Day 32 Delivers Drama
The World Series of Poker‘s 32nd day at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas delivered a masterclass in tournament poker excellence, with three new champions emerging while several marquee events built toward thrilling conclusions. As the series continues to showcase the very best of competitive poker, Day 32 proved that every level of the game—from grassroots grinders to elite professionals—has its heroes.
Three More Bracelets Find Their Destiny
The day’s bracelet ceremonies celebrated three distinctly different paths to WSOP glory. Lonny Weitzel claimed the largest payday, banking $356,494 for his victory in the $1,000 Super Seniors tournament. His triumph represented the culmination of decades of poker experience, proving that patience and persistence pay dividends in tournament poker’s most prestigious arena.
Blaz Zerjav showcased his mixed-game mastery by conquering Event #69: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 Or Better, earning $153,487 for his efforts. His victory highlighted the technical precision required in split-pot variants, where every decision carries amplified consequences and reading opponents becomes an art form.
Perhaps the most explosive finish came from Rainer Kempe, who captured his first WSOP bracelet in the one-day Event #72: $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty. The German high-stakes specialist navigated the tournament’s breakneck pace and bounty dynamics to claim victory in what many consider the most challenging single-day format on the WSOP schedule.
Defending Champion Okamoto Commands Ladies Championship
The $1,000 Ladies Championship has become Shiina Okamoto’s personal stage for greatness. The defending champion sits atop the leaderboard with 1,495,000 chips as 50 players remain from the original 1,368-entry field. Okamoto’s quest for back-to-back titles carries extra significance given her runner-up finish in 2023—a near-miss that adds emotional weight to her current campaign.
Close behind, Juliet Hegedus (1,450,000) and Una Kelly (1,260,000) ensure that Okamoto’s path to history won’t be straightforward. The presence of poker luminaries like three-time bracelet winner Barbara Enright (565,000) and 2023 champion Tamar Abraham (625,000) in the field adds layers of intrigue to what promises to be an unforgettable finale.
The event’s $1,203,840 prize pool represents more than just monetary reward—it symbolizes the growing recognition and celebration of women’s achievements in poker. With 206 players already securing cash finishes, the tournament has provided a platform for poker’s most accomplished female competitors to showcase their skills on poker’s grandest stage.
Mizrachi Towers Over Poker Players Championship Elite
The $50,000 Poker Players Championship has reached its crescendo with Michael Mizrachi commanding a mountain of chips. The six-time bracelet winner’s 10,440,000 stack represents roughly one-third of all chips in play, positioning him as the overwhelming favorite to claim his fourth PPC title—seven years after his last triumph in this most prestigious mixed-game event.
Mizrachi’s nearest challengers, Andrew Yeh (5,285,000) and Bryn Kenney (5,045,000), face the daunting task of overcoming both the chip deficit and the experience gap. The American legend’s mastery of mixed games has been honed over decades, making him a formidable opponent in any format but particularly dangerous in the PPC’s rotating structure.
The final table carries special historical significance with Esther Taylor (3,170,000) becoming only the second woman ever to reach the PPC finale. Her achievement breaks new ground in what has traditionally been poker’s most exclusive boys’ club, inspiring a new generation of female mixed-game specialists.
The remaining seven players have already secured $175,096 from the $5,162,750 prize pool, but the real prize awaits whoever can navigate the final table’s treacherous waters.
Record-Breaking Mixed Games and Rising Stars
With 789 entrants creating a $1,047,398 prize pool, the $1,500 Eight Game Mix equaled its 2023 participation record, demonstrating sustained enthusiasm for mixed-game competition. Among the 167 survivors advancing to the next phase, John Cressend commands attention with his 497,000-chip advantage, though the remaining field showcases mixed-game expertise at every level.
Recent bracelet winner Brad Ruben sits in the runner-up position with 397,500, while two-time champion Xixiang Luo maintains pressure in third with 357,700. The leaderboard features accomplished mixed-game veterans including Jon Turner, Scott Abrams, and Brandon Shack-Harris, creating a competitive landscape where format mastery proves as valuable as tournament experience.
Daniel Negreanu’s modest 55,000 stack proves that even poker’s biggest names face challenges in the leveling effect of mixed games, where tournament experience must blend seamlessly with format-specific expertise.
No-Limit Hold’em Heavyweight Showdown
The $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em event has reached its critical juncture with just 16 players remaining from the original field. Fabrizio Gonzalez commands the action with 11,525,000 chips, positioning himself as the frontrunner for the $830,685 top prize. The Uruguayan’s aggressive play has built a commanding lead, but the final two tables promise to deliver the kind of high-stakes drama that defines WSOP poker.
Yilong Wang (8,375,000) and Martynas Vitkauskas (8,300,000) provide the primary opposition, with all three players seeking their first WSOP bracelet. The presence of seasoned professionals like Romain Lewis, Yuliyan Kolev, and Olivier Busquet adds veteran savvy to what promises to be an explosive finale.
The guaranteed $39,091 minimum payout represents life-changing money for many players, but the real prize—WSOP immortality—drives the competition toward its inevitable dramatic conclusion.
Elite Specialists Battle in Triple Draw Championship
Nine specialists remain in the $10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Championship, with Matthew Schreiber’s 1,835,000-chip stack positioning him as the pacesetter entering the finale. The presence of accomplished players like Nick Schulman (1,265,000) and Yuri Dzivielevski (1,200,000) creates a final table where every betting decision carries enormous weight.
The tournament’s elimination of poker legends Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu on Day 1 demonstrates the format’s unforgiving nature, where even the slightest miscalculation can prove fatal. The final table represents the absolute pinnacle of lowball expertise, with each remaining player possessing the technical skills necessary to compete at poker’s highest level.
Gladiators Approach Historic Proportions
The $300 Gladiators of Poker continues to rewrite attendance records, with 16,144 entries already secured and one starting flight remaining. Oscar Peleg’s commanding Day 1c performance netted him 7,285,000 chips, overtaking previous leader Jonathan Kirch for the overall chip lead.
The tournament’s massive appeal reflects poker’s democratic nature—where a modest buy-in can generate life-changing opportunities. The Gladiators represents the WSOP’s commitment to accessibility while maintaining the competitive integrity that defines the series.