2025 WSOP PokerNews Deepstack Challenge

It’s Week 4 of the PokerNews Deepstack Challenge, the penultimate leg of the five-week promotion running alongside the WSOP Daily Deepstack tournaments at Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas.

From June 17–23, players who participate in the daily $200, $250, and $400 Deepstack events can earn leaderboard points and move one step closer to a complimentary entry into the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship.

Every week, the top 10 point earners win seats to the July 1 Championship event. There are just two weeks remaining to qualify.

Follow all updates, including daily winners and current standings, on the official PokerNews Deepstack Challenge leaderboard hub.

Final tablists each receive a custom PokerNews card protector. Winners get a special edition version to mark their victory.

PokerNews Deepstack Challenge Leaderboard Dates

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June 17 saw another batch of PokerNews Daily Deepstack tournaments take place at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, and all three enjoyed impressive turnouts. Another 1,798 players bought in across the $250, $400, and $200 buy-in tournaments, creating combined prize pools worth $389,680.

Here is who shone the brightest in those three events.

$250 Daily Deepstack

The $250 Daily Deepstack attracted 1,012 players, who created a $202,400 prize pool. Walking away with the lion's share of that pot, namely $29,254, was Israel's Roni Tal.

Tal is yet to register an in-the-money finish in a bracelet awarding event this summer, but he now has a larger bankroll with which to take a few more shots at glory. The $29,254 Tal won was almost a career-best payout for him, narrowly losing out by only $1,124.

Tal defeated Scott Shone heads-up, resigning the runner-up to a $20,627 consolation prize. Tanner Pray ($14,789) and Li Chen ($10,755) also padded their bankrolls with five-figure scores.

Final Table Results

$400 Daily Deepstack

Some 374 players bought into the $400 Daily Deepstack and fought it out for a share of a $123,420 prize pool. When the final hand was dealt, Tao Qin had all of the chips in front of him. Qin collected $23,459 for his impressive victory, a prize more than double his previous best haul.

Qin cashed in the $500 No-Limit Hold'em Salute to Warriors a couple of days ago, finishing 120th for $1,654. The PokerNews Daily Deepstack Challenge leaderboard points Qin collected alongside the $23,459 in prize money for winning this $400 Daily Deepstack could see him having a free shot at a bracelet when the $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship kicks off on July 1.

Each of the nine finalists turned their $400 investment into at least $2,111, with runner-up Dennis Dahle ($16,35) and third-place finisher Kyeongrim Shin ($11,610) walking away with five-figure payouts.

Final Table Results

$200 Daily Deepstack

The $200 Daily Deepstack, which rounded off the day's action, drew 412 entrants who built a pot worth $63,860. Sridhar Sangannagari came out on top and scooped $11,888 for his efforts.

Sangannagari has more than $1.1 million in live tournament earnings, an impressive sum helped by his collecting $120,004 for a runner-up finish in the $600 No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha bracelet event in 2023. Sangannagari had helped himself to a $745,000 score two months earlier in a $3,500 WPT event. It goes to show that you never know who you'll bump into in the Daily Deepstacks!

Daniel Quesada finished second in this tournament for $8,094, while Steven Snyder added to his $2.4 million in live winnings with the $5,642 third-place prize money.

Final Table Results

Tags: Daniel QuesadaDennis DahleKyeongrim ShinLi ChenPokerNewsRoni TalScott ShoneSridhar SangannagariSteven SnyderTanner PrayTao Qin

July 18 saw a fresh set of PokerNews Daily Deepstack tournaments take place at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, with the three newest Daily Deepstack winners being awarded.

Let's take a look at the latest Daily Deepstack winners here in Las Vegas at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP).

$250 Daily Deepstack

The $250 Daily Deepstack attracted 1,388 players to generate a prize pool of $277,600. Austria's Martin Kritsch defeated heads-up opponent Jens Mueller to win $36,694.

Kritsch had his first cash in Vienna in 2011 and recorded his first WSOP cash in 2018 as he finished 1,272nd in the Colossus for $996. It is a career-best score for the Austrian, who previously finished runner-up in a Triple 21 event in Vienna for $19,141.

The $250 final table also included Christopher Lundeen (3rd - $18,979), James Collins Ii and (4th - $13,926), and Thomas Smith (5th - $10,347).

Final Table Results

$400 Daily Deepstack

The $400 Daily Deepstack drew 255 runners for a prize pool of $84,150 as Japan's Keishi Yumiba recorded a career-best cash of $17,806.

Yumiba, who defeated runner-up Ricardo Perez ($12,073), previously finished fourth in a 2018 All Japan Poker Championship event for $,4700. Yumiba had his first WSOP cash earlier this month with a 1,132nd-place finish in the $1,500 Monster Stack.

The $400 Deepstack final table also included Jonathan Hewston (3rd - $8,377), Cameron Hammond (4th - $5,948), James Worth (5th - $4,323).

Final Table Results

$200 Daily Deepstack

The $200 Daily Deepstack, the lowest buy-in offered, drew 328 runners for a prize pool of $50,840. That event saw Florida's David Jacobs winning for a career-best $10,045, besting his $7,101 previous top cash from a fifth-place finish in a 2011 Circuit event in Tunica.

The Lake Worth native has cashed several bracelet events over the yeras, including the 2016 $565 Pot-Limit Omaha event and the 2011 $1,500 NLH event.

Jacobs, who defeated heads-up opponent Juan Sosa ($6,783), was joined at the final table by Andrew Oclarit (3rd - $4,693), Ariel Abbatiello (4th - $3,323) and Sandro Romano (5th - $2,408).

Final Table Results

Tags: Andrew OclaritAnthony BiggersAriel AbbatielloBenjamin BennettFred WillumsenDavid WernickDavid JacobsChristopher LundeenCameron HammondJames Collins IiJames WorthJens MuellerMihail KarasoulisJonathan HewstonJuan SosaKeishi YumibaNadav PozailovRicardo PerezSandro RomanoThomas SmithRandy JacksTadd MillerNicholas Getzen

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

The fourth week of the PokerNews Deepstack Challenge rolled on with another packed day of action on Friday, June 20. Nearly 2,000 entries across three tournaments generated $437,260 in total prize pools, with three more players finding the winner’s circle at Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas.

Among them was a longtime grinder who crossed the million-dollar milestone, a rising London pro adding to a breakout summer, and a Brazilian talent continuing his climb up the ranks.

$250 Deepstack

Jeremy Brown earned his first live tournament win in over six years by outlasting a 1,294-entry field in the $250 Deepstack. The 47-year-old contracting officer from Wenonah, New Jersey, took home $34,834 for the victory, pushing his lifetime tournament earnings past the $1 million mark. It was his second biggest result since finishing runner-up in the 2009 WPT Borgata Championship for $453,519.

Brown’s deep run came through a final table that featured David Elisofon (2nd - $24,866), Don Patrick (3rd - $18,001), and Allan Jersak (5th - $9,799). With 196 players paid from a $258,800 prize pool, Friday’s event was one of the largest of the summer.

Final Table Results

$400 Deepstack

London’s Sotiris Georgiou added another major score to his growing resume by taking down Friday’s $400 Deepstack for $24,609. The 34-year-old poker pro navigated a 398-player field and topped a final table that included Stephen Austin (2nd - $16,982) and Fan Zhang (3rd - $11,946).

Georgiou’s victory comes just weeks after his career-best result at Aria, where he finished second in a $1,100 Mystery Bounty event for over $50,000. Friday’s win was the second-biggest score of his career and continued his impressive summer run. The event paid 61 places from a prize pool of $131,340.

Final Table Results

$200 Deepstack

Brazil’s Douglas Ferreira secured the $200 Deepstack title on Friday, defeating 303 other entries to claim the $9,541 top prize. The 32-year-old poker pro has now earned more than $245,000 in live tournaments, with his largest cash to date sitting at $131,861.

Ferreira bested a final table that included Xingwei Chen (2nd - $6,471) and Lonnie Clower (3rd - $4,498), with 46 players reaching the money. The tournament generated a $47,120 prize pool and added another solid result to Ferreira’s growing list of international accomplishments.

Final Table Results

Saturday, June 22's PokerNews Deepstack Challenge continued in style at Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas, where three new champions emerged from a combined field of over 1,800 entries.

With $427,531 in prize money up for grabs across three events, the day delivered an exciting mix of winners, including an American celebrating his career-best score, a player from a beautiful Caribbean island with a population of just 200,000, and a WSOP Circuit ring holder adding another title to his career tally.

$250 Deepstack

Congratulations to American Britton Purvis, who topped a 1,198-entry field in the $250 Daily Deepstack to earn $33,029 - one of the biggest scores of his career. The WSOPC ring winner, who took down the $400 No-Limit Hold'em at Commerce Casino in November 2024, added another trophy to his collection after navigating a final table stacked with American players.

Jefferson Morrill, who also cashed in this week’s Seniors Championship, finished runner-up for $23,441, while fellow WSOPC ring winner Jaime Haletky secured third place and $16,905.

Final Table Results

$400 Deepstack

Yoel Selles Meijer, based in the tiny Caribbean island of the Netherlands Antilles, took down the $400 Daily Deepstack for $21,013, defeating a 321-player field and capturing one of his biggest live scores to date.

Selles Meijer’s previous best came on the Estrellas Poker Tour in Madrid, but Saturday’s win marked a headline win on American soil. The final table had a global feel, with eight different nationalities represented. American Kanj Chehade finished second for $14,407, and Sweden’s Christopher Andersson came third, banking $10,082.

Final Table Results

$200 Deepstack

Arizona’s Abdullah Ahmad earned the largest live cash of his career by winning the $200 Daily Deepstack for $10,354, as per The Hendon Mob. Prior to Saturday, Ahmad's best result was a 16th-place finish worth $1,354 at the 2021 Wynn Summer Classic.

Ahmad topped a 341-entry field to take the title, outlasting fellow American Mark Algara, who claimed $7,007 for second, and Zhijian Zhang, representing China, who placed third for $4,858.

Final Table Results

Sunday, June 23, brought another busy day of action in the PokerNews Deepstack Challenge at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, where three more players joined the growing list of 2025 event winners.

Across a combined 1,686 entries and $355,180 in prize pools, the day delivered a big score for a Florida grinder, a breakout win for a Colorado player navigating a four-figure field, and a return to the winner’s circle for a past LAPC champion.

$400 Deepstack

Congratulations to Florida’s Mack McLaughlin, who outlasted 246 other players in Sunday’s $400 PokerNews Deepstack to collect $17,380.

McLaughlin closed it out in style at Horseshoe & Paris Las Vegas, taking down a final table that featured players from five different countries. Ohio’s Zhen Situ claimed the $11,743 runner-up prize, while Caixin Wong of Taiwan rounded out the podium for $8,126.

Final Table Results

$250 Deepstack

Joseph Davidman took down Sunday’s $250 PokerNews Deepstack after besting a huge 1,125-entry field to earn $31,590, the biggest score of his career. The Colorado native navigated a long day of poker and a final table filled with American grinders to claim the title at Horseshoe & Paris Las Vegas.

Nestor Quiatchon of Washington finished in second place for $22,330, while fellow Coloradan Don Patrick rounded out the top three and collected $16,055.

Final Table Results

$200 Deepstack

Ediberto Pilotin picked up his latest live victory on Sunday, taking down the $200 PokerNews Deepstack for $9,732. The former LAPC event winner, now based in California, came out on top of a 314-entry field at Horseshoe & Paris Las Vegas to secure his first PokerNews Deepstack title.

Julie McLeod of Arizona finished second for $6,542, while Texas’ Shadi Farraj earned $4,514 for third. The final table featured players representing five different countries, including Australia, Canada, and Spain.

Final Table Results

The fourth week of the PokerNews Deepstack Challenge came to a close on Monday, June 23, with three champions emerging from another busy day of deepstack action inside the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

More than 2,000 players turned out across the $250, $400, and $200 events, pushing the total prize pools past $440,000. For Duy Ho, Oscar Avellaneda, and Megan Chapman, the day ended with trophies, payouts, and major career highlights as the summer series heads into its final week.

$250 Deepstack

Duy Ho knows what it takes to succeed at the PNDC. The Hawaiin poker pro topped the Week 2 leaderboard in last year’s PokerNews Deepstack Challenge and added another impressive victory to his summer campaign by taking down Monday’s $250 Deepstack for $33,406. Ho navigated a huge 1,216-player field and a stacked final table to secure the win, further building on a résumé that includes over $1.1 million in career live earnings.

The final table was no walkover, with experienced players and recreational hopefuls alike battling for the $243,200 prize pool. Joseph Caliendo finished runner-up for $23,697, while Dannette Mason secured third for $17,098. Daniel Robles, Javier Martinez, and Raul Gutierrez also made deep runs.

Final Table Results

$400 Deepstack

It was a breakthrough moment for Orange County’s Oscar Avellaneda, who outlasted a 413-entry field to win the $400 Deepstack for a career-best $25,320. The 38-year-old DJ and sports reporter had just over $8,700 in recorded live cashes coming into the day, but walked away with his first significant tournament victory after besting a field full of experienced grinders and rising amateurs.

Avellaneda’s victory capped off a hard-fought final table that saw Michael Gilbert finish second for $17,516, while Nikhil Gera locked up third for $12,352. Other notables included Renyong Hu (4th - $8,869) and Naushad Ali (5th - $6,487), but it was Avellaneda’s day to shine as he captured the title and smashed his previous career earnings total in the process.

Final Table Results

$200 Deepstack

Megan Chapman continued her steady rise on the poker scene with a win in Monday’s $200 Deepstack, earning $11,669 after outlasting 403 entries. The 25-year-old from Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been building momentum throughout the summer, and this marked the second-largest cash of her career.

Chapman, who now has over $130,000 in live earnings, held her nerve at a competitive final table that included Mike Rizk (2nd - $7,944) and Japan’s Naoya Morozumi (3rd - $5,533). With this victory, Chapman adds her name to the growing list of PNDC champions as the summer-long series enters its final chapter.

Final Table Results