PNDC Updates
Week 5 Completed
2025 WSOP PokerNews Deepstack Challenge
PNDC Updates
Week: 5
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The final week of the 2025 PokerNews Deepstack Challenge has come to a close, and with it, our last group of qualifiers for the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship has been locked in. After five weeks of daily grind, thousands of entries, and countless memorable moments, we’re proud to officially congratulate the final ten players to earn their Championship seats.
Week 5 Qualifiers
| Rank | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caleb Mitson | 958 |
| 2 | Geary Hill | 893 |
| 3 | Luis Cichoski | 844 |
| 4 | Waheed Feda | 840 |
| 5 | Yahya Oguz | 834 |
| 6 | Ethan Figueroa | 825 |
| 7 | Ricardo Andino Claudio | 816 |
| 8 | Donald Rosenberg | 810 |
| 9 | Kevin Frame | 808 |
| 10 | Tamer Halabi | 803 |
A huge congratulations to all ten Week 5 qualifiers—your hard work and consistency across the Daily Deepstacks have paid off, and your seat in the Championship is secured!
Thank You to Everyone Who Played
We can’t sign off without expressing how grateful we are to every player who made this year’s PokerNews Deepstack Challenge such a success. Over the past month, we’ve seen thousands of players battle it out inside the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, creating unforgettable stories, thrilling final tables, and, of course, plenty of leaderboard drama.
From our Week 1 trailblazers like James Derosa and Jacob Baumgartner, to Week 3 standouts Amanda Soscia and Dominique Terzian, all the way to our latest qualifiers—this has been one of the most exciting and competitive years yet.
To every player who bought in, bagged chips, or just took a shot—thank you for making the Deepstack Challenge what it is. We’ve awarded over 50 Championship seats through the leaderboard alone, and now the stage is set for the biggest Deepstack event of the summer.
Good Luck in the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship
The final battle begins with the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship, where all of our qualifiers will have the chance to turn their leaderboard success into a life-changing payday.
Best of luck to everyone still in the hunt, and from the entire PokerNews team—thank you for being part of the 2025 PokerNews Deepstack Challenge.
We’ll see you at the tables!
Week 4 Qualifiers
| Rank | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duy Ho | 1328 |
| 2 | Brent Hoover | 1094 |
| 3 | Tao Qin | 1022 |
| 4 | Yoel Selles Meijer | 934 |
| 5 | Sridhar Sangannagari | 919 |
| 6 | Martin Kritsch | 909 |
| 7 | Jeremy Brown | 883 |
| 8 | Britton Purvis | 878 |
| 9 | Joseph Davidman | 865 |
| 10 | Tomas Geleziunas | 839 |
Week 3 Qualifiers
| Rank | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dominique Terzian | 1133 |
| 2 | Amanda Soscia | 1093 |
| 3 | Joshua Feiger | 871 |
| 4 | Dong Ji | 850 |
| 5 | Una Kelly | 832 |
| 6 | Jeffrey Eisenbeis | 819 |
| 7 | Conrad Co | 810 |
| 8 | Simon Fowler | 793 |
| 9 | Alen Bakovic | 790 |
| 10 | Arash Asadabadi | 775 |
Week 2 Qualifiers
| 1 | Tristan Tauscher | 1012 |
| 2 | Tanner Martinelli | 912 |
| 3 | Dannette Mason | 828 |
| 4 | Ryan Flesch | 815 |
| 5 | Atsushi Mineki | 814 |
| 6 | Hunter Cole | 793 |
| 7 | Konstantinos Tzinis | 776 |
| 8 | Michael Meza | 759 |
| 9 | Kevin Iacofano | 757 |
| 10 | Ryan Weber | 752 |
Week 1 Qualifiers
| Rank | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Derosa | 1140 |
| 2 | Jacob Baumgartner | 906 |
| 3 | Sinead Davenport | 895 |
| 4 | Jack Kizilarslan | 839 |
| 5 | Jean Lescadres | 811 |
| 6 | Nicholas Murray | 793 |
| 7 | Edgar Propst | 791 |
| 8 | Dylan Mendes | 788 |
| 9 | Lucas Jumalon | 767 |
| 10 | Michael Danley | 764 |
The last Sunday of the PokerNews Daily Deepstack Challenge delivered enormous fields at Paris & Horseshoe Las Vegas, with over 2,300 players having registered when the sun went down on Sunday night.
Three new champions were crowned in the shape of Caleb Mitson in the $250 Deepstack, Samyo Bounlom in the $200 Deepstack, and Tamer Halabi taking the $400 Deepstack crown.
This marks the penultimate day of the Deepstack Challenge, with Monday your last chance to win one of the best daily's in Vegas and also book your ticket to the bracelet Event #78: $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship.
$250 Deepstack
Washington’s Caleb Mitson walked away with $43,317 after besting a field of 1,183 players in Friday’s $250 PokerNews Daily Deepstack at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. It was a career-best score for Mitson, who outlasted a strong final table to claim the title. Michel Elmassih finished runner-up for $31,208, while American Anton Tcypin took third place and $22,799.
Also making the final table was Adel Jo, a player with both WSOP and WSOP Circuit pedigree. Jo won a WSOPC ring at Pompano Beach in 2023, more than a decade after cashing in the 2012 WSOP Main Event, finishing 109th for $52,718.
Final Table Resuts
| Place | Player | Country | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caleb Mitson | United States | $43,317 |
| 2 | Michel Elmassih | United States | $31,208 |
| 3 | Anton Tcypin | United States | $22,799 |
| 4 | Johnny Oshana | United States | $16,844 |
| 5 | Adel Jo | United States | $12,587 |
| 6 | Roberto Gonzalez | Argentina | $9,515 |
| 7 | Joonas Lyttinen | Finland | $7,277 |
| 8 | Aaron Ogus | United States | $5,632 |
| 9 | Joshua Nazarieh | United States | $4,410 |
$200 Deepstack
Friday’s $200 PokerNews Daily Deepstack drew 605 entries and generated a $93,775 prize pool, continuing the trend of packed PNDC fields at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Switzerland’s Samyo Bounlom claimed the top spot and a $15,672 payday after navigating a final table that featured players from five different countries. Michael Delaney of the United Kingdom finished runner-up for $10,822, while Robert Brobyn earned $7,631 for third place in a strong showing for the American contingent.
Also reaching the final nine were players from Morocco, France, and the United States, showcasing the global draw of the daily Deepstack schedule as the Deepstack Championship enters its final few days.
Final Table Resuts
| Place | Player | Country | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samyo Bounlom | Switzerland | $15,672 |
| 2 | Michael Delaney | United Kingdom | $10,822 |
| 3 | Robert Brobyn | United States | $7,631 |
| 4 | Imad Barka | Morocco | $5,476 |
| 5 | Alex Goble | United States | $4,000 |
| 6 | Eric Nicot | France | $2,976 |
| 7 | Nicholas Flesch | United States | $2,255 |
| 8 | Sergio Esparza | United States | $1,741 |
| 9 | Andre Bryan | United States | $1,370 |
$400 Deepstack
Israel’s Tamer Halabi secured the win in Friday’s $400 PokerNews Daily Deepstack, outlasting a 524-entry field to collect the $30,003 top prize.
Finishing in second place was Adam Velez of Georgia, who took home $20,980. Velez is no stranger to deep runs, having final tabled the $1,000 Mini Main Event at the 2022 World Series of Poker, where he finished 7th for over $93,803.
Vladimir Fomine, based in the United States, rounded out the top three and earned $14,924.
Final Table Resuts
| Place | Player | Country | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tamer Halabi | Israel | $30,003 |
| 2 | Adam Velez | United States | $20,980 |
| 3 | Vladimir Fomine | United States | $14,924 |
| 4 | William Watkins | United Kingdom | $10,787 |
| 5 | Claudio Botti | Argentina | $7,924 |
| 6 | Carlos Saez Martinez | Spain | $5,918 |
| 7 | Raymond Mcdonough | United States | $4,494 |
| 8 | Hunter Payne | United States | $3,472 |
| 9 | Andreas Boelling | Germany | $2,729 |
This summer at the WSOP, the PokerNews Deepstack Challenge gives everyday grinders a chance to shine. Play well in the daily $200, $250, $400 Deepstack events, rack up leaderboard points, and you could win a free seat to the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship.
Last year, eight leaderboard qualifiers made it count, not only earning their way into the Championship, but cashing in it too.
From first-timers to bracelet winners, here’s a look at the players who turned a daily grind into a WSOP payday.
Raymond Chiu
- Finished 254th for $1,743
- Topped the Week 1 leaderboard
Chiu came out swinging, winning back-to-back daily Deepstacks and rode that momentum into the Championship. He was the first qualifier to lock up a seat and one of the first to cash.
William Plitz
- Finished 142nd for $2,458
- Week 1 – 2nd place on the leaderboard
Plitz’s run started with a win in the May 30 daily, which also happened to be his biggest live score ever ($6,475). He backed it up with another deep run in the Championship. Safe to say he made the most of the PNDC.
Georgios Skarparis
- Finished 468th for $1,261
- Week 1 – 9th on the leaderboard
With $1.45 million in live earnings and a WSOP Mini Main title to his name, Skarparis is no stranger to success. Even with all that experience, he still came out for the daily Deepstacks and cashed again in the Championship.
Kenny Hsiung
- Finished 71st for $4,432
- Week 3 – 6th place
Hsiung, who won a WSOP bracelet in 2012, proved he’s still got the chops. He was the highest-finishing leaderboard qualifier in the Championship.
Michael Lin
- Finished 673rd for $1,201
- Week 3 – 10th on the leaderboard
Lin made the final table of the 2022 Deepstack Championship, and while this year’s run didn’t go quite as far, he still bagged another cash. A quiet, consistent presence on the felt.
Artur Stepanyan
- Finished 289th for $1,743
- Week 4 – 8th place
A breakout moment for Stepanyan, who turned a top-10 finish in Week 4 into a solid run in the Championship. It was only his second ever WSOP cash, not bad for someone still early in their WSOP journey.
Michael Beattie
- Finished 224th for $1,936
- Week 4 – 9th place
Beattie has over $300K in live earnings and knows how to find a payday. He added another cash prize to the pile from the PokerNews Deepstack Championship.
Hsing-Hsiung Tai
- Finished 464th for $1,261
- Week 4 – 10th place
No big headlines or flashy scores, just a solid grind from Tai, who turned his final qualifying spot into a Championship cash.
The PokerNews DeepStack Championship returns to the World Series of Poker from July 1–4 at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
If you’re dreaming of winning a WSOP bracelet without a five-figure bankroll, this is your shot. The $600 buy-in event offers a deep 30,000-chip starting stack, a Main Event-style structure, and one re-entry. Day 1 levels are 40 minutes; Days 2–4 move to 60 minutes.
Last year’s event saw 5,110 entries and a $2.6 million prize pool. Hector Berry won the bracelet and $282,876.
Register in person at the WSOP main registration area or skip the lines with the WSOP+ app.
Want to win a seat? Enter the daily $200/$250/$400 DeepStacks between May 27 and June 30. The PokerNews DeepStack Challenge leaderboard awards 10 seats each week—50 in total.
View the full blind structure here.
Wrap up your day with some thrilling poker action! The final Daily Deepstack of the day kicks off at 8 p.m. as a single-day showdown. With a $200 buy-in, you'll start with a 20,000 stack of chips.
For those who like to make a dramatic entrance, late registration is open until the start of Level 6 (approx 10:20 p.m.), and you can reenter as many times as you want until then. Each level lasts 20 minutes, with plenty of 15-minute breaks throughout the evening.
Blinds start at 100/100, and the big blind ante is in play right from the start. If this event runs long, the tournament director reserves the right to suspend play and resume the following day.
| Level | BB Ante | Blinds | Breaks / Chip Removals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | 100-100 | |
| 2 | 200 | 100-200 | |
| 3 | 300 | 100-300 | |
| 4 | 400 | 200-400 | |
| 5 | 600 | 300-600 | |
| 6 | 800 | 400-800 | Remove 100 Chips (20 Minute Break) |
| 7 | 1,000 | 500-1,000 | |
| 8 | 1,500 | 1,000-1,500 | |
| 9 | 2,000 | 1,000-2,000 | Remove 500 Chips (15 Minute Break) (Reg. ends) |
| 10 | 3,000 | 2,000-3,000 | |
| 11 | 4,000 | 2,000-4,000 | |
| 12 | 6,000 | 3,000-6,000 | |
| 13 | 8,000 | 4,000-8,000 | |
| 14 | 10,000 | 5,000-10,000 | |
| 15 | 16,000 | 8,000-16,000 | |
| 16 | 20,000 | 10,000-20,000 | Remove 1,000 Chips (15 Minute Break) |
| 17 | 30,000 | 15,000-30,000 | |
| 18 | 40,000 | 20,000-40,000 | |
| 19 | 60,000 | 30,000-60,000 | |
| 20 | 80,000 | 40,000-80,000 | |
| 21 | 100,000 | 50,000-100,000 | |
| 22 | 150,000 | 100,000-150,000 | 15 Minute Break |
| 23 | 200,000 | 100,000-200,000 | |
| 24 | 300,000 | 150,000-300,000 | |
| 25 | 400,000 | 200,000-400,000 | |
| 26 | 600,000 | 300,000-600,000 | |
| 27 | 800,000 | 400,000-800,000 | |
| 28 | 1,000,000 | 500,000-1,000,000 | 15 Minute Break |
| 29 | 1,500,000 | 1,000,000-1,500,000 | |
| 30 | 2,000,000 | 1,000,000-2,000,000 | |
| 31 | 3,000,000 | 1,500,000-3,000,000 | |
| 32 | 5,000,000 | 2,000,000-5,000,000 | |
| 33 | 6,000,000 | 3,000,000-6,000,000 | |
| 34 | 8,000,000 | 4,000,000-8,000,000 |
What is the buy-in for the PokerNews Deepstack Championship?
The buy-in for the PokerNews Deepstack Championship event at the 2025 WSOP is $600 - among one of the lowest buy-ins in the Series. We looked to give low-stakes grinders an opportunity to win their way to a coveted WSOP bracelet, and the $600 entry fee is both affordable and offers the chance to win big money from an expected large prize pool.
When is the PokerNews Deepstack Championship?
The PokerNews Deepstack Championship event will be held between July 1-4, 2025. It's the 78th event in the 2025 WSOP.
Where is the PokerNews Deepstack Championship?
The PokerNews Deepstack Championship will be held in a new, vibrant venue near the Horseshoe poker room, Las Vegas.
How Can I Play the PokerNews Deepstack Championship?
Like any other event at the Series, to play the PokerNews Deepstack Championship, simply register from one of the multiple registration desks at the venue.
What is the PokerNews Deepstack Challenge?
The PokerNews Daily Deepstack Challenge is a leaderboard promotion running from May 27 to June 30. Players participating in the daily $200, $250, or $400 deep stack tournaments at the WSOP will earn points. The top 10 point earners each week will receive complimentary seats for the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship.
What is the leaderboard system?
The leaderboard system will follow the same formula used for the WSOP Player of the Year
Ready to show off your skills and compete for amazing prizes? The PokerNews Daily Deepstack Challenge is here from May 28 to June 24, and it’s your time to shine! Play in daily WSOP deep stack tournaments, earn points, and score fantastic rewards—including seats to the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship and some cool memorabilia.
Want to see how you’re doing? Track your progress, check out the latest standings, and get all the updates on our leaderboard page. Click the link below to dive into the action!
The penultimate day of Week 5 of the PokerNews Deepstack Challenge has arrived, and with 9,518 entries already recorded, the race for leaderboard glory is as tight as it’s been all summer. More than $2,109,140 has been paid out in prize pools this week, with $351,213 going directly to event winners, but for those grinding the daily deepstacks, the focus remains squarely on locking up a seat to the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship.
After five full days of tournaments, it’s Geary Hill who clings to the top spot on the Week 5 leaderboard with 893 points. Hill picked up a win in Wednesday’s $250 Deepstack and added a second cash to keep himself in front, but with just 50 points separating the top five, the leaderboard remains wide open.
Luis Cichoski is hot on his heels with 844 points, thanks to his victory in Tuesday’s 1,290-entry $250 event — the largest tournament of Week 5 to date. Not far behind is Las Vegas business owner Waheed Feda on 840 points. Feda, who already found success at this year’s WSOP, claimed the $400 Deepstack title on Saturday for $37,640 to vault himself into contention.
Champions Stack Up in Crowded Leaderboard Chase
Ricardo Andino Claudio (816 points) and Donald Rosenberg (810) sit fourth and fifth, respectively, following their wins earlier in the week. Kevin Frame, fresh off his $31,007 victory in Friday’s $400 event, remains in striking distance with 808 points, followed by Ryan Brown (770), Tefan Liu (762), Shayne Mogilski (751), and Japan’s Shota Utsunomiya (747), who complete the current top ten.
Every player in the top ten has captured at least one PNDC title this week, but only Hill has managed multiple cashes to help boost his points tally.
With Sunday’s tournaments now underway and one final day of deepstack action set for Monday, players still have ample opportunity to climb the leaderboard. Given how volatile the standings have proven throughout the summer, one more deep run or outright win could prove decisive in punching a ticket to the upcoming $600 Championship.
