
Gaurav Sood 429,500 Day 1C
Neel Joshi 282,500 Day 1C
Himmat Singh 260,000 Day 1D
Sriharsha Doddapaneni 224,000 Day 1B
Ankit Ahuja 214,000 Day 1A
Laksh Pal Singh 212,000 Day 1C
Sameer Chaturvedi 182,500 Day 1B
Ashish Munot 125,500 Day 1B
Kunal Patni 159,500 Day 1C
Aditya Agarwal 155,000 Day 1B
Nipun Java 116,500 Day 1C
Kartik Ved 116,000 Day 1A
Shardul Parthasarathi 103,500 Day 1C
Paawan Bansal 99,500 Day 1D
Srinivasa Yarlagadda 85,000 Day 1D
Sanat Mehrotra 83,000 Day 1C
Siddharth Karia 68,500 Day 1D
Shiv Lala 63,000 Day 1B
Dilip Ravindran 59,500 Day 1D
Anuj Murali 22,000 Day 1D
Day 2 resumes at 11 AM (local time) on Sunday, June 15, with all survivors converging for the first time. Players are set to play another 10 blind levels, and that structure will carry over into Day 3 as well. The winner is expected to be crowned on Day 4—but with a field this massive, there’s plenty more drama still to come.
As Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller heads into its final chapter, it’s a familiar figure setting the pace. Three-time WSOP bracelet winner David “ODB” Baker will return on Day 4 with the chip lead, holding 13.60 Million as he eyes yet another title in his storied career.
Baker closed out Day 3 in strong form after winning a pivotal pot against Chuanshu Chen in the final stretch of play—one that gave him enough of a boost to end the night on top. Chen, who had been trading the chip lead with Baker for most of the evening, slipped just behind and will return with 12.20 Million.
Also in contention are Carmino Argiero, sitting comfortably with 9.90 Million, and Ron West, who will have some work to do with 4.45 Million. But with stacks still deep and plenty of play left, Day 4 will be anything but predictable.
Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller is down to the final four after Ramana Epparla was unfortunately eliminated in 6th for $114k and Peter Kiem in 5th for $155,498. #WSOP2025 pic.twitter.com/SrLD5YsKdF
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 15, 2025
All four remaining players are now guaranteed a payout of at least $215,095, but they’ll all have their sights set on the top prize of $646,845—and the honor of being crowned champion in one of the most prestigious events for poker’s seasoned crowd. Play resumes at noon on June 15 at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
The action in Event #42: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha didn’t slow down on Day 2, and by the time chips were bagged, one name had broken away from the rest—Carlos Leiva.
Leiva heads into the final day with a commanding 10.23 Million stack, thanks in large part to a dominant run in the closing levels. He first burst the final table bubble by eliminating Ernest Essad in 10th place ($16,070), and then carried that momentum right through to the final seven by knocking out Bradley Anderson (9th for $20,538) and Eric Buchman (8th for $26,562) in quick succession.
Trailing him but well within striking distance is Hooman Nikzad, who closed the day with 7.94 Million. Joshua Palmer rounds out the top three stacks with 6.18 Million.
The remaining four finalists include Florian Ribouchon (4.03 Million), Kyle Rosnes (3.475 Million), Dylan Weisman (3.235 Million), and Brian McKain (2.50 Million).
All eyes will be on Weisman, who’s gunning for a third PLO bracelet—no easy feat in one of poker’s most volatile formats. With deep stacks and experienced players still in contention, there’s plenty of potential for a dramatic finish.
The final day kicks off at 12 PM on Sunday, June 15, at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. Play will resume at Level 28 with blinds at 50,000/100,000 and a 100,000 big blind ante. Each level will last 60 minutes, with a short break every two levels.
Event #43: $1,500 Razz is down to its final nine players, and things couldn’t be tighter at the top. Just a single bet separates chip leader Allan Le (2.35 Million) from Clinton Wolcyn (2.27 Million), setting up a compelling race heading into the final day.
A little further behind but carrying a reputation that speaks for itself is Shaun Deeb (1.62 Million). With six WSOP bracelets, a Player of the Year title, and over $13 Million in live tournament earnings, Deeb is by far the most decorated player left in the field—and you can bet the rest of the table is well aware.
Maxx Coleman (1.415 Million) sits not far off, followed by MengQi Chen (1 Million), Gabriel Ramos (955,000), Jeanne David (785,000), Jackson Spencer (750,000), and Jason Lipiner (620,000), rounding out a table with a mix of experience, ambition, and plenty of potential for surprises.
The nine players will return at 1 PM on Sunday, June 15, at Horseshoe Las Vegas to play down to a winner. Each has already guaranteed themselves a minimum payout of $8,877, but what they’re all eyeing is the $126,363 up top—that, and the chance to walk away with a WSOP bracelet in one of poker’s purest old-school formats.
Another championship event joined the 2025 WSOP mix on Saturday as Event #44: $10,000 Big O Championship got underway, drawing a strong field of 323 entries. After ten levels of five-card Omaha action, Matthew Woodward bagged the overnight chip lead with 422,500—setting the pace among the 126 players who advanced to Day 2.
Breathing down his neck is Andrew Yeh, who closed with 405,000. Just a shade behind him is Nick Schulman (372,500), who’s had no time to rest after taking down his seventh career bracelet just days ago in Event #30: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship. Clearly, Schulman’s momentum hasn’t cooled one bit.
Day 2 resumes at 1 PM on Sunday, June 15, as the remaining field returns to Level 11 with blinds at 1,000/2,500 and a 2,500 big blind ante. Players are in for another 10 levels of 60-minute play, with short breaks every two hours and a longer dinner break scheduled after Level 16.
Day 20: What’s New?
Sunday, June 15, is shaping up to be a big one at the 2025 World Series of Poker, with three bracelet events set to play down to a winner:
- Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller
- Event #42: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha
- Event #43: $1,500 Razz
But while those events promise plenty of action, there’s something else looming large on the schedule: the return of Event #46: $250,000 Super High Roller, kicking off at 12 PM.
Last year’s edition saw 75 entries—a jump from 69 the year before—and ended with India’s Santhosh Suvarna taking home the title and a staggering $5,415,152 payday. Now, Suvarna is back on the radar after his recent win in the $10.5K NLH PKO at the 2025 Wynn Summer Classic on Friday. With that confidence boost fresh under his belt, there’s every reason to believe he could be poised for another deep run.
Two more events will also get underway on Sunday:
- Event #45: $500 SALUTE to Warriors – 10 AM
- Event #47: $2,500 Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better / Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better – 2 PM
Whether you’re following the final tables or keeping an eye on the biggest buy-in event of the summer, Sunday promises to deliver plenty of action and a few headlines worth remembering.
Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP, PokerNews, Hayley Hochstetler, Austin Currington, Trevor Scott & Omar Sader
Stay tuned to PokerGuru for all the latest updates as the 2025 WSOP unfolds!
WSOP 2025: Courtenay Williams Turns Last Minute Entry Into $542K & a Bracelet in the $500 COLOSSUS; India’s Bhargav Kakani Runs Deep (₹10.90 Lakhs)
Event #19: $500 Colossus at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) once again lived up to its reputation as one of the most value-packed tournaments in poker. While this year’s turnout of 16,301 entries didn’t surpass the record set in 2024—when 19,337 players took a shot, and Martin Alcaide claimed the top prize of $501,250—it still delivered a staggering prize pool of $6,664,102 and a first-place payout that eclipsed last year’s. When the dust settled, it was Los Angeles’ Courtenay Williams (cover image – left) standing tall with a $542,540 payday and his first WSOP bracelet.
Courtenay Williams entered the arena and emerged victorious in Event #19: $500 NLH Colossus. Williams receives a first-place prize of $542,540 and his first WSOP gold bracelet after topping a field of 16,301 players. #WSOP2025 pic.twitter.com/FIZbSqq0lB
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 11, 2025
Day 4 began with nine players left in the hunt for the title. Williams, making his debut WSOP cash, started the final table eighth in chips. Early on, he found himself all-in with the weaker hand but managed to stay alive after chip leader Ramaswamy Pyloore opted to fold. That decision proved pivotal. It gave Williams the breathing room he needed, and he didn’t look back.
That early fold stuck with him throughout the final table. When he and Pyloore eventually faced off heads-up, Williams had a feeling his earlier bluff had influenced how Pyloore saw him—and he used that to guide his decisions down the stretch. Pyloore eventually took home $361,690 for his runner-up finish, making this his biggest live score to date and also his first-ever six-figure score.
Even though this was his first WSOP cash, Williams isn’t new to tournament poker. Based in LA, he regularly plays events at local card rooms like Bicycle Casino and Commerce. When he’s not working, he hits the felt for multi-day series across the city.
Interestingly, the Colossus wasn’t even on his schedule. After busting two entries, he was ready to call it quits for the event. It took some convincing from his friends to give it one more try—and that last-minute bullet ended up being the one that counted.
Williams said his ability to tune out reputations helped him stay grounded. He doesn’t get caught up in Hendon Mob stats or player profiles, and that helped him focus without getting psyched out by names or past results.
Outside of poker, Williams works in the television industry, which has faced some instability recently. The six-figure win, he said, brings a huge sense of relief and couldn’t have come at a better time.
As for which meant more—the bracelet or the money—Williams called it a tie. Both felt huge in different ways, and in that moment, he wasn’t picking favorites.
The Colossus has always been about giving everyday players a shot at poker glory, and while this year didn’t break the attendance record, it did produce one of its most rewarding runs. For Courtenay Williams, what started as a final-chance entry turned into the kind of story players dream about: a single $500 buy-in turning into a life-changing win and a place in WSOP history.
17 Indians Cash in the Colossus; Bhargav Kakani Takes the Lead With a ₹10.90 Lakhs Finish
The Colossus brought in tens of thousands of hopefuls chasing a life-changing score—and among them were 17 Indian contenders who managed to convert their entries into payouts. Headlining the group was Bhargav Kakani (cover image – right), who put up a strong performance and finished in 46th place, pocketing $12,740 (~₹10.90 Lakhs).
No stranger to the WSOP grind, Kakani has been putting in serious volume this summer. With four cashes already on the board, he’s made his presence felt across a variety of formats. He opened his series with a min-cash in Event #1: $1,000 Mystery Millions, then followed it up with a deeper run in Event #12: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw. His third cash came in Event #21: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, and this latest finish in the Colossus pushes his total series earnings to $23,489 (~₹20.08 Lakhs).
Another familiar face in the mix was Paawan Bansal, best known for his near-win in the 2018 WSOP Event #75: The Closer. He added a second cash to his 2025 tally by finishing 155th in the Colossus for $4,520 (~₹3.87 Lakhs), having already banked a payout in the $1,000 Mystery Millions earlier in the series. Combined, his series winnings now stand at $6,499 (~₹5.56 Lakhs).
A string of other Indian pros and regulars also found success in this massive-field event. Somasekhar Sanampuri (357th for $2,610; ~₹2.24 Lakhs), Manish Bhargava (563rd for $1,860; ~₹1.59 Lakhs), Japneet Chawla (1,308th for $1,160; ~₹99,000), Young Gun Gaurav Sood (1,485th for $1,090; ~₹93,000), Young Gun Shardul Parthasarathi (1,823rd for $1,010; ~₹87,000), and Sameer Chaturvedi (1,872nd for $1,010; ~₹87,000) all put up solid finishes.
The remaining nine Indian players who cashed in the Colossus were Zarvan Tumboli (339th for $2,960; ~₹2.54 Lakhs), Anshul Raj (693rd for $1,540; ~₹1.32 Lakhs), Bharath Kumar (773rd for $1,420; ~₹1.22 Lakhs), WSOP bracelet winner Kartik Ved (1,051st for $1,230; ~₹1.05 Lakhs), Sudhakar Janne (1,193rd for $1,160; ~₹99,000), Laksh Pal Singh (1,607th for $1,090; ~₹93,000), Young Gun Siddharth Karia (1,723rd for $1,010; ~₹87,000), Suyash Singh (1,761st for $1,010; ~₹87,000), and Sandeep Nene (1,803rd for $1,010; ~₹87,000). For all of them, this was their first cash of the 2025 series—a promising sign with weeks of action still to go.
Event Highlights
When Day 3 of the Colossus got underway, the once-massive field of over 16,000 entries had been cut down to just 103 contenders still chasing the bracelet and the top prize. With 2,326 players making it into the money, the event had already rewarded a long list of players—including some big names in the game.
Three-time bracelet winner David Pham was among the standouts, making a deep run before bowing out in 13th place for $36,380. Hong Kong’s Lok Chan also cracked the top 25, walking away with $23,440 for 22nd place. Jeff Madsen, another well-known name on the WSOP circuit and a four-time bracelet winner, cashed in 137th place for $4,520, while Brett Shaffer added $3,380 to his series tally by finishing 275th.
As the final table neared, tensions rose—and the last hand of the day delivered a dramatic finish. Bobby Poe, who had held strong through much of Day 3, was eliminated in 11th place in a double knockout that also sent Agustin Mendez out in 10th. Both players earned $45,770 for their deep runs, but neither got the chance to play under the final table lights.
Final Table Chip Counts
- Ramaswamy Pyloore – 224,700,000
- Sigrid Dencker – 101,300,000
- Kaiwen Wei – 90,000,000
- Jason Blodgett – 82,000,000
- Justin Gutierrez – 74,400,000
- Antonio Trocoli Filho – 61,000,000
- Matt Glantz – 60,900,000
- Courtenay Williams – 60,600,000
- Ryan Leng – 60,400,000
Final Table Recap
The action wasted no time heating up at the Colossus final table, and it was Courtenay Williams who found himself right in the thick of it early on. After three-betting against Ramaswamy Pyloore’s , both players saw a flop that gave Williams second pair and Pyloore top pair. Williams moved all in—and somehow, Pyloore found the fold. That decision kept Williams alive and kicked off a chaotic finale.
WOW! Courtenay Williams dodges a bullet at the @WSOP Colossus final table.
Streaming now on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG. pic.twitter.com/HKnzE5FrO2
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 10, 2025
Justin Gutierrez had entered the final table with plenty of energy, mixing it up in the early going. But after losing a race to Matt Glantz, he was left clinging to a short stack.
COLOSSAL flip at the @WSOP Colossus final table between Matt Glantz and Justin Gutierrez.
Watch now on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG. pic.twitter.com/rW1bNoOLxu
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 10, 2025
His final hand saw Williams open with , Pyloore come over the top with , and Gutierrez jam with . The tens were live, but not enough—Pyloore’s kings stood tall, sending Gutierrez out in ninth place.
Will this be the first elimination at the @WSOP Colossus final table? Justin Gutierrez all in and at risk with TT against chip leader Ravi Pyloore’s KK.
Streaming now on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG. pic.twitter.com/2MhwYBOnQQ
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 10, 2025
Not long after, Ryan Leng—eyeing bracelet number four—clashed with UFC fighter Antonio Trocoli Filho in a pivotal all-in. Leng held against Filho’s , and when the board fell his way, Leng leapfrogged into third while Filho slipped near the bottom.
Ryan Leng finds a miracle on the flop to deliver a blow to Antonio Trocoili at the @WSOP Colossus final table.
Watch now on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG. pic.twitter.com/5Z08KoZRqU
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 10, 2025
The next elimination came shortly after. Sigrid Dencker, the lone woman at the final table, moved in with over an open from Kaiwen Wei. Wei made the call with , and the sevens held, ending Dencker’s run in eighth.
Pocket sevens, pocket fours, and everything on the line at the @WSOP Colossus final table.
Tune in now to watch on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG. pic.twitter.com/VDGQhBwqRZ
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 10, 2025
Ryan Leng‘s momentum didn’t last long. He soon found himself all in with , only to run into Wei’s . The board offered no lifeline, and Leng had to settle for a seventh-place finish as Wei continued building his stack.
Ryan Leng can’t hit and is out in seventh from the @WSOP Colossus for $94,760.
Streaming now on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG. pic.twitter.com/V05llplwUx
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 10, 2025
Antonio Trocoli Filho’s final stand came shortly after. He shoved his remaining chips with from the hijack, only to be snap-called by Pyloore’s in the big blind. A flurry of draws appeared on the flop, but none of them landed, sending the UFC fighter out in sixth.
Ravi Pyloore delivers the knockout blow to MMA fighter Antonio Trocoli in the @WSOP Colossus. Trocoli’s run ends in sixth place for $122,330.
Watch now on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG. pic.twitter.com/QMZFjCMnMC
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 10, 2025
Jason Blodgett, who had earlier joked about laddering up to his rail, hit his ceiling in fifth place. He shoved with and ran smack into Pyloore’s . Despite outs to a wheel, the board didn’t cooperate, and his deep run came to an end.
Jason Blodgett out in fifth from the @WSOP Colossus.
Streaming now on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG. pic.twitter.com/wtWmVvgpsK
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 10, 2025
Kaiwen Wei’s hot streak fizzled out in fourth. After Glantz opened, Wei pushed all-in with , and Glantz looked him up with . A queen hit the board, enough to send Wei to the rail and move Glantz up the leaderboard.
Kaiwen Wei gets out-flopped and ousted to the rail by Matt Glantz, falling fourth in the @WSOP Colossus.
Tune in now to https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG to watch. pic.twitter.com/fEaJKz04Gi
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 10, 2025
Three-handed play opened with Pyloore leading, Matt Glantz close behind, and Williams in third. But the stacks soon evened up after Williams called a shove from Pyloore holding ace-three—and a three on the flop gave him the pot to stay in contention.
Then came the hand that ended Glantz’s hunt for a first bracelet. He got it in with against Williams’ , and looked good through the board. But the on the river crushed his hopes, knocking him out in third.
Big hands clash three-handed at the @WSOP Colossus final table! Courtenay Williams’ AQ against Matt Glantz’s 99.
Live now on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG. pic.twitter.com/wmoqpl1lxy
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 10, 2025
Heads-up play began with Courtenay Williams holding a hefty 550 Million to Ramaswamy Pyloore’s 266 Million, but the two exchanged pots regularly. Each gained the upper hand at various points as momentum shifted in both directions.
Then came the hand that changed everything. Williams shoved with , and Pyloore called with , holding two pair—nines and eights. But kings and nines got the job done for Williams, and Pyloore was left with crumbs.
King for the COLOSSAL double! pic.twitter.com/qO74LgJzOi
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 11, 2025
The final hand came just moments later. Pyloore, down to 12 Million, moved all in with . Williams called with , and the flop——delivered a set. The on the turn sealed Pyloore’s fate. The on the river was just a formality. The two players shook hands as Pyloore joined his rail to reflect on a hard-fought runner-up finish.
It’s all over! Courtenay Williams wins the 2025 @WSOP Colossus for $542,540. Williams tops a field of 16,301 entries for his first gold bracelet. pic.twitter.com/0hhckkspcT
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 11, 2025
Final Table Results (USD)
- Courtenay Williams – $542,540
- Ramaswamy Pyloore – $361,690
- Matt Glantz – $273,260
- Kaiwen Wei – $207,740
- Jason Blodgett – $158,910
- Antonio Trocoli Filho – $122,330
- Ryan Leng – $94,760
- Sigrid Dencker – $73,880
- Justin Gutierrez – $57,970
Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP, PokerNews, Alicia Skillman & Luther Redd
Stay tuned to PokerGuru for all the latest updates as the 2025 WSOP unfolds!
2025 WSOP Daily Recap: Luo and Guagenti Pick Up Third Bracelets; Doddapaneni Scores ₹53 Lakhs in $25K High Roller, Kakani Deep in $500 COLOSSUS
Day 13 at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) had everything: big wins, record-breaking fields, and a brief moment of real-world chaos. Just across the street from the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, where the series is in full swing, panic broke out following reports of gunfire. The incident—allegedly sparked by a confrontation between rival YouTubers—was swiftly contained, but not before rattling players and fans alike. Inside the WSOP venue, though, the action carried on, undeterred.
And in a format built for mayhem, it was Xixiang Luo who held steady. The Chinese pro rose to the top in Event #24: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot, defeating Robert Klein heads-up to win $290,400 and lock up his third career bracelet. Klein banked $193,517 in a hard-fought second-place finish.
This was the debut run for the Bomb Pot format, and it turned into a hit. With no preflop action and every hand starting with a flop across two boards, players were forced into high-speed decision-making—and the 1,452-entry field loved every second of it. The event built a prize pool of $1,927,530. India’s Shariq Khan, now based in Canada, made his second cash of the summer here, placing 65th for $4,448 (~₹3.82 Lakhs), pushing his total series earnings to $6,798 (~₹5.83 Lakhs).
Meanwhile, Event #25: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship delivered a final table full of storylines. Mike Matusow was gunning to break a 12-year drought. Dan Heimiller had a shot at his second Stud title in just weeks. Chino Rheem was quietly chasing a rare Triple Crown—needing only this win to join an elite group of ten.
But the one who got there was Nick Guagenti. The Ohio native walked away with his third WSOP bracelet and his largest live cash to date—$295,008. Guagenti now has WSOP wins in No-Limit Hold’em, Limit Hold’em, and Seven Card Stud, a rare display of versatility. His career live earnings are now just under $3 Million.
The final test came in the form of a nearly five-hour heads-up match against Rheem. It wasn’t just long—it was intense. Rheem, chasing poker history, finished runner-up for $196,662. This was his third second-place WSOP finish and his 13th final table appearance across both live and online bracelet events.
In Event #19: $500 COLOSSUS, Day 2 was as hectic as expected. The field, originally 16,301 strong, was trimmed down to just 103 by night’s end. Leading the charge was Carlos Caldas—a Portuguese-American from NYC—who bagged 31.375 Million after an explosive run in the final levels. He started the day with just over 3 Million.
He wasn’t the only one surging late. Ten players crossed the 10 Million mark, no small feat in a sea of over 16K. With $542,540 up top and a prize pool of $6,644,102, the pressure will only climb as we head into Day 3.
From the Indian contingent, Bhargav Kakani is the lone player moving forward. He bagged a strong 9.10 Million stack, giving him real momentum heading into the next phase. The rest of the 16 Indian challengers who started Day 2 posted deep finishes but came up short of Day 3.
Here’s how the rest of the Indian contingent fared:
- Paawan Bansal – 155th for $4,520 (~₹3.87 Lakhs)
- Zarvan Tumboli – 339th for $2,960 (~₹2.54 Lakhs)
- Somasekhar Sanampuri – 357th for $2,610 (~₹2.24 Lakhs)
- Manish Bhargava – 563rd for $1,860 (~₹1.59 Lakhs)
- Anshul Raj – 693rd for $1,540 (~₹1.32 Lakhs)
- Bharath Kumar – 773rd for $1,420 (~₹1.22 Lakhs)
- Kartik Ved – 1,051st for $1,230 (~₹1.05 Lakhs)
- Sudhakar Janne – 1,193rd for $1,160 (~₹99,000)
- Japneet Chawla – 1,308th for $1,160 (~₹99,000)
- Gaurav Sood – 1,485th for $1,090 (~₹93,000)
- Laksh Singh – 1,607th for $1,090 (~₹93,000)
- Siddharth Karia – 1,723rd for $1,010 (~₹87,000)
- Suyash Singh – 1,761st for $1,010 (~₹87,000)
- Sandeep Nene – 1,803rd for $1,010 (~₹87,000)
- Shardul Parthasarathi – 1,823rd for $1,010 (~₹87,000)
- Sameer Chaturvedi – 1,872nd for $1,010 (~₹87,000)
Play resumes Monday, June 9, at 11 AM (local time) at the Horseshoe Event Center (Gold), and Kakani will have all of India rooting for him.
Also barreling toward its conclusion is Event #26: $25,000 High Roller 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em. After a big Day 2 field of 392 entries, only 18 players are still in the hunt for the bracelet and the $1,949,044 first-place prize. Russia’s Anatoly Nikitin bagged the chip lead with 5.55 Million—clearing the field by over half a million.
For Team India, Sriharsha Doddapaneni delivered a breakout performance. He entered the day with just 209,000 chips and turned that into a 31st-place finish worth $61,882 (~₹53 Lakhs). It’s his first cash of the summer and the best Indian result at the 2025 WSOP so far, overtaking Santhosh Suvarna’s earlier min-cash in Event #22: $25K 6-Handed High Roller.
Day 3 resumes Monday at noon, and with blinds at 50K/100K and nearly $2 Million up top, expect fireworks.
Over in Event #27: $1,500 Big O, 207 players returned for Day 2 from a starting field of 1,499 entries. After several levels of high-stakes action, only 17 remain. Kevin Ho bagged the overnight chip lead with 6.48 Million. The top two finishers in this event will take home over $1.2 Million, and the remaining players are all guaranteed at least $73,639. Play resumes at 12 PM on June 9, with Level 26 (30K/60K blinds) kicking things off.
Event #28: $600 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em / Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack also played down to 115 survivors from a field of 2,775. Easton Oreman leads the way with 3.02 Million chips. India’s Japneet Chawla made a money finish here, collecting $1,200 (~₹1.03 Lakhs) for 332nd place. He was the only Indian player to cash in this event. Action resumes at 11 AM on June 9 at Level 23 (blinds 15K/30K and a 30K big blind ante). The plan is to play down to a winner.
Event #29: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em closed Day 1 with 1,493 entries and a $3.32 Million prize pool. Just 225 players remain—one short of the money—with hand-for-hand play set to begin right away on Day 2. Sheldon Gross leads the pack with 761,000 chips.
From the Indian rail, Natural8 India’s Executive Director and Brand Ambassador, Kunal Patni led the pack with an impressive 381,000-chip stack—well above the average and putting him in a solid position heading into the money phase. He’ll be joined by Young Gun Shardul Parthasarathi (160,000) and Young Gun Sanat Mehrotra (124,000, both looking to spin up their stacks as the field narrows. Fellow Indians Ankit Ahuja, Ashish Munot, and Young Gun Neel Joshi were also in action, but couldn’t make it through to the next stage.
Specialist events always bring out the sharpest minds in poker—and Event #30: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship was no exception. Day 1 drew 179 entries, including re-entries, and 79 players bagged up chips by night’s end. But the numbers aren’t final yet—late registration remains open through the first level on Day 2, and with two re-entries allowed, expect the field to grow even further before the prize pool is locked in.
At the top of the Day 1 chip counts is none other than six-time bracelet winner Nick Schulman, who ended the night with 322,500 chips. A longtime crusher in mixed games and a 2-7 Lowball veteran, Schulman is no stranger to deep runs in this format and will return on Monday eyeing another big finish.
Over the course of ten 60-minute levels, the tournament attracted 189 total entries, already surpassing last year’s turnout. The surviving 79 will return to the felt on Monday, June 9 at 1 PM to resume play in Level 11, with blinds at 1,500/3,000 and a 4,500 ante.
Day 14: What’s New?
As the 2025 WSOP rolls into Day 14, players are gearing up for another packed schedule with three fresh events on tap—and something for just about every type of grinder. While three events – Event #19: $500 COLOSSUS, Event #27: $1,500 Big O & Event #28: $600 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack – are expected to crown champions, three new events will also set sail on Monday.
Kicking things off bright and early is Event #31: $800 No-Limit Hold’em DeepStack, which gets underway at 10 AM. With organizers expecting north of 4,700 entries, the halls of the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas are set to be buzzing from the start. These large-field, value-packed events have become a fan favorite, especially for recreational players and mid-stakes regulars looking for a serious payday.
By 12 PM, the spotlight shifts to the high-stakes crowd with Event #32: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em (8-Handed). These elite-level shootouts always attract the game’s biggest names, from seasoned pros to international crushers, all vying for a shot at one of the most prestigious titles on the WSOP calendar.
Rounding out the trio is Event #33: $1,500 Limit Hold’em (8-Handed), which begins at 2 PM. A nod to poker’s roots, this one will draw a field of seasoned limit grinders and mixed-game regulars, ready to battle it out in a format that rewards patience, precision, and deep technical know-how.
With a full slate of events spanning the spectrum—from massive field donkaments to nosebleed-level duels—Day 14 has all the makings of another high-energy chapter in this summer’s series.
Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP, PokerNews, Regina Cortina, Austin Currington, Hayley Hochstetler & Rachel Kay Winter
Stay tuned to PokerGuru for all the latest updates as the 2025 WSOP unfolds!
2025 WSOP Daily Recap: Zerjav & Dourado Win Maiden Bracelets; Doddapaneni Advances to Day 2 in $25K High Roller; Bansal Among 17 Indians in COLOSSUS
Day 12 at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was a day of profound narrative shifts. While the Friday frenzy gave way to a more focused weekend rhythm, the stories that unfolded were rich with drama and significance. Two players broke through for career-defining victories, claiming their first bracelets. At the same time, the pressure cookers in five other events were turned up, each speeding toward exciting conclusions and laying the groundwork for an explosive Sunday. Here’s the full lowdown:
Blaz Zerjav, a name whispered with reverence online, announced his arrival on the live scene in the most emphatic way possible. He masterfully navigated an elite 336-strong minefield packed with the game’s most feared pros in Event #22: $25,000 6-Handed High Roller. For his efforts, he captured his maiden WSOP gold bracelet and a jaw-dropping $1,734,717—the largest single prize awarded at this year’s festival. His final challenge was a heads-up duel with British poker powerhouse Chris Moorman. Moorman, starting with a formidable 3.6-to-1 chip advantage, looked all but certain to capture his third bracelet. But Zerjav mounted a relentless and fearless comeback to snatch the title, leaving Moorman to collect a handsome but bittersweet $1,131,200 consolation prize.
Blaz Zerjav 🇸🇮(@Scarmak3r) has outlasted a field of 272 players in Event #22: $25,000 High Roller 6-Handed, taking down his first ever WSOP bracelet, and $1,734,717! 🏆♠️ #WSOP2025 pic.twitter.com/xR3LbsYHUc
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 8, 2025
The event also saw India’s high-roller extraordinaire, Santhosh Suvarna, find his groove after a rough start at the series! He battled to a 48th-place finish, min-cashing for $50,299 (~₹43.15 Lakhs)! It was a crucial first cash of the 2025 festival for the two-time bracelet winner and, by far, the biggest by an Indian so far this year.
For two long years, Aloisio Dourado has carried the memory of a heart-wrenching second-place finish. In 2023, he was heads-up and chip-leading for a bracelet in $1,500 Eight Game Mix, only to have victory cruelly snatched away when Shaun Deeb caught running cards to crack Dourado’s pocket queens. On Saturday, the Brazilian found himself back in the same spot, and this time, he refused to be denied. He was heads-up with the chip lead in Event #23: $1,500 Badugi, a tournament that drew a record 534 entries, making it the largest Badugi event in WSOP history. Playing with the focus and determination of a man hell-bent on rewriting his story, Dourado flawlessly closed out the match against Dominick Sarle. The emotional release was visible as he finally snagged his first WSOP gold bracelet and the $138,114 top prize. Sarle earned $92,058 for his strong runner-up finish.
From Brazil to Badugi glory! 🇧🇷🥇
Aloisio Dourado locks up his first WSOP bracelet in Event #23: $1,500 Badugi and bags $138,114!
What a run, what a smile, what a win 😄💰 Emotions like this only happen at WSOP! #WSOP2025 pic.twitter.com/4FQYL44AYm
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 8, 2025
The action in Event #24: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot was as chaotic and unpredictable as advertised. Making its WSOP debut, this unique format, where every player posts an ante before the deal and sees a flop, created a minefield of multi-way, bloated pots. After a wild Day 2, the field of 1,452 has been culled to just 13 hopefuls. In an incredible display of consistency, China’s Xixiang Luo, who won this very event in its inaugural run last year, is in pole position for an unprecedented back-to-back victory, bagging the chip lead with 5.63 Million. He’s not running away with it, however, as Day 1 chip leader Samuel Stranak is just a hair behind with 5.57 Million. The top of the leaderboard is tightly packed, with Brian Smith (5.195 Million), Ian Matakis (3.47 Million), and Robert Klein (3.15 Million) all within striking distance, promising a volatile and thrilling race to the finish.
India’s Shariq Khan, who now resides in Canada, entered Day 2 with a modest stack of 177,000 but battled hard to finish 65th for $4,448 (~₹3.82 Lakhs)—his second cash of the festival. This result takes his total series earnings to $6,798 (~₹5.83 Lakhs).
Day 2 of the prestigious Event #25: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship was a gruelling test of endurance and old-school poker prowess, whittling the field of 127 entries (up from 104 last year) to the final nine. The day stretched late into the night, culminating in a nail-biting, 37-hand bubble that finally burst around 1:30 AM, setting one of the most compelling final tables of the series.
The enigmatic and always-dangerous Chino Rheem, a player with a legendary resume full of deep runs but conspicuously missing a WSOP bracelet, bagged the chip lead with 1.351 Million. He’ll have to navigate a lineup of sharks, including China’s Qiang Xu (1.275 Million), who is fresh off a 2023 bracelet win, and Adam Friedman (1.038 Million), the 2022 champion of this very event, who is looking to add an incredible sixth bracelet to his collection. As if that weren’t enough, the final table also features the unmistakable personality of poker boom icon Mike “The Mouth” Matusow (999,000), three-time bracelet winner Dan Heimiller (996,000), and Poker Hall of Famer Mori Eskandani (338,000). Rounding out the field are Paul Volpe (684,000), Nick Guagenti (435,000), and Dave Rogers (512,000).
The stakes were astronomical in Event #26: $25,000 High Roller 8-Handed No-Limit Hold ’em, which attracted a field of 300 of the world’s best and generated a prize pool that has already climbed over $7 Million. After a full day of play, Fahredin Mustafov, another highly accomplished pro with over $7 Million in earnings still hunting for his first bracelet, emerged with the Day 1 chip lead, bagging 1.36 Million chips. The chase pack is lethal. Hot on his heels are Cherish Andrews (1.14 Million), the 2022 GPI Female Player of the Year, and two-time bracelet winner David Peters (1.137 Million).
Santhosh Suvarna, coming off a min-cash in Event #22: $25K 6-Handed High Roller, saw his run ending before the bags came out, leaving Sriharsha Doddapaneni as the sole Indian heading to Day 2. However, the Bengaluru-based pro has his work cut out for him with a short stack of 209,000 chips (21 BBs).
The complex game of Event #27: $1,500 Big O drew a massive and knowledgeable field of 1,499 entrants, all looking to prove their mixed-game chops. After 15 levels of splits, scoops, and intricate board reading, only 207 players remain. Michael Rodgers finished the day with the biggest stack, bagging 654,000 chips to lead the field into Day 2. He’s followed closely by Stephen Hubbard (575,000) and Joshua Thatcher (537,000). The continued presence of elite players like Justin Liberto (495,000), who is seeking his second bracelet a decade after winning his first in 6-Max NLHE, high in the counts underscores a growing trend in the poker world: top-tier No-Limit Hold’em specialists are dedicating serious time to mastering the Omaha variants, raising the level of competition across the board. India’s Ankit Ahuja gave it a shot but was eliminated before the end of play.
The behemoth of the schedule, Event #19: $500 COLOSSUS, lived up to its name in spectacular fashion. The final starting flight, Day 1D, saw a jaw-dropping 5,933 entries, pushing the total field to a record-demolishing 16,301 participants. The 2,326 players who survived their respective starting days are now all in the money and will converge for Day 2.
Stephanie Alderman (1.602 Million) topped the Day 1D chip counts, followed by Arash Ghaneian (1.466 Million), Christopher Bowen (1.427 Million), Shaun Deeb (1.422 Million), and Francisco Lopez (1.286 Million). Meanwhile, Day 1C chip leader Rafael Camno (1.733 Million) holds the overall chip lead heading into Day 2.
The Indian poker community will be a significant force in this massive field, with a strong contingent of 17 players carrying the flag forward. Paawan Bansal had a monster Day 1D, finishing with a commanding stack of 814,000. Barath Kumar (435,000), Sudhakar Janne (314,000), Suyash Singh (176,000), and PokerBaazi Team Pro Zarvan Tumboli (134,000) also made the cut.
They join a formidable group of compatriots on Day 2 that includes bracelet winner Kartik Ved, who bagged one of the largest stacks from Day 1C (1.186 Million), Bhargav Kakani (857,000), Anshul Raj (551,000), Siddharth Karia (475,000), Somasekhar Sanampuri (444,000), Young Gun Shardul Parthasarathi (391,000), Manish Bhargava (356,000), Japneet Chawla (300,000), PokerBaazi Team Pro Laksh Pal Singh (228,000), Sandeep Nene (185,000), all-time online money list topper, Young Gun Gaurav Sood (131,500), and Sameer Chaturvedi (68,000), making a total of 17 Indian players advancing to Day 2, all guaranteed a payout.
Day 13: What’s happening?
Day 13 at the 2025 WSOP is shaping up to be a blockbuster, with two events—Event #24 and Event #25—set to play down to a champion, while three other tournaments resume with Day 2 action. Plus, three fresh events are set to kick off, making it a jam-packed day.
The final 13 players in Event #24: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot return to the Horseshoe at noon (local time), with action resuming at Level 26 (60K ante per player). Levels will continue at 60 minutes each until a winner is crowned. All players are guaranteed at least $14,748, but one will walk away with the coveted bracelet and the $290,400 top prize.
In Event #25: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship, play resumes at 1 PM (local time) with blinds at 25K/50K (5K ante) in Level 19 and an average stack of 850K—around 17 big bets in this deep limit structure. Levels will last 90 minutes until a champion is crowned. All nine players are assured at least $27,528, but the winner will take home $295,008 and the prestigious gold bracelet.
Day 2 of Event #19: $500 COLOSSUS resumes at 11 AM (local time), starting with Level 18 (6K/12K blinds and a 12K big blind ante). Players will grind through 15 one-hour levels before bagging up for Day 3.
Players who missed Day 1 of the Event #26: $25,000 High Roller 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em can still jump in during the first level of Day 2, which kicks off at noon (local time). Play starts at Level 9 (5K/10K with a 10K big blind ante) and will feature ten 60-minute levels. There will be 15-minute breaks every two levels, plus a dinner break after Level 14 around 6:30 PM.
The 207 remaining players of Event #27: $1,500 Big O return at noon (local time) for Day 2, starting at Level 16 (3K/6K blinds with a 6K big blind ante). Ten one-hour levels are on tap, with a dinner break scheduled after Level 21 at approximately 7:30 PM.
And if that wasn’t enough, Sunday will also bring three fresh bracelet events to the floor, each offering its own unique challenge.
First up is Event #28: $600 Mixed NLH/PLO Deepstack, a crowd-pleasing format that tests players’ versatility by rotating between No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha. Cards go in the air at 10 AM (local time), with the deepstack structure promising plenty of action and opportunities for creative play. Players can expect to navigate 15 levels or until 15% of the field remains, with late registration open through the first six 40-minute levels.
Next, at noon (local time), is Event #29: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em, a mid-stakes staple that consistently attracts a mix of seasoned pros and up-and-coming talent. With deep structures and plenty of room for manoeuvring, this event is sure to deliver high-level poker and fierce competition as players battle for another prestigious WSOP bracelet.
Later in the afternoon, at 4 PM (local time), comes the highly anticipated Event #30: $10,000 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship, a crown jewel for the lowball faithful. This single-draw event always attracts the game’s best, with the skill-heavy format offering one of the most challenging bracelets on the schedule. Expect a small but elite field as seasoned pros and mixed-game specialists square off for big money and serious bragging rights.
With two bracelets on the line, high-stakes battles brewing, and fresh tournaments joining the fray, Day 13 promises to keep the non-stop action and unforgettable storylines rolling at the grandest WSOP stop ever in Las Vegas.
Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP, PokerNews, Austin Currington, and So Much Poker.
Stay tuned to PokerGuru for all the latest updates as the 2025 WSOP unfolds!
