Venetian DeepStack Championship Poker Series Attracted Nearly 30,000 Entries

Jon Sofen
Senior Editor U.S.
8 min read
Venetian Poker Series

Table Of Contents

The 2025 Venetian DeepStack Championship Poker Series, one of Las Vegas' juiciest annual poker festivals, had jaw-dropping attendance and payouts over two full months this summer.

Action began May 19 inside Venetian's new state-of-the-art poker room with Patrick Truong from Plugerville, Texas taking down a $600 No-Limit Hold'em Ultimate Stack event for $30,825. It was just the appetizer for what would become a big summer of poker action in Las Vegas.

Leonard and Reichard Among Winners

Patrick Leonard Venetian
Patrick Leonard

So, how big was the series? There were 116 events through July 31, two weeks after the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) concluded down the road at Horseshoe. Venetian's festival attracted 29,266 entries, which comes out to 252 buy-ins per tournament. During the heart of the series, the average turnout was even higher.

There were six events with over 1,000 entrants. In total, the players split $29,860,175 in prize money. The series attracted a solid mix of local grinders, top-level high-stakes pros, tourists from all over the world, and recreational players.

Some of the biggest names in the game collected trophies this summer at Venetian. That includes online poker crusher and WSOP bracelet winner Patrick Leonard, who took down the $1,600 UltimateStack Championship for $164,108.

UltimateStack Final Table Results

PositionPlayerPrize
1Patrick Leonard$164,108
2Derek Gregory$117,624
3Andrew Ostapchenko$85,472
4Qing Liu$62,957
5Michael Cervantes$47,015
6Ran Ilani$35,603
7Mitchell Halverson$27,346

Josh Reichard, an MSPT Hall of Famer with nearly $6 million in live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob, was another 2025 Venetian champion. The Wisconsin native with WSOP, World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOP), World Poker Tour (WPT), and MSPT victories already to his name took down Venetian Event #30: $1,600 MSPT Heart Poker Championship for $212,939, beating out 1,051 entrants.

Huge World Poker Tour Event

Nico Betbese WPT
Nico Betbese

There were a number of massive scores at Venetian this summer, but none can come close to matching the $706,960 cash by Nico Betbese.

Betbese came out victorious in the $5,000 buy-in WPT Venetian Las Vegas Championship, his first World Poker Tour title.

WPT Venetian Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPayout (USD)
1Nico BetbeseArgentina$706,960*
2Francis CruzDominican Republic$623,540*
3Oliver BoeschAustria$395,000
4Iulian BlebeaRomania$295,000
5Elvyn BelloDominican Republic$220,000
6Jamie FlynnIreland$169,000
7Matthew DavenportUnited Kingdom$130,000
8Yita ChoongAustralia$101,000
9Aditya PrasetyoUnited States$79,000

The Argentinian with $1.9 million in live tournament cashes outlasted a 1,153-player field for a career-best score. He defeated Francis Cruz from the Dominican Republic heads-up to take it down following an ICM chop deal that paid the runner-up $623,540. Austria's Oliver Boesch finished in third place for $395,000, while Elvyn Bello from Romania collected $295,000 for fourth place.

Betbese, as an added bonus, will have his name engraved on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup and will have his $10,400 buy-in covered for the WPT Championship in Las Vegas.

2025 Venetian DeepStack Championship Series Winners

*DateTournamentEntriesPrize PoolOverlayWinnerHometownPrize*      
5/19/25Event #1: $600 NLH Ultimate Stack292$150,000$2,540Patrick TruongPflugerville, TX$30,825      
5/19/25Event #2: $200 NLH Bounty55$10,000$1,200Vicente JosonCanada$1,992      
5/20/25Event #3: $200 NLH Bounty54$10,000$1,360Andrew PresslerSmyrna, GA$2,000      
5/21/25Event #4: $200 NLH Bounty101$16,160$0Phuoc NguyenSan Jose, CA$2,261      
5/22/25Event #5: $600 NLH Monster Stack76$40,000$1,240Sergei SaakianLas Vegas, NV$7,907      
5/22/25Event #6: $200 NLH Bounty98$15,680$0Matthew EszSan Diego, CA$2,740      
5/26/25Event #7: $600 Seniors329$166,145$0Patricia YamanoHenderson, NV$16,898      
5/25/25Event #8: $600 Big O118$59,590$0Shawn RiceLubbock, TX$12,456      
5/23/25Event #9: $250 NLH Bounty77$20,000$4,215Cirilio MartinezAlcalde, NM$3,110      
5/24/25Event #10: $250 NLH Bounty102$20,910$0Gregory ScharlachCastle Rock, CO$3,064      
5/25/25Event #11: $250 NLH Bounty147$30,135$0Daniel ButlerMoab, UT$4,053      
5/26/25Event #12: $600 NLH Monster Bounty127$64,770$0Samy DighlawiTemecula, CA$7,605      
5/27/25Event #13: $600 Limit Omaha 8/B138$69,690$0Juan LampreaCanada$17,574      
5/27/25Event #14: $600 NLH Monster Stack95$50,000$1,550Yaniv PeretzLatvia$11,427      
5/27/25Event #15: $600 PLO96$49,440$0Sungbin MaLas Vegas, NV$13,918      
5/28/25Event #16: $600 NLH Monster Bounty80$50,000$9,200Daniel SamsonUnited Kingdom$8,009      
5/29/25Event #17: $600 NLH Monster Stack94$50,000$2,060Jay OrrissUnited Kingdom$11,000      
5/30/25Event #18: $600 NLH Monster Bounty139$70,890$0Adam NudoBrooklyn, NY$5,810      
5/30/25Event #19: $400 NLH Bounty85$28,900$0Michael MitrioneAustralia$4,895      
5/31/25Event #20: $600 NLH Monster Stack104$53,040$0Landon BrownKent, WA$12,373      
5/31/25Event #21: $800 Big O Bounty260$182,000$0Bryan JollyBig Spring, TX$25,603      
5/31/25Event #22: $400 NLH Bounty151$51,340$0Oded LevinIsrael$7,443      
6/1/25Event #23: $600 NLH Monster Bounty169$86,190$0Maria CurtaPhoenix, AZ$7,798      
6/1/25Event #24: $800 PLO414$289,800$0Joris MichlNetherlands$33,455      
6/1/25Event #25: $400 NLH Bounty171$58,140$0Arpit BhardwajSanta Clara, CA$9,706      
6/2/25Event #26: $600 NLH Monster Stack271$138,210$0Brandon SheilsUnited Kingdom$28,873      
6/2/25Event #27: $600 NLH Bounty135$70,200$0Rhoda WardBlackshear, GA$10,998      
6/3/25Event #28: $600 NLH Monster Bounty192$97,920$0Zhijiang BiLas Vegas, NV$10,286      
6/3/25Event #29: $600 NLH Bounty111$57,720$0Konstantin PolinLas Vegas, NV$9,563      
6/7/25Event #30: $1,600 MSPT1,051$1,500,000$2,325Josh ReichardJanesville, WI$212,939      
6/4/25Event #31: $600 NLH Bounty135$70,200$0Anibal PabonHomestead, FL$8,278      
6/5/25Event #32: $600 NLH Bounty113$58,760$0Stuart YoungVancouver, WA$9,544      
6/7/25Event #33: $800 NLH Ultimate Stack333$233,100$0Manh NguyenPittsburgh, PA$45,865      
6/7/25Event #34: $600 NLH Bounty116$23,200$0Jason PhillipsJacksonville, FL$6,046      
6/12/25Event #35: $1,100 MSPT1,171$1,130,015$0Samuel BifarellaFrance$141,905      
6/8/25Event #36: $800 Big O300$210,000$0Daniel TsengPortland, OR$34,907      
6/9/25Event #37: $800 PLO 8/B303$212,100$0Stephanie ChungLas Vegas, NV$39,804      
6/11/25Event #38: $1,600 Big O Bounty254$363,220$0Alec JahedPrince Frederick, MD$42,626      
6/12/25Event #39: $800 NLH Ultimate Stack424$296,800$0Yaniv PeretzLatvia$54,688      
6/12/25Event #40: $1,100 PLO Bounty374$362,780$0Pei LiCanada$43,175      
6/13/25Event #41: $1,100 NLH Ultimate Stack341$329,065$0Julio SerranoPortugal$64,312      
6/13/25Event #42: $600 NLH Bounty149$77,480$0AnonymousN/A$11,756      
6/14/25Event #43: $1,100 NLH Seniors505$487,325$0Benjamin TaylorRosemount, MN$65,000      
6/14/25Event #44: $1,100 PLO292$283,240$0Justin FawcettGainesville, FL$48,203      
6/15/25Event #45: $800 NLH Ultimate Bounty215$150,500$0Antonio TorpocoMemphis, TN$22,171      
6/15/25Event #46: $1,600 Big O Monster Bounty185$300,000$35,450Khamar XaythavoneWest Valley, UT$35,845      
6/16/25Event #47: $1,600 NLH Ultimate Bounty206$300,000$6,450Kunal PatniIndia$37,210      
6/16/25Event #48: $1,100 PLO Double Board Bomb Pot279$270,630$0Thomas YangNorth Arlington, NJ$51,175      
6/17/25Event #49: $1,100 NLH Ultimate Stack322$310,730$0Robert ShegaSeven Hills, OH$54,463      
6/17/25Event #50: $600 NLH Bounty179$93,080$0Emily SpencerValencia, CA$11,529      
6/23/25Event #51: $1,600 NLH Seniors1,395$2,000,000$19,100Mohamed MamouniFrance$230,098      
6/18/25Event #52: $600 NLH Bounty252$131,040$0Jessica ShuNew York, NY$17,139      
6/19/25Event #53: $1,100 Big O Bounty244$236,680$0Jonathan DimmigLas Vegas, NV$40,289      
 Event #54: Satellite            
 Event #55: Satellite            
6/22/25Event #56: $1,100 NLH Ultimate Stack306$295,290$0Denys ChufarinUkraine$51,303      
6/24/25Event #57: $2,500 LIPS Ladies High Roller117$257,400$0Tirza SandersTucson, AZ$67,846      
6/23/25Event #58: $1,100 NLH Ultimate Stack277$267,305$0Rob WazwazWhite Bear Township, MN$55,380      
6/24/25Event #59: $1,600 NLH Ultimate Bounty379$540,075$0Jun ObaraJapan$49,000      
6/24/25Event #60: $600 LIPS Ladies302$152,510$0Vanessa CastroSanta Monica, CA$22,447      
6/29/25Event #61: $1,600 NLH Ultimate Stack1,587$2,253,540$0Kenneth O'DonnellSt. Petersburg, FL$286,349      
6/25/25Event #62: $1,100 Big O Monster Bounty253$245,410$0Dylan WilkersonLas Vegas, NV$39,468      
6/26/25Event #63: $1,100 NLH Super Seniors384$368,640$0Katherine KolbergPolson, MT$51,768      
6/28/25Event #64: $800 NLH Ultimate Stack642$449,400$0Deividas KvaselisLithuania$65,955      
6/28/25Event #65: $600 NLH Bounty242$125,840$0Steven GnatovichLake Tahoe, CA$14,204      
7/1/25Event #66: $1,100 PLO Championship750$720,000$0James CavanaughSanta Rosa, CA$113,227      
6/29/25Event #67: $600 NLH Bounty279$145,080$0Stephen FouttyLas Vegas, NV$13,171      
6/30/25Event #68: $600 NLH Bounty260$135,200$0Marc FogginUnited Kingdom$14,894      
7/1/25Event #69: $800 NLH Ultimate Bounty508$355,600$0Jorge AlbaRancho Cucamonga, CA$36,355      
7/2/25Event #70: $1,100 NLH Ultimate Stack400$386,000$0William DrewSyracuse, NY$72,295      
7/3/25Event #71: $1,100 NLH Ultimate Bounty240$250,000$18,400Fabio BonattoBrazil$29,860      
7/4/25Event #72: $1,100 NLH Ultimate Stack752$725,680$0Antoine LabatFrance$113,793      
7/5/25Event #73: $1,600 NLH Ultimate Bounty449$639,825$0Jonathan WolterBrazil$60,175      
7/6/25Event #74: $1,100 NLH Ultimate Bounty482$465,130$0Christopher LewisFulton, GA$53,240      
7/10/25Event #75: $1,100 NLH Seniors1,061$1,018,560$0Daniel De FreitasBrazil$144,820      
7/7/25Event #76: $1,100 PLO Monster Bounty400$388,000$0Mehmet SigincCanada$45,769      
7/8/25Event #77: $600 NLH Bounty360$187,200$0Chad SummersPompano Beach, FL$17,642      
7/9/25Event #78: $600 NLH Bounty276$143,520$0Thomas WagermaierAustria$18,302      
 Event #79: Satellite            
 Event #80: Satellite            
 Event #81: Satellite            
 Event #82: Satellite            
7/17/25Event #83: $5,000 WPT Venetian1,153$5,293,400$0Nicolas BetbeseArgentina$696,560      
 Event #84: Satellite            
 Event #85: Satellite            
 Event #86: Satellite            
 Event #87: Satellite            
 Event #88: Satellite            
 Event #89: Satellite            
7/19/25Event #90: $1,600 NLH Ultimate Stack737$1,046,540$0Patrick LeonardUnited Kingdom$1,64,108      
7/15/25Event #91: $1,100 PLO160$155,200$0Tomasz KozubPoland$37,711      
 Event #92: Satellite            
 Event #93: Satellite            
7/17/25Event #94: $250 NLH Bounty152$31,160$0Xinze LiChina$3,127      
7/21/25Event #95: $1,100 NLH Ultimate Stack485$465,600$0Dongwoo KoCanada$82,075      
7/18/25Event #96: $250 NLH Bounty123$25,215$0Vito AbramovNew Windsor, NY$4,600      
7/19/25Event #97: $250 NLH Bounty115$23,575$0Baker AbdullahNorth Las Vegas, NV$4,705      
7/20/25Event #98: $200 NLH Bounty100$16,000$0Tim KleminOroville, CA$2,975      
7/21/25Event #99: $600 NLH Monster Stack114$58,140$0Sandy LamCanada$15,343      
7/21/25Event #100: $200 NLH Bounty78$12,480$0Yachi ChenLas Vegas, NV$1,945      
7/22/25Event #101: $600 NLH Monster Bounty141$71,910$0Andrew MillerParadise Valley, AZ$8,458      
7/22/25Event #102: $200 NLH Bounty104$16,640$0Maximilian EckhardtGermany$2,676      
7/23/25Event #103: $600 NLH Monster Stack123$62,730$0Vito AbramovNew Windsor, NY$16,249      
7/23/25Event #104: $200 NLH Bounty117$18,720$0Andrew LeonardIreland$2,510      
7/27/25Event #105: $800 NLH Ultimate Stack381$262,890$0Bogdan ChornyyPaterson, NJ$49,811      
7/24/25Event #106: $200 NLH Bounty73$11,680$0Vittorio QueroItaly$2,383      
7/25/25Event #107: $200 NLH Bounty69$11,040$0Jichen ShengLas Vegas, NV$2,324      
 Event #108: Cancelled            
7/27/25Event #109: $600 NLH Monster Stack57$40,000$10,930Gregory KoloWestlake, OH$12,682      
7/27/25Event #110: $200 NLH Bounty52$10,000$1,680David ProciakOrlando, FL$2,033      
7/31/25Event #111: $400 NLH Ultimate Stack475$156,750$0Khang PhamSanta Ana, CA$24,205      
7/28/25Event #112: $200 NLH Bounty65$10,400$0Daniel Paredes Da SilvaPortugal$1,850      
7/29/25Event #113: $200 NLH Bounty81$12,960$0Steven JacksonAsheville, NC$1,935      
7/30/35Event #114: $200 NLH Bounty55$10,000$1,200Gerald NacacheLos Angeles, CA$1,942      
7/31/25Event #115: $400 NLH Ultimate Stack75$25,125$0Dustin LearyLas Vegas, NV$6,185      
7/31/25Event #116: $200 NLH Bounty56$10,000$1,040Jason WingateLas Vegas, NV$2,001      
Share this article
Jon Sofen
Senior Editor U.S.

More Stories

Other Stories

Recommended for you
Leonard and Gregory Patrick Leonard Clashes With Derek Gregory On The Venetian Live Stream