2025 WSOP Day 19 Recap

Ian Johns conquered Viktor “Isildur1” Blom in an epic heads-up battle to win his fourth WSOP bracelet in the $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship, while David “ODB” Baker leads the final four in the Seniors High Roller. Monster Stack smashes records with nearly 10,000 entries, and multiple events set up thrilling Sunday finales.

Day 19 of the 2025 World Series of Poker delivered championship-level drama, record-breaking participation, and the kind of poker moments that remind us why this summer spectacle remains the gold standard of tournament poker. While only one bracelet was awarded on Saturday, the action brewing across multiple events promises an explosive Sunday ahead.

Johns Denies Blom in Limit Hold’em Classic

The headline story of Day 19 belonged to Ian Johns, who captured his fourth WSOP bracelet and second $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship title with a masterful performance that showcased why he’s considered one of the format’s elite practitioners. Johns defeated online legend Viktor “Isildur1” Blom in heads-up play, earning $282,455 and denying Blom his first WSOP bracelet in what marked the Swede’s first runner-up finish at the series.

The victory was particularly sweet for Johns, who previously won this exact event in 2016 alongside an H.O.R.S.E. bracelet that same summer. “The satisfaction of getting it done and knowing that I can come here and be competitive over so many years, just feels really good,” Johns reflected after his win.

The Final Table Drama

What made this championship special wasn’t just the winner, but the journey. A ridiculously stacked final table featured 19 bracelets between eight players, including Daniel Negreanu, Anthony Zinno, and Pedro Neves. The three-handed battle alone stretched over three hours, with the chip lead changing hands multiple times between Johns, Blom, and Zinno.

The decisive moment came when Johns entered heads-up play with a commanding lead and never looked back. In the final hand, Blom moved all-in on the turn with a flush draw against Johns’ top pair, but the river brought no salvation for the online legend. Blom earned $188,295 for his runner-up finish, while Zinno claimed $130,447 for third place.

Baker’s Seniors Surge Continues

Meanwhile, David “ODB” Baker positioned himself perfectly for a fourth WSOP bracelet as he bagged the chip lead heading into the final day of Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller. With 13,600,000 chips (54 big blinds), Baker holds a slight edge over China’s Chuanshu Chen (12,200,000) in what promises to be a thrilling four-handed finale.

Baker’s path to the final four included a crucial late-night pot against Chen that cemented his chip lead position. The three-time bracelet winner (2012, 2019, 2023) has shown remarkable consistency throughout the 2025 WSOP, and Sunday’s final table represents his best chance yet for another piece of gold jewelry.

The Final Four Payouts:

• Winner: $646,845
• Runner-up: $399,818
• Third: $285,721
• Fourth: $215,095

Monster Stack Shatters Records

Event #37: $1,500 Monster Stack lived up to its name in spectacular fashion, with Day 1d attracting a staggering 3,604 entries. Combined across all four starting flights, the event drew 9,920 total entries — obliterating previous records and generating a massive $13,148,390 prize pool.

Australia’s Keolin Naidoo leads the Day 1d survivors with 535,000 chips, just edging out American Chander Jain (534,000). The overall chip leader across all flights remains Christopher Leach from Day 1c with 965,000.

Notable Names Advancing:

• Tom Cannuli (486,000) – former November Niner
• Georgios Sotiropoulos (322,000)
• Dzmitry Urbanovich (312,500)
• Hall of Famers Barbara Enright (105,000) and John Juanda (32,500)

PLO and Razz Set for Sunday Showdowns

Two more events are primed for Sunday conclusions, each featuring compelling storylines and accomplished final tables.

Event #42: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha

Carlos Leiva commands the seven-handed final table with 10,230,000 chips, more than 20% ahead of his nearest challenger Hooman Nikzad (7,940,000). But the story to watch is Dylan Weisman, sitting sixth in chips (3,235,000) as he chases his third PLO bracelet. The American has already captured two PLO titles and would join an elite group with a third victory.

Event #43: $1,500 Razz

The nine-handed Razz final table features a captivating battle between Allan Le (2,350,000) and Clinton Wolcyn (2,270,000), separated by just 80,000 chips. Le, one of poker’s famous Le brothers, seeks his second WSOP bracelet and remarkably his first-ever Razz cash despite the strong showing.

Lurking in third place is the dangerous Shaun Deeb (1,620,000), whose six bracelets and WSOP Player of the Year title make him a constant threat. The presence of accomplished mixed-game specialists throughout the final table ensures Sunday’s conclusion will showcase Razz at its finest.

Big O Championship Launches

Saturday also saw the start of Event #44: $10,000 Big O Championship, which attracted 323 entries for its opening day. Matthew Woodward seized the early advantage with 422,500 chips, but the real story is the depth of talent still in contention.

Nick Schulman, fresh off his seventh bracelet victory just days ago in the $10,000 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship, sits third with 372,500 chips. The field also includes 25K Fantasy favorites Sam Soverel (288,000), Xixiang Luo (277,700), and a host of other accomplished professionals ready to battle for five-card Omaha supremacy.

Looking Ahead: Sunday’s Spectacular Slate

Sunday promises to be one of the most action-packed days of the 2025 WSOP, with multiple events reaching their climactic conclusions:

Guaranteed Finals:

• Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller (4 players remaining)
• Event #42: $1,000 PLO (7 players remaining)
• Event #43: $1,500 Razz (9 players remaining)

Continuing Action:

• Event #37: Monster Stack begins Day 2 with nearly 3,200 survivors
• Event #44: $10,000 Big O Championship continues Day 2

The Numbers Tell the Story

Day 19 showcased the incredible scale and prestige of the modern WSOP:

• Total players across active events: Over 4,000
• Combined prize pools: Exceeding $17 million
• Bracelets at stake: Five events in prime position for Sunday conclusions
• Combined live earnings of final table players: Over $50 million

Bottom Line

Ian Johns’ fourth bracelet victory reminded everyone that consistent excellence never goes out of style, while David “ODB” Baker’s surge toward a fourth title continues one of 2025’s most compelling storylines. With Monster Stack setting new participation records and multiple star-studded final tables ready for Sunday action, Day 19 perfectly encapsulated what makes the World Series of Poker the ultimate proving ground in tournament poker.