WSOP 2025: Day 17 Highlights

Day 17 of the 2025 World Series of Poker delivered everything poker fans could ask for – a seven-figure champion crowned, legends battling for bracelets, and the festival’s biggest stories continuing to unfold as we head into the third weekend of action in Las Vegas.

Jason Koon Conquers the $50,000 High Roller

The headline story from Day 17 belongs to modern poker legend Jason Koon, who captured his second WSOP bracelet in spectacular fashion by winning Event #32: $50,000 High Roller. The victory netted Koon a massive $1,968,927 payday – the largest prize awarded at this year’s WSOP so far.

Starting the final table as chip leader, Koon navigated through a field of elite competition that included 171 total entries and generated an $8.1 million prize pool. The final table showcased poker’s biggest names, with Viktor Blom finishing sixth ($349,068) and Brock Wilson taking fourth place ($650,074).

In a dramatic twist, Koon’s path to victory included defeating close friend Ben Tollerene in third place ($914,634) – the same player Koon recently beat to win $3.39 million and his 11th Triton Poker title. The heads-up battle came down to another friend, Andrew ‘LuckyChewy’ Lichtenberger, who earned $1,312,610 for his runner-up finish.

This victory carries extra significance for Koon, pushing his lifetime earnings past $66 million and elevating him above Justin Bonomo on The Hendon Mob’s All-Time Money List.

“I’ve dedicated my entire life to being very good at this game,” Koon reflected after his victory. “Every person in here is trying to win. It’s not like these guys have been around for two or three years. You’re talking to guys who have multiple decades of resumes, and somehow we’re still here and we’re playing the biggest game and winning. It’s amazing.”

The triumph marks Koon’s second WSOP bracelet, coming four years after his first in 2021 when he won the $25,000 Heads-Up Championship. The wait was clearly worth it.

Sternheimer Eyes Bracelet History in PLO8 Championship

While Koon was celebrating his victory, another compelling story was reaching its climax in Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship. Philip Sternheimer, recently dubbed “the best without a bracelet” by Patrick Leonard on social media, finds himself one elimination away from removing that unwanted distinction.

Sternheimer holds a commanding heads-up chip lead over Bruno Furth, sitting on 14,025,000 chips compared to Furth’s 9,150,000. With $763,087 on the line for first place, this represents Sternheimer’s best opportunity yet to claim his maiden WSOP bracelet. He already has a third-place finish this year in Event #18: $10,000 Dealers Choice 6-Handed Championship, but this heads-up battle puts him closer than ever to poker’s most coveted prize.

High Roller Elite Battle Continues

The poker world’s attention will also focus on Event #38: $100,000 High Roller, where eight players remain from the original field of 103 entries. Leading the charge is Aram Oganyan with 20,425,000 chips, having dominated Day 2 action with multiple eliminations and crucial double-ups.

The final eight reads like a who’s who of modern poker excellence. Joao Vieira (13,600,000) sits in second, followed by Thomas Boivin (5,400,000), Vinny Lingham (5,000,000), Andrew Lichtenberger (4,800,000), Ben Heath (4,700,000), Isaac Haxton (4,650,000), and Emilien Pitavy (4,200,000).

Notable eliminations included defending champion Chris Hunichen (15th – $203,960) and the legendary Phil Ivey (9th – $247,130). While all remaining players are guaranteed $295,883, they’re chasing the massive $2,649,158 first-place prize.

Zhigalov Seeks History in H.O.R.S.E.

In Event #39: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E., Andrey Zhigalov is perfectly positioned to make history. The Russian, who won his first WSOP bracelet in this exact event back in 2018, leads the final 18 players from a field of 867 entries with 2,455,000 chips.

The remaining field showcases remarkable poker pedigree. Two-time bracelet winner Ari Engel (1,340,000) remains in contention, alongside Hall of Famer Linda Johnson and 2025 bracelet winner Blaz Zerjav. Joe Jeffery (2,320,000) and Dzmitry Malets (2,200,000) are Zhigalov’s closest pursuers heading into Friday’s action.

Hall of Fame Legends Advance in Seniors High Roller

Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller attracted poker royalty, with multiple Hall of Famers advancing to Day 2. Billy Baxter (205,000), John Juanda (133,000), and Erik Seidel (69,500) all survived the opening day, though Johnny Chan, Todd Brunson, and John Hennigan weren’t as fortunate.

Paul Snead leads the survivors with 507,000 chips, seeking his first bracelet after accumulating over $2.3 million in live tournament earnings. His best WSOP result came with a tenth-place finish in the inaugural $10,000 Tag Team Championship alongside Charlemagne Benjamin and Michael Newman.

Blom’s Bracelet Quest Continues

The poker community is buzzing about Viktor Blom’s position atop Event #41: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship. The Swedish superstar, known online as ‘Isildur1’, leads 43 remaining players from the 91-entry field with 372,000 chips.

Benjamin Underwood (361,000) and 2017 champion Joe McKeehen (319,000) are the only other players above 300,000 chips. With Daniel Negreanu (241,000) and Anthony Zinno (240,000) also in contention, the stage is set for an epic conclusion when play resumes.

Monster Stack Grows Larger

The popular Event #37: $1,500 Monster Stack continued its massive appeal with Day 1b drawing 2,010 entries. Caleb Larsen emerged as the day’s chip leader with 715,000, the only player to eclipse 700,000 chips. Combined with Day 1a’s 476 survivors from 1,625 entries, the event promises to be one of the year’s largest fields when Day 1c kicks off Friday morning.

Looking Ahead: Day 18 Promises Triple Crown

Friday’s Day 18 schedule promises fireworks with three championships set to conclude. The Sternheimer-Furth heads-up battle should crown the PLO8 champion first, while both the $100,000 High Roller and $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. events will also award their coveted bracelets.

Additionally, Day 2 action continues in both the Seniors High Roller and Limit Hold’em Championship, with late registration remaining open in both events. Two new tournaments launch Friday: Event #42: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha and Event #43: $1,500 Razz.

As the 2025 WSOP enters its third weekend, the combination of established champions like Koon, breakthrough opportunities for players like Sternheimer, and legendary figures chasing additional glory creates the perfect recipe for poker drama. With millions in prize money still on the tables and dozens of bracelets yet to be awarded, the festival’s momentum continues building toward its grand finale.