2025 WSOP PokerNews Deepstack Challenge

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$250 WSOP Daily Deepstack 1 p.m. Info and Structure

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pndc

Kick off your day with some poker excitement! The opening Daily Deepstack of the day starts at 1 p.m. and promises a thrilling single-day event. With a $250 buy-in, you'll get a solid 25,000 starting stack to work with.

For the latecomers, late registration is open until the start of Level 9, and you can jump back in with unlimited reentries. Each level runs for 30 minutes, with 15-minute breaks sprinkled throughout the day, and a longer 30-minute break after Level 12 to recharge.

Blinds start at 100/100, with the big blind ante in play right from the start. Get ready to shuffle up and deal!

LevelBB AnteBlindsBreaks
1100100-100 
2200100-200 
3300200-300 
4400200-40015 Minute Break
5600300-600 
6800400-800 
71,000500-1,000 
81,200600-1,200Remove 100 Chips (20 Minute Break)
91,5001,000-1,500 
102,0001,000-2,000 
113,0001,500-3,000 
124,0002,000-4,000Remove 500 Chips (30 Minute Break)
136,0003,000-6,000 
148,0004,000-8,000 
1510,0005,000-10,000 
1616,0008,000-16,000Remove 1,000 Chips (15 Minute Break)
1720,00010,000-20,000 
1830,00015,000-30,000 
1940,00020,000-40,000 
2060,00030,000-60,000Break (15 Minute Break)
2180,00040,000-80,000 
22100,00050,000-100,000 
23150,000100,000-150,000 
24200,000100,000-200,000Break (15 Minute Break)
25300,000150,000-300,000 
26400,000200,000-400,000 
27600,000300,000-600,000 
28800,000400,000-800,000Break (15 Minute Break)
291,000,000500,000-1,000,000 
301,500,0001,000,000-1,500,000 
312,000,0001,000,000-2,000,000 
323,000,0001,500,000-3,000,000 

PokerNews Daily Deepstack wins for Iacofano, Sullivan and Vigelette

Kevin Iacofano
Kevin Iacofano

Welcome back to the daily updates from the PokerNews Daily Deepstacks from the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

The latest Daily Deepstack tournaments have crowned their champions, with over $200,000 in prize money awarded across the three. The largest, as normal was the 540-player $250 Daily Deepstack, won by Kevin Iacofano, with Kyle Sullivan and XXX also winning Daily Deepstack titles on Wednesday, June 4.

EventFieldPrizepool
$250 540 $116,100  
$500 126 $44,226  
$200 219 $43,800  

$250 Daily Deepstack

WSOP Circuit ring-winner and two-time European Poker Tour final tablist Kevin Iacofano has added another accolade to his poker resume: a PokerNews Daily Deepstack title for $18,629.

He defeated Kenneth Rutledge heads-up, with Rutledge having to settle for $12,957. The $250 Daily Deepstack attracted 540 entries and paid out 81 places.

Final Table Results – $250 Deepstack

PlacePlayerCountryPayout (USD)
1Kevin IacofanoUnited States$18,629
2Kenneth RutledgeUnited States$12,957
3Senthuran VijayaratnamCanada$9,185
4Hamid YasiniUnited States$6,620
5Kevin KimUnited States$4,852
6Steffen BernhardtGermany$3,618
7Tao ChuTaiwan$2,745
8Flavio GuimaraesBrazil$2,120
9Hugo SalayamautiBrazil$1,668

$400 Daily Deepstack

Kyle Sullivan came out on top of a 126-player field to win $10,800 in the $400 Daily Deepstack. Just 19 players were paid with Douglas Young picking up a min-cash of $833.

Sullivan defeated Askia Ingram heads-up, with Ingram adding $6,914 to the $9,000 they took home for winning the Orleans SUmemr Open $300 Monster Stack earlier this week.

Finishing third was Santiago Montes who took home $4,602. Montes cashed three times in the PokerNews Daily Deepstacks in 2024, and already has his first for 2025.

Final Table Results – $400 Deepstack

PlacePlayerCountryPayout (USD)
1Kyle SullivanUnited States$10,800
2Askia IngramUnited States$6,914
3Santiago MontesUnited States$4,602
4John FeeneyUnited States$3,188
5Adam GreenleeUnited States$2,302
6Shandy ClarkUnited States$1,735
7Lisa ArmstrongUnited States$1,369
8William HaramijaUnited States$1,133
9Yubin WangUnited States$985

$200 Daily Deepsatck

The $200 Daily Deepstack didn't finish until gone 4 a.m. local time, but after cashing four times last year, George Vigelette picked up his first PokerNews Daily Deepstack title.

One of those results in 2024 was a runner-up finish for $ 6,886, but he's now surpassed that with the $7,542 he won tonight after outlasting a 219-player field and defeating Nint Hoo heads-up. Hoo is a Daily Deepstack regular, having cashed nine times in 2023 and 2024 combined. However, his $4,946 cash in this event was the largest of all.

Final Table Results – $200 Deepstack

PlacePlayerCountryPayout (USD)
1George VigeletteUnited States$7,542
2Nint HooUnited States$4,946
3Andrew LorigUnited States$ 3,348
4Todd EstesUnited States$ 2,336
5Rodrick Edwards United States$ 1,682
6Benjamin Zollner United States$ 1,250
7Eugene Senda United States$ 961
8Yotam ShmuelovUnited States$ 765
9Andrea SagerUnited States$ 631

Tags: Adam GreenleeAndrea SagerAndrew LorigBenjamin Zollner Douglas YoungEugene Senda Flavio GuimaraesLisa ArmstrongKyle SullivanSteffen BernhardtTao ChuTodd EstesKevin KimSenthuran VijayaratnamKevin IacofanoKenneth RutledgeSantiago MontesJohn FeeneyRodrick Edwards Hugo SalayamautiParis Las VegasHamid YasiniGeorge VigeletteMonster StackWilliam Haramija

Meet the PokerNews Deepstack Grinders Who Turned a Seat Into a Score

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

Raymond Chiu
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

William Plitz
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

Georgios Skarparis
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

Kenny Hsiung
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

Michael Lin
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

Artur Stepanyan
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

Michael Beattie
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 $600 PokerNews DeepStack Championship Returns to the WSOP

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.

Time for a Night Cap in the 8 p.m. $200 Daily Deepstack

pndc
pndc

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.

LevelBB AnteBlindsBreaks / Chip Removals
1100100-100 
2200100-200 
3300100-300 
4400200-400 
5600300-600 
6800400-800Remove 100 Chips (20 Minute Break)
71,000500-1,000 
81,5001,000-1,500 
92,0001,000-2,000Remove 500 Chips (15 Minute Break) (Reg. ends)
103,0002,000-3,000 
114,0002,000-4,000 
126,0003,000-6,000 
138,0004,000-8,000 
1410,0005,000-10,000 
1516,0008,000-16,000 
1620,00010,000-20,000Remove 1,000 Chips (15 Minute Break)
1730,00015,000-30,000 
1840,00020,000-40,000 
1960,00030,000-60,000 
2080,00040,000-80,000 
21100,00050,000-100,000 
22150,000100,000-150,00015 Minute Break
23200,000100,000-200,000 
24300,000150,000-300,000 
25400,000200,000-400,000 
26600,000300,000-600,000 
27800,000400,000-800,000 
281,000,000500,000-1,000,00015 Minute Break
291,500,0001,000,000-1,500,000 
302,000,0001,000,000-2,000,000 
313,000,0001,500,000-3,000,000 
325,000,0002,000,000-5,000,000 
336,000,0003,000,000-6,000,000 
348,000,0004,000,000-8,000,000 

PokerNews Deepstack Championship FAQs

Daily Deepstacks
Daily Deepstacks
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

Join the Fun: PokerNews Daily Deepstack Challenge Leaderboard

Daily Deepstacks PN
Daily Deepstacks PN

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!

Check Out the Leaderboard Now!

PNDC Week 2 Leaderboard (As of June 3)

RankPlayerPoints
1Marc Doring863
2Atsushi Mineki814
3Ryan Flesch737
4Emil Simonea407
5Shiny Nicolas Galion395
6Sanjeev Kapoor368
7David Holmes350
8Scott Krentler336
9Christopher Robertson332
10Troy Mclain325
11Austin Currington315
12Vamerdino Magsakay295
13Timothy Acker285
14Troy Tobin280
15Michael Mcgowan277
16Joseph Butler262
17Antonio Seremet258
18Marc Deldonna245
19Jeffrey Butwinick244
20William Wilson224
21Alfredo Pacheco221
22Andrew Lorig210
23Brett Kunin203
24Tristan Tauscher203
25Sagar Khatri192
26Raymund Uy184
27William Murray175
28Alexander Outhred163
29Arnaud Menesplier163
30Benedetta Gropalli163
31Caleb Wells163
32Colin Gorman163
33Dustin Harrelson163
34Esker Roberts163
35George Galloway163
36Himmat Singh163
37Jeffrey Smith163
38Jingwei Qi163
39Joel Lundstrom163
40Justin Noonan163
41Kevin Goldstein163
42Ki Hong163
43Michael Webb163
44Nektarios Papadedes163
45Niklas Poland163
46Oscar Ojeda Gomez163
47Richard Carlson163
48Rick Allan Whitesell163
49Rusty Cabutotan163
50Stephen Wheeland163
51Steven Light163
52Vuoti Miikka Erik163
53William Plitz163
54Ahamad Razak147
55Charlton Hawes147
56Christopher Lee147
57Maurice Hawkins147
58Olen Bratton147
59Suryanarayan Nemani147
60Aaron Kemmer140
61Chad Horimoto140
62Chueyee Yang140
63Landon Covich140
64Lloyd Lopoz140
65Marquez Parnell140
66Muzaffar Naim140
67Rodrigo Gurgel140
68Ryan Love140
69Alison Barry81
70Anthony Koutsos81
71Armando Flores81
72Barath Kumar81
73Brandon Flanagan81
74Brian Shultz81
75Carlos Valdes81
76Christopher Kramp81
77Coltrane Mendelsohn81
78Daniel Labrunda81
79Darrin Mccaffrey81
80David Cadaoas81
81David Kang81
82Dimitri Le Sourd81
83Ediberto Pilotin81
84Frank Martin81
85Gregory Crysel81
86Gregory Glisson81
87Israel Banadera81
88James Germann81
89James Macmillan81
90Jason Kalawe81
91Jennifer Zewe81
92Jorge Torres81
93Joseph Anthony81
94Juan Mubarak Peralta81
95Kelly Frisbie81
96Laurent Navarro81
97Mark Macdonald81
98Michael Powell81
99Miguel Rodriguez81
100Mohammad Haghdoust81
101Noah Piderit81
102Panagiotis Kassimatis81
103Pedram Bouzarjomehri81
104Richard Gress81
105Romeo Samblero81
106Teng Yu Yu81
107Truong Nguyen81
108Tyler Spaugh81
109Wooyang Lin81
110Andrew Sinclair74
111Eric Zheng74
112Jonathan Delmundo74
113Justin Geronimo74
114Leeroy Francisco74
115Robert Kuhn74
116Sandra Bratton74
117Sandy Sanchez74
118Thomas Jackson74
119Lucas Tae72
120Adam Benson70
121Andrew Goosen70
122Brian Stanley70
123Dale Giva70
124Edward Ellson70
125Eric Lively70
126John D Ribeiro70
127Julie Pethick70
128Kirion Kim70
129Konstantin Ofilov70
130Robert Ersing70
131Sergei Saakian70
132Shahar Biniaminov70
133Tigran Gasparyan70
134Adam Bishop41
135Adauto Viana Junior41
136Alan Mulleady41
137Andres Rey41
138Bing Li41
139Binh Tran41
140Brad Madden41
141Brandon Bloom41
142Cj Cadwell41
143Cuong To41
144Dadong Peng41
145Daniel Alexander Quesada41
146Daniel Salgar41
147Dean Blatt41
148Dominic Ferrauilo41
149Dwayne Pierce41
150Dylan Mougel41
151Eduardo Rangel41
152Elijah Manders41
153Gavin Smith41
154Hongxing Li41
155Hunter Cole41
156Iker Bailen41
157James Barnett41
158James Boyd41
159James James41
160Jeffrey Fuhr41
161Jeffrey Hunter41
162Jeffrey Parcher41
163Jeremy Booth41
164Jeremy Payne41
165John Corteza41
166John Curry41
167John Hirte41
168Joni Yosypiw41
169Julio Torres41
170Justin Kaemmerer41
171Kelson Kugler41
172Larry Neal41
173Leon Burstein41
174Lester Rainey41
175Luis Jose Ramos41
176Marc Daroux41
177Martin Abraham41
178Mary Thomas41
179Matthew Thrun41
180Michael Hanout41
181Michael Simms41
182Milton Armstrong41
183Mohammad Al Falahi41
184Neill Pethick41
185Nurhan Mener41
186Rafael Gonzalez41
187Rama Pakala41
188Rebecca Trianosky41
189Richard Modjeski41
190Robert Speechley41
191Rodolfo Patriarca41
192Ronnie Tate41
193Ruel Sana41
194Ryan Rivers41
195Sean Tharpe41
196Seng On41
197Susie Susanti41
198Thien Nguyen41
199Trung Vu41
200Tyler Mcafoose41
201Vongduane Sengseevong41
202Woody Christy41
203Anatolii Boshtan37
204Caleb Mitson37
205Craig Boyett37
206David Weisberger37
207Frank Isenthal37
208Ibrahim Naim37
209Jason Green37
210Jay Patel37
211Jeremy Brown37
212Luke Purcell37
213Marcus Wolfsteller37
214Steven Christopher37
215Vesa Heikkinen37
216Ying Luo37
217Yong Liu37
218Andrew Huey35
219Austin Kohnle35
220Bahman Ataeianfar35
221Blain Ovind35
222Christopher Chmiel35
223Christopher Godfrey35
224Cory Novak35
225Danny Woolard35
226Demarcus Ivy35
227Douglas Demolocosta35
228Ivan Kalinski35
229Jeffrey Glaittli35
230John Murdoch35
231Karwei Lee35
232Kyohei Sukasaki35
233Ludovic Geilich35
234Matthew Pino35
235Matthew Walter35
236Michael Hammers35
237Patrick Beavers35
238Robert Flowers35
239Scott Slater35
240Steven Gordon35