WSOP Performance of the Week: Schulman Strengthens Hall of Fame Case w/ Bracelet #7

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Jun 15, 2025 3 min read

Most poker players at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) agree that Nick Schulman is heading into the Poker Hall of Fame this summer and it’s getting harder to argue otherwise.

On Thursday, Schulman was awarded his seventh WSOP bracelet in the $10,000 2-7 Championship, the third time he's won that event, further cementing his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.

And that’s exactly why Schulman earns this week’s WSOP Performance of the Week honors.

Schulman Puts on a Masterclass

Schulman jumped into Event #30: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship on Day 1 and quickly surged to the top of the chip counts. Coincidentally, just behind him in second sat Scott Seiver, the reigning WSOP Player of the Year and another leading candidate to be this year’s Poker Hall of Fame inductee.

By the end of Day 2, Schulman had spun his 322,500 stack up to 1,195,000, finishing the day fourth in chips among the 16 players who advanced. While the tournament was expected to conclude on Day 3, it spilled into a fourth day and once again, Schulman held the chip lead heading into the finale.

At the final table, Schulman took out three of the last seven players, starting with Dan Smith in sixth place. He later made a nine-eight to bust Chad Eveslage in third, setting up an epic heads-up battle with Darren Elias. After nearly eight hours of play that kept railbirds glued to the action, Schulman finally closed it out by eliminating Elias in second to claim the title.

In the modern era, no player has won the 2-7 Championship more than once except Schulman. He first captured the title in 2009, repeated in 2012, and now adds a third in 2025. The win, in what Daniel Negreanu called “one of the most prestigious and skillful events,” brings Schulman’s bracelet total to seven, making him just the 13th player in history to reach that mark.

Nick Schulman's WSOP Bracelets

Schulman To Be This Year's PHOF Inductee?

Having turned 40 last September, Schulman is now officially eligible for the PHOF and there’s strong consensus that his induction is all but inevitable.

The 2025 PHOF shortlist is currently being finalized, and Schulman’s name is at the top of many voters’ minds. Among them is Daniel Negreanu, a 2014 inductee, who didn’t hesitate when asked who he’s voting for.

“Well, I think it's pretty clear to be honest with you. It’s gonna be Nick Schulman. He's a class act. I don't really judge people based on whether they’re nice guys or not, or the commentary stuff they do. I base it on results and pedigree. He has seven bracelets now. He's a three-time champion in the 2-7. He does it in everything. How could he not be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame on the first ballot?”

That view was echoed by poker boom icon Erick Lindgren, who simply said, “It’s 100% Nick Schulman.”

For his part, Schulman is well aware of the growing discussion and deeply appreciative of what a Hall of Fame nod would mean.

“It’s just impossible not to think about. Seiver — and there are others from before who are worthy — but a lot of people are saying it’s me or Scott,” Schulman said. “That’s another guy that, when he busted, I was so relieved and that was with 70 players left. That’s how good this f**king guy plays. Not because of the Hall, because he’s just transcendentally great at this game. So that one I’m at peace with. If he got in, or if he goes and wins a couple, cool. But to get into the Hall of Fame in anything, it means a lot. It’s profound, and I’m very grateful.”

Nick Schulman's Top 5 WSOP Cashes

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

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