Highlights from WSOP Day 12

The 2025 World Series of Poker delivered another action-packed day as Day 12 concluded with several events reaching their final stages. Two more bracelets were awarded over the weekend to Blaz Zerjav and Aloisio Dourado, both capturing their maiden WSOP titles, while multiple high-profile tournaments set up dramatic conclusions for the days ahead.

The Mouth That Roared: Matusow’s Stud Championship Push

The biggest storyline heading into Sunday is Mike “The Mouth” Matusow’s quest for his fifth WSOP bracelet in Event #25: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship. After a 12-year bracelet drought, Matusow sits fourth in chips with 999,000 (20 big bets) among the final nine players.

“I don’t know if you were watching today, I played phenomenal,” Matusow told PokerNews after bagging his Day 2 stack. “I think I’m as good as anybody else.”

Leading the final table is Chino Rheem with 1,351,000 chips (27 big bets), followed by China’s Qiang Xu (1,275,000, 26 big bets). Xu made headlines by eliminating Daniel Negreanu in 11th place, ending the Hall of Famer’s championship hopes.

Three-time bracelet winner Adam Friedman sits third with 1,038,000 chips (21 big bets), while 2025 bracelet winner Dan Heimiller (996,000, 20 big bets) rounds out the top five just behind Matusow.

The final table also features Paul Volpe (684,000), Dave Rogers (512,000), Nick Guagenti (435,000), and Hall of Famer Mori Eskandani (338,000).

Luo Leads Bomb Pot Defense

In Event #24: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot, Xixiang Luo is positioned to defend his title from last year’s inaugural bomb pot event. Luo leads the final 13 players with 5,630,000 chips, holding a slim advantage over Day 1 chip leader Samuel Stranak from Slovakia (5,570,000).

The format has evolved since Luo’s 2024 victory – last year’s event mixed No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha with one bomb pot per orbit, while this year’s version features pure Omaha with bomb pots on every hand.

Brian Smith from the United States sits third with 5,195,000 chips, followed by former WSOP Player of the Year Ian Matakis in fourth place (3,470,000). All remaining players are guaranteed at least $14,748, with the winner taking home $290,400.

Mustafov Tops Stacked High Roller Field

Event #26: $25,000 High Roller attracted 300 entries on Day 1, with 96 players advancing to Day 2. Bulgaria’s Fahredin Mustafov leads with 1,360,000 chips (136 big blinds), followed by Cherish Andrews (1,140,000) and David Peters (1,137,000).

Late registration remains open through the first level of Day 2, with the prize pool already surpassing $7 million. The field includes numerous notable players who bagged for Day 2: John Juanda, Stephen Chidwick, Joao Simao, Mustapha Kanit, and both Alex Foxen (958,000) and Kristen Foxen, with Alex holding a slight chip advantage over his wife.

Big O Bubble Bursts

Event #27: $1,500 Big O played down to 207 survivors after 15 levels on Day 1, with all remaining players guaranteed $3,027. Michael Rodgers leads with 654,000 chips, followed by Stephen Hubbard (575,000) and Joshua Thatcher (537,000).

Justin Liberto sits fifth with 495,000 chips, looking to end a 10-year bracelet drought since winning Event #51: $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em Six-Max in 2015. The tournament will play down to its final five players on Sunday, with the winner earning $297,285.

Colossus Reaches Day 2

The final starting flight of Event #19: $500 COLOSSUS (Day 1d) saw 847 players survive, bringing the total Day 2 field to 2,326 players. Stephanie Alderman leads all survivors with 1,602,000 chips from the final flight.

Former WSOP Player of the Year Shaun Deeb bagged fourth in the Day 1d flight with 1,422,000 chips. Deeb’s last live Colossus cash at the WSOP in Las Vegas came in 2018 when he finished 1,418th for $920.

Other notables advancing from Day 1d include Jeremy Becker (1,207,000), Yuliyan Kolev (1,130,000), Eddie Sabat (1,025,000), Lily Kiletto (841,000), and Roberto Romanello (598,000).

Championship Sunday Ahead

Day 2 of the Colossus begins at 11 a.m. local time on Sunday, with over 2,300 players competing in poker’s most democratic championship event. The field will be trimmed significantly as players battle toward the money bubble and beyond.

Two events will crown champions on Sunday: the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship and the $1,500 PLO Double Board Bomb Pot. Matusow’s pursuit of his fifth bracelet will be the marquee storyline, while Luo attempts to become the first repeat champion in the bomb pot format.

The $25,000 High Roller continues on Day 2 with late registration still open, while the $1,500 Big O plays toward its final five players.

Looking Forward

With multiple events reaching their climax and the massive Colossus field beginning its Day 2 grind, Sunday promises to deliver the high-stakes drama and compelling storylines that define the World Series of Poker. Whether Matusow can end his 12-year drought or another player captures their breakthrough moment, the action continues to showcase why the WSOP remains poker’s ultimate championship.

The weekend’s bracelet winners, Blaz Zerjav and Aloisio Dourado, have already added their names to poker history with their maiden WSOP victories. Sunday will determine who joins them in the winner’s circle and which storylines will define this year’s championship series.

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