Chino Rheem, who was in the house at the $25K Fantasy, was the next player on the block (39th overall nominee), and Team Handsome Horses managed to get him for $45.
Daniel Negreanu then nominated Matthew Wantman, and several bids drove his price up.
"Let's take up to $20," Brent Hanks said.
That prompted Team Handsome Horses to bump it to $21, and that did the trick as all other teams tapped out.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
47
66
|
66 |
Team Noori nominated Brian Rast for $1, before his price instantly went up to $25.
A few teams saw themselves bidding for Rast, as he went into the 40s.
It looked as if Rast would go for $44 to Team Australia, but a last second bid by Team Girl Dads saw the bidding continue as he went over $50.
When the dust settled, Rast went to Team Wass for $57.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
101
57
|
57 |
Justin Saliba became the 36th place nominated, and there seemed to be a good amount of interest as several teams put in bids. Ultimately, it was Team Noori getting him for $40 to roster him alongside Alex Livingston.
Argentina's Nacho Barbero, who is known to be a silly goofball, was nominated next and inspired a flurry of back-and-forth bids. Team Glue Factory, which had previously drafted Phil Ivey, ended up adding Barbero for $59.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
79
40
|
40 |
|
|
46
59
|
59 |
Joao Vierra was nominated with an opening bid of $10.
Several teams were interested in getting Vierra, but the $85 bid from Team Lady Gaga was enough to secure Vierra on their team.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
16
85
|
85 |
Chad Eveslage was nominated by Team Australia for $1, and they then sat back and watched as his price skyrocketed.
He easily crossed the $70 mark and then into the $80s before Team Handsome Horses got him for $87.
Eveslage became the first player on Team Handsome Horse's roster, which leaves Teams Lang and Brown as the only two teams without a player.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
113
87
|
87 |
Chris Vitch was nominated for an opening bid of $6, before he shot up to $30.
After a small bidding war, his price settled on $48, going to Team Phenom.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
38
48
|
48 |
Patrick "Pads" Leonard was nominated for $10, the 32nd player on the block in the draft, and several bids more than tripled his price before Team Girl Dads got him for $30.
Only time will tell if the investment in Leonard pays off, as the man himself said he wouldn't bid more than $10.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
67
30
|
30 |
Bryce Yockey was nominated for an opening bid of $13.
Yockey was determined to bet on himself, quickly upping the bid as soon as another team bid on him.
However, as he went over $60, Yockey bowed out of the bidding, and Team Jeremy's final bid of $66 was enough to secure Yockey.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
63
66
|
66 |
Ren Lin, the owner of Team Lady Gaga, became the 30th player nominated in the 2025 $25K Fantasy.
Several bids drove up his value, and Brent Hanks of Team Splash Sports announced, "$42."
That did the trick as Lin sold, prompting many in the room to say, "Touchdown. Tom Brady." Which is a phrase Lin has been known to utter at the poker table.
Benny Glaser was nominated, which saw several teams make an attempt to get Glaser on their team.
However, the final two teams in the mix was Glaser's own team, Team Girl Dads and Team Dinkers.
As he priced neared $100, the final bid of $99 was too much for Team Girl Dads, sending Glaser to Team Dinkers.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
101
99
|
99 |
