Day 25 WSOP Recap

Day 25 of the 2025 World Series of Poker delivered everything poker fans could ask for – three new bracelet winners, star-studded fields in premium events, and the kind of dramatic storylines that make the WSOP the most prestigious poker series in the world. From breakthrough victories to legendary players making deep runs, June 21st was a day that reminded us why Las Vegas remains the beating heart of tournament poker.

New Bracelet Winners Claim Gold

Day 25 saw three players capture WSOP bracelets, with two achieving their first-ever WSOP victories.

Matt Vengrin finally broke through in the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha event, capturing his first WSOP title after three previous runner-up finishes. For a player who had come so close to glory multiple times, this victory represented the culmination of years of near-misses and perseverance.

Samuel Rosborough claimed his first U.S. WSOP title in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout, defeating Asher Conniff in heads-up play. The freezeout format – with no re-entries allowed – adds an extra layer of pressure that Rosborough navigated expertly to reach the winner’s circle.

Dennis Weiss captured the $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller for his first U.S. WSOP title, though he had previously won a World Series of Poker Europe event. What made his victory remarkable was the caliber of opposition he faced, including poker legend Phil Ivey at the final table. Conquering such elite competition in a high-stakes event demonstrates the skill required to succeed at poker’s premium levels.

$50,000 PLO High Roller Attracts Elite Field

The marquee tournament of Day 25 was Event #57: $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller, which attracted 148 elite players for its opening day. After 12 levels of play, the field was reduced to 62 survivors heading into Day 2.

Ka Kwan Lau from the United Kingdom topped the Day 1 leaderboard with 2,700,000 chips, followed by Biao Ding from China with 1,765,000. The top ten after Day 1 showcased the event’s incredible depth, featuring established high-stakes specialists and international talent.

Alex Foxen (1,525,000 chips) sits sixth on the leaderboard, continuing his strong 2025 campaign. Sean Winter (1,175,000) claimed eighth position, while Isaac Haxton (1,130,000) rounded out the top ten. All three are known for their high-stakes prowess and represent serious threats as the tournament progresses.

The survivor list includes other notable names such as Phil Ivey (525,000), whose presence alone elevates any event. Additional accomplished players who found bags include Bryn Kenney (395,000), Viktor “Isildur” Blom (380,000), and Erik Seidel (365,000).

Day 2 begins at 1 p.m. with blinds of 10,000/15,000 and a big blind ante of 15,000. Late registration remains open until the end of level 13, expected around 2:15 p.m., potentially adding more star power to an already loaded field.

Millionaire Maker Builds Massive Field

Day 1c of Event #53: $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold’em added 3,517 entries, bringing the total field to 7,577 players across the first three starting flights. This represents the largest Day 1 flight so far, creating enormous prize pools and the potential for life-changing payouts.

Francisco Benitez emerged from Day 1c with the tournament’s largest stack to date at 1,243,000 chips. Two-time bracelet winner Ilija Savevski sits second with 979,000, while Gal Naim claimed third place with 433,000 – illustrating the significant variance typical in large-field events.

The day attracted numerous established professionals seeking seven-figure scores, including Jessica Vierling (281,500), Daewoong Song (251,000), John Hennigan (248,000), Sergi Reixach (244,000), Dan Shak (175,500), Matt Glantz (163,000), Jose “Nacho” Barbero (118,000), Sean Troha (108,000), original Hendon Mob member Barny Boatman (90,500), Martin Kabrhel (53,000), and 2016 Main Event champion Qui Nguyen (53,000).

Day 1d begins at 10 a.m., with Day 2 action commencing on June 22.

Seniors Championship Reaches Final Seven

Event #48: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em Championship began Day 4 with 19 players remaining from the original field of 7,575 entries. The day concluded with seven survivors after Ron Fetsch was eliminated in eighth place, earning $85,872.

Dennis Carlson leads the final seven with 49,250,000 chips, followed closely by Brett Lim at 44,825,000. Jose Boloqui sits third with 18,425,000, while Jason Reels holds 18,400,000 after eliminating Fetsch. The remaining players include Elan Lepovic (10,925,000), Lawrence Rabie (7,900,000), and Manish Madan (1,850,000).

The final seven will return at 2 p.m. on June 21 to play for the $653,839 first-place prize from a total prize pool of $6,938,700. Blinds resume at 250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 big blind ante, and the final table will be live-streamed starting at 3 p.m. on a one-hour delay.

H.O.R.S.E. Championship Down to Final Four

Event #55: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship has reached its final four players, all competing for the $452,689 first-place prize. The field of 207 entries has been whittled down through three days of play, eliminating notable players including Huck Seed (16th), Cary Katz (15th), Todd Brunson (12th), and John Hennigan (11th).

Kristopher Tong holds a commanding chip lead with 7,145,000 – more than half the chips in play. His three opponents trail significantly: Maximilian Schindler (2,680,000), Brad Ruben (1,305,000), and Jason Mercier (1,295,000).

The final four will return at 2 p.m. to play down to a winner, with blinds starting at Level 26 (120,000-240,000 limits). An additional day was added to the schedule due to late-running action on the previous day.

Benny Glaser Chases Historic Third Bracelet

Event #56: $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw concluded Day 2 with 15 players remaining from the original field of 463 players. Benny Glaser sits sixth with 1,115,000 chips, positioned for a potential third bracelet victory in this year’s series.

Glaser has already captured two bracelets in 2025, winning back-to-back titles in the $1,500 Dealer‘s Choice and $1,500 Mixed Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo events. A third bracelet would establish him as the series’ most dominant player and add to his career total of eight WSOP bracelets.

Michael Balan leads the field with 2,225,000 chips, followed by Johannes Becker (2,110,000) and David “Bakes” Baker (1,990,000). Other notable survivors include Chris Klodnicki (1,335,000) and actor James Woods (1,005,000).

The remaining 15 players will return at 1 p.m. on June 21, all guaranteed at least $10,495. The action resumes on Level 23 with blinds of 20,000/40,000 and limits of 40,000/80,000, with $208,552 awaiting the winner from the $1,030,175 prize pool.

Elite Competition Defines Day 25

Day 25 exemplified the World Series of Poker’s ability to attract the world’s best players across multiple formats and buy-in levels. From breakthrough victories by first-time winners to the continuing excellence of established champions, the day showcased poker’s competitive depth and the life-changing opportunities that define the WSOP.

With multiple events reaching their conclusions and others building toward climactic final tables, the 2025 WSOP continues to deliver the compelling storylines and world-class competition that have made it poker’s most prestigious series for more than five decades.