Highlights from the WSOP Day 9

Day 8 of the 2025 World Series of Poker proved once again why the WSOP remains poker’s most captivating stage. With three new bracelet winners crowned, legendary battles reaching their climax, and tomorrow’s lineup promising even more excitement, the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas delivered non-stop action that had fans on the edge of their seats.

Friendly Fire: Bambrick Bests Negreanu for Bracelet #2

 The headline story of Day 8 belonged to Ryan Bambrick, who earned one of the biggest wins of his career by defeating Daniel Negreanu heads-up in the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Championship. While the matchup brought extra attention due to a past online hand between the two that once made YouTube rounds, this time it was Bambrick who had the last laugh, capturing his second WSOP bracelet and the $470,437 top prize.

The final table began with Viktor Blom holding the chip lead, setting up what many expected to be an epic showdown among poker legends. Blom, still chasing his first WSOP bracelet despite years of online dominance as “Isildur1,” looked poised for a breakthrough. But Bambrick seized momentum early and never let go.

Negreanu, aiming for his eighth bracelet, battled his way to heads-up play but entered at a significant chip disadvantage. Despite a spirited comeback attempt, the seven-time champion couldn’t overcome Bambrick’s steady play. Blom ultimately exited in fourth place ($152,315), while Negreanu took home $313,615 for second.

For Bambrick, the win marks his biggest career score and a triumphant return to the winner’s circle after his first bracelet in 2018’s $1,500 PLO event. With some friendly history behind them, the final duel made for compelling, good-natured drama on poker’s biggest stage.

A Father’s Golden Moment: The Fox Family Legacy

In perhaps the most heartwarming story of the day, Yosef Fox authored a stunning victory in the $10,000 Mystery Bounty event, creating a beautiful full-circle moment for his family. Six years after watching his son Jordan Fox win a WSOP bracelet in 2019, the 58-year-old Wisconsin resident found himself in the winner’s circle.

Fox’s triumph was as dramatic as it was lucrative. Beyond the $729,333 main prize, Fox collected a staggering $335,000 in bounties, including the tournament’s massive $250,000 top bounty. His total haul of $1,064,333 represents by far the largest score of his poker career, dwarfing his previous best of $46,890 from a 100th-place main event finish in 2015.

The climactic moment came when Fox’s pocket jacks cracked Patrick Kennedy‘s pocket kings to eliminate him in fifth place, immediately followed by Fox drawing the quarter-million-dollar bounty. In the final hand, Fox’s jacks held against Alejandro Peinado‘s A♦2♦ to seal the victory, with Jordan cheering from the rail just as his father had done six years earlier.

“I’m very blessed,” Fox said afterward, embodying the spirit that makes the WSOP special – where dreams can come true at any age.

The Mixed-Game Master: Ruben’s Remarkable Run Continues

Brad Ruben further cemented his status as one of poker’s premier mixed-game specialists by capturing his fifth WSOP bracelet in just five years, taking down the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw Lowball event. The 39-year-old Florida resident’s victory earned him $138,080 and places him among just 43 players in poker history to win five or more bracelets.

Ruben’s heads-up victory over Han Liu was particularly impressive considering Liu had led the event going into the final day. The decisive moment came in a massive four-bet pot where Ruben held pat with 8-6-5-3-2 while Liu was making a move with 10-6-6-5-3, creating a 15:1 chip disparity that effectively sealed the outcome.

Beyond the poker accomplishment, Ruben used his victory platform to advocate for mental health awareness, noting his lucky sweater’s significance as a symbol of the cause. His remarkable bracelet collection spans multiple variants – online PLO, razz, dealer’s choice, and now 2-7 lowball – showcasing his extraordinary mixed-game prowess.

The Bubble That Made All the Difference

Sometimes in poker, a single chip can change everything. Cherish Andrews learned this lesson in the most dramatic fashion possible during the bubble phase of a major event. When confusion arose about the big blind ante amount (corrected from 40K to 35K), Andrews found herself with just a single 5K chip – the very chip that might not have existed without the correction.

As a crucial confrontation developed on the stone bubble, Andrews folded her final chip and watched Allan Le bust out, securing her a $50,000 min-cash. It’s a reminder that in tournament poker, every decision and every chip matters, sometimes in ways we never expect.

Stars Aligned for Tomorrow’s Action

Day 9 promises to be equally spectacular, with multiple storylines reaching their climax. Nick Schulman sits in fifth place in the $25,000 High Roller PLO/NLH Mixed event, chasing his seventh WSOP bracelet. Should he succeed, he’ll join an exclusive club that includes legends like Daniel Negreanu, Men “The Master” Nguyen, and Billy Baxter.

Leading that event is Brandon Mitchell with a commanding 7,465,000 chips – nearly as many as second and third place combined. With players like Ben Lamb, Shaun Deeb, and Michael Moncek still in contention, the final day promises fireworks.

Damarjai Davenport, the imposing 6’4″, 300+ pound player, leads the final 11 in the $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em event with 11 million chips. He’s looking to make amends for his runner-up finish in last year’s $10,000 Mystery Bounty, and with Shundan Xiao of China in second place, we could see another international champion crowned.

New Beginnings and Continuing Legends

Three new events join the mix on Day 9, headlined by the massive $500 Colossus event, which drew over 19,000 players last year. The $1,500 Shootout and $1,500 PLO Hi-Lo events round out the new offerings, ensuring there’s action for every type of player and bankroll.

As the 2025 WSOP continues to unfold, Day 8 will be remembered for its perfect blend of personal drama, family legacy, and poker excellence. From Bambrick’s sweet revenge to Fox’s heartwarming triumph to Ruben’s continued mixed-game mastery, the day showcased everything that makes the World Series of Poker the greatest poker festival on Earth.

With legends still chasing glory and new stars emerging daily, the stage is set for even more unforgettable moments as we head deeper into this summer’s championship festival. In poker, as Cherish Andrews learned, every chip counts – and at the WSOP, every day can change everything.