2025 WSOP Day 17: Heads-Up Showdown Awaits in $10,000 PLO8

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Jun 13, 2025 4 min read

Day 17 of the 2025 World Series of Poker was yet another action-packed one. Despite only one winner being crowned in Event #35: $3,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'emm, there are plenty of storylines developing as the festival approaches its third weekend.

Philip Sternheimer is one elimination away from removing himself from the “best without a bracelet” list, while Aram Oganyan leads the final eight in the $100K High Roller.

Meanwhile, Viktor Blom headlines the Limit Hold’em Championship. Plus, Andrey Zhigalov and poker legends battle in the HORSE and Senior High Roller events.

"Best Without a Bracelet" Sternheimer Leads Furth in $10,000 PLO8

Late in the day in Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, Patrick Leonard took to social media, calling Philip Sternheimer the "best without a bracelet".

Sternheimer already has a third-place finish this year, coming in Event #18: $10,000 Dealers Choice 6-Handed Championshipbut now he is the closest he's ever been, holding a heads-up chip lead against Bruno Furth with $763,087 on the line.

Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship Heads-up Chip Counts

Oganyan Leads Final Eight in $100,000 High Roller

Of the twelve Day 2 entries into Event #38: $100,000 High Roller, one had a much better day than the others.

Aram Oganyan sailed through each level of the day on the way to end it as chip leader. He sent multiple people to the rail and scooped numerous big pots including a crucial double-up to establish himself as the frontrunner.

There were near misses for defending champion Chris Hunichen (15th - $203,960) and Phil Ivey (9th - $247,130), but just eight players remain from a field of 103. They are all guaranteed $295,883 but chasing the $2,649,158 first prize.

Event #38: $100,000 High Roller Day 2 Chip Counts

Zhigalov Eyes Second Bracelet in $1,500 HORSE

Back in 2018, Andrey Zhigalov won his first WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E., and he now finds himself leading the way after Day 2 of the same event.

With just 18 players remaining from a field of 867 in Event #39: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E., the Russian is in prime position to double his bracelet tally. But he'll face stiff competition down the stretch when play resumes on Friday.

Everywhere you look there is poker pedigree, from two-time bracelet winner Ari Engel, to Hall of Famer Linda Johnson, with 2025 bracelet-winner Blaz Zerjav rounding out the survivors.

Event #39: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts

Hall of Famers Advance in Seniors High Roller

It might only be in its second year, but there were plenty of big names in action as Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller got underway today.

There were hall of famers aplenty found on the felt today, with Billy Baxter (205,000), John Juanda (133,000) and Erik Seidel (69,500) proceeding to the second day of competition. Johnny Chan, Todd Brunson, and John Hennigan weren’t so lucky, but they may well make another appearance before late registration closes tomorrow.

Leading the survivors is Paul Snead who is looking for his first bracelet after over $2.3 million in total live earnings. His best WSOP result was a tenth-place finish in the inaugural $10,000 Tag Team Championship alongside Charlemagne Benjamin and Michael Newman.

Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts

Viktor Blom Leads $10k Limit Championship

Is it finally Viktor Blom's time? Is 'Isildur1' finally going to get his hands on a bracelet? From a field of 91 entries in Event #41: $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship just 43 players remain, and it's Blom sitting atop the chip counts.

He is joined by Benjamin Underwood, and 2017's champion in this event Joe McKeehen as the only players above 300,000 in chips.

Registration remains open for one more level on Day 2.

Event #41: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts

636 Advance from Monster Stack Day 1b

After Day 1a of Event #37: $1,500 Monster Stack saw 476 players advance from a field of 1,625 players, there was an equally large field on Day 1b.

Eventually, from the field of 2,010, just 636 players advanced and they are led by Caleb Larsen. Larsen, whose largest career cash with a 621st-place finish in last year's WSOP Main Event, was the only player to bag over 700,000 chips.

Closely behind him comes Benjamin Leilous (582,500) and former bracelet-winnerand Winamax Ambassador Romain Lewis (507,000).

Event #37: $1,500 Monster Stack Day 1b Top 10 Chip Counts

What's Coming Up on Day 18 of the 2025 WSOP

Three more winners will be crowned on Day 18 at the 2025 World Series of Poker. Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship will presumably finish first, with that event resuming heads-up, while Event #38: $100,000 High Roller and Event #39: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. will also see shiny gold bracelets handed out.

In addition to this, there will also be Day 2s in both the Event #40: $5,000 Seniors High Roller and Event #41: $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship, with late registration open in both.

Finally, with Day 1c of the Monster Stack getting underway at 10 a.m., two new other events get started on Friday. They are:

• Event #42: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha
• Event #43: $1,500 Razz

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.

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• Tags WSOP25 Viktor Blom Aram Oganyan Bruno Furth Caleb Larsen Romain Lewis Andrey Zhigalov Paul Snead
• Related Players Viktor BlomRomain LewisAndrey ZhigalovPaul SneadAram OganyanBruno Furth

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