Highlights from Day 15 at the 2025 WSOP

The 15th day of the 2025 World Series of Poker delivered everything fans could want from poker’s premier tournament series – dramatic final tables, breakthrough victories, and legendary players making deep runs in championship events. With five bracelets awarded and several marquee tournaments reaching their climactic stages, Day 15 proved why the WSOP remains the gold standard of competitive poker.

Courtenay Williams Conquers the Colossus

The day’s most compelling story unfolded in Event #19, the $500 Colossus, where Los Angeles-based Courtenay Williams authored one of the most dramatic comeback victories in recent WSOP memory. Starting the final table as the shortest stack with less than 20 percent of chip leader Ramaswamy Pyloore’s mountain, Williams seemed destined for an early exit.

Instead, Williams engineered a masterclass in tournament survival and aggression. The pivotal moment came when he found himself all-in and dominated with A♥3♦ against Pyloore’s A♦7♣. The poker gods smiled on Williams as the 3♠ hit the flop, giving him the double-up that would change everything.

Williams’ path to victory included eliminating the dangerous Matt Glantz in third place – a player who finished 19th in last year’s Colossus event. In their decisive confrontation, Williams’ A♠Q♦ needed help against Glantz’s pocket nines, and the A♦ on the river delivered in dramatic fashion.

The heads-up battle with Pyloore featured multiple lead changes before Williams sealed the deal with pocket kings on a 9♣8♥3♠9♦ board. His $542,540 payday represents nearly five times his previous live tournament earnings combined, proving that in poker, as in life, timing is everything.

Championship Drama Across Multiple Events

While Williams was capturing hearts in the Colossus, four other events crowned champions on Day 15. Igor Zektser emerged victorious in Event #27, the $1,500 Big O, after the tournament required an unscheduled fourth day when Day 3 ended at heads-up. Zektser and Paul Sincere returned at noon, with Zektser closing out the victory in less than two levels of play.

Mark Darner finally broke through for his first WSOP bracelet in Event #29, the $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em event. After three previous final table appearances that ended in heartbreak, Darner’s persistence paid off with a $496,826 victory that will undoubtedly rank among his career highlights.

Jonathan Stoeber added his name to the winner’s circle in Event #31, the $800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack, banking $352,610 and improving on his fourth-place finish in an online bracelet event from the previous year. Meanwhile, John Racener captured his third career bracelet in Event #34, the $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty, earning $247,595 after a marathon 16-hour session that started at 10:00 a.m.

Phil Ivey Eyes Bracelet Number 12

Perhaps the most intriguing storyline developing from Day 15 involves poker legend Phil Ivey, who finds himself in prime position after Day 1 of Event #36, the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship. The 11-time bracelet winner has yet to cash in the 2025 WSOP, making his sixth-place position (284,000 chips, 114 big blinds) all the more significant.

Ivey looked vintage throughout the session, methodically building his stack in a field loaded with mixed game specialists. Leading the way is Bruno Furth with 372,500 chips, fresh off his second bracelet victory in the $5,000 version of this event and a recent Wynn victory worth $154,538.

The field reads like a who’s who of poker excellence, with surviving players including Shaun Deeb (226,000), Brian Rast (185,500), Daniel Negreanu (133,500), and Josh Arieh (136,500). For Ivey, this represents his best opportunity yet to add to his legendary bracelet collection in 2025.

High-Stakes Action Reaches Fever Pitch

The $50,000 High Roller has reached the unofficial final table, and Jason Koon sits in a commanding position with 14,575,000 chips – more than double his closest competitor. Koon, who already owns one bracelet, could secure his 16th seven-figure tournament score with a victory in this elite field.

The pursuit pack includes Andrew Lichtenberger (6,735,000), Aliaksei Boika (6,285,000), and the enigmatic Viktor Blom (5,005,000). With PokerGO set to stream the action once six players remain, this final table promises to deliver world-class poker entertainment.

Championship Events Demand Extra Day

Not everything went according to schedule on Day 15. The $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship required a fourth day after play concluded with six survivors. Darren Elias leads the elite final table with 3,475,000 chips, followed by Oscar Johansson (2,910,000) and six-time bracelet winner Nick Schulman (2,670,000).

Daniel Negreanu’s fans will be disappointed to learn that “D-Negs” fell just short of the final table, busting in seventh place in his pursuit of bracelet number eight. The remaining players represent a murderer’s row of tournament poker talent, ensuring an epic conclusion to this prestigious championship.

Looking Ahead: Day 16 and Beyond

Day 16 promises to be equally spectacular, with three events set to crown champions. The $10,000 2-7 Championship will award its $497,356 top prize, while the $50,000 High Roller features two seven-figure paydays. The $1,500 Limit Hold’em will also conclude, guaranteeing a first-time bracelet winner among its seven finalists.

Three new tournaments launch on Day 16, including the always-popular $1,500 Monster Stack and the nosebleed $100,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em, where reigning champion Chris Hunichen will attempt to defend his title and $2,838,389 prize.

The WSOP Magic Continues

Day 15 exemplified everything that makes the World Series of Poker special – life-changing moments for newcomers like Courtenay Williams, breakthrough victories for veterans like Mark Darner, and the perpetual drama of legends like Phil Ivey chasing greatness. As we head into the third week of the series, with buy-ins ranging from $500 to an astronomical $250,000, the stage is set for even more memorable moments.

The beauty of the WSOP lies in its ability to create dreams and destroy them with equal measure, often within the span of a single hand. Day 15 reminded us why this tournament series remains poker’s ultimate proving ground, where skill, luck, and destiny collide in the most spectacular fashion possible.