Thursday was one of the busiest and most competitive days yet in Week 4 of the PokerNews Deepstack Challenge, with more than 1,900 entries and over $415,000 paid out across three events.

As the leaderboard battle tightens ahead of the weekend, several players made major moves with statement victories.

$250 Deepstack

Florida’s Brent Hoover came into the day with just over $138,000 in live earnings. He left the Horseshoe with a career-best score after taking down the $250 Deepstack for $35,158.

The 1,308-entry field was the second-largest of the week and packed with talent. Hoover outlasted the likes of Samuel Lee, who finished second for $25,015, and Cuong Tran, who took third for $18,076, to secure the win and boost his chances at a PokerNews Deepstack Championship seat.

Final Table Results

$400 Deepstack

In the $400 event, Liviu-Rodrig Bartha delivered one of the most composed performances of the day. The 35-year-old Romanian, now living in London, earned $21,232 after navigating a 324-player field and a tricky final table that featured Israel Pantaleon and Stavros Petychakis.

It marks the third-biggest cash of Bartha’s career and adds to a growing résumé that includes a near-miss at WSOP Paradise last December, where he finished eighth in the Mini Main Event for $35,600.

Final Table Results

$200 Deepstack

Closing out the night was Tomas Geleziunas, who added yet another trophy to his collection with a win in the $200 Deepstack. The 38-year-old Lithuanian, who lives in Ireland, pocketed $9,605 after topping a 306-entry field.

Geleziunas is no stranger to success, having won the European Deepstack Championship in both 2023 and 2024. Thursday’s victory was his first known score at this summer’s WSOP and could be the start of another deep run toward leaderboard contention.

Final Table Results