button in SafariEvent #3: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em
Day 4 Completed
2025 World Series of Poker
Event #3: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em
Day: 4
Players Left 1 / 693
Filter
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Five players came in to the final day of Event #3: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em here at the 2025 World Series of Poker hosted at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. All were guaranteed at least $137,948 but had the same goal of claiming the top prize of $582,008.
It was none-other than Spanish native [Removed:658] who managed to navigate a field of 693 players full of rising stars, poker legends and full-time crushers. [Removed:660] defeated a very talented Frederic Normand heads up for $582,008 to take the lion’s share of the $3,720,960 prize pool.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Removed:658] | Spain | $582,008 |
| 2 | Frederic Normand | Canada | $387,979 |
| 3 | Christian Roberts | Venezuela | $270,407 |
| 4 | Renji Mao | China | $191,550 |
| 5 | [Removed:599] | France | $137,948 |
| 6 | Uri Reichenstein | Israel | $101,028 |
| 7 | Justin Liberto | United States | $75,263 |
| 8 | Georgios Sotiropoulos | Greece | $57,051 |
Winner’s reaction
It was a dream come true for [Removed:660], who captured his second WSOP bracelet after an intense few days run that showcased both strategic brilliance on the felt, as some of opponents described him as “unbeatable.” When asked how he felt moments after the victory, the champion remained humble.
"Second bracelet, I feel amazing... I have nothing else to say but I have to come back to reality.”
[Removed:660] felt the momentum shift in different spots, during a pivotal hand against Uri Reichenstein on the final table. However, the belief didn’t fully settle in until deep into the heads-up match.
"There was no point I really thought I was winning it... but after the bluff in heads-up — when he folded — I said, ‘Okay, now we’re even.’ Heads-up is one of my specialties in poker."
A longtime grinder in single-table sit-and-go's, [Removed:660] transitioned into tournament play just two years ago. After a strong run last year which gained him his first bracelet, he returned to the series this year with renewed focus and goals to win as many bracelets as possible.
"This year, I started coaching with a genius called Giuseppe Calio. We worked hundreds of hours together. When I came back, I was four or five times better than last year." Adopting a GTO-centric approach, he emphasized preparation, discipline, and robotic precision in decision-making. "We don’t mind if the opponent bluffs or not — we’re trying to emulate the robot as much as we can. That’s what we worked for. At the end of the day, to play this properly, you have to know all the theory."
When asked about his switch from spins to tournaments, he put it simply: “I was looking for glory. No praise in spins.”
![[Removed:658]](https://s.pnimg.net/_k8BaaAKm1AUhkJmIW4eRqGgzEXJDQLioAmvAcrLySI/pr:reporting-body/aHR0cHM6Ly9wbmlt/Zy5uZXQvdy9sci1h/dHRhY2htZW50cy8w/LzY4My9jMDE0NjY1/ZDVkLmpwZw.webp)
Final Day Action
The final five knew they were in for a grind due to the average stack playing over 50 big blinds, which brought methodical decision making. Despite an early lead, [Removed:660]'s road to victory was far from smooth, including a collision blind versus blind against the table’s short stack and eventual runner-up Normand. The loss of 6,000,000 chips sent [Removed:660] down to the bottom of the pack. Despite this setback, he did not lose his head as a few hands later, he found himself in a big pot against Renji Mao which sent him back into the chip lead.
At this point, [Removed:660] closed the gap between himself, Normand and Christian Roberts making the chip stacks relatively even. [Removed:660] managed to grind Roberts down not long after, which furthered the gap between the two stacks. [Removed:660]’s final table awareness was super apparent; he allowed Normand and Roberts to tangle a while later, leaving Roberts to make an incorrect hero call to exit in third place.
Despite the chip disadvantage going into the heads-up match, [Removed:660]'s skill and experience were apparent as he managed to grind his way to the chip lead. The turning point was when [Removed:660] fired a big bluff, leaving Normand in the tank for ten minutes before ultimately folding.
Now that the bracelet is his, what’s next for the champion?
“I’ll play everything — probably up to the $25,000 events. That’s my top buy-in for this series.”
Despite the huge score, he remains grounded. When asked about the money, his response was just as measured.
“What’s the plan with the money? Keep saving. Saving money.”
That concludes the PokerNews coverage for this event but stay tuned for our continuing coverage of the coming weeks of the 2025 WSOP.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
[Removed:658] made it 700,000 with A♣3♣ from the button and Frederic Normand called with 7♠6♣ in the big blind.
The flop came 3♠5♣Q♣ and Normand checked, [Removed:660] bet 350,000, and Normand check-raised to 1,450,000. [Removed:660] dropped in the call with his pair and flush draw.
A disastrous card fell on the turn for Normand as the 4♣ rolled off, giving him a straight but completing [Removed:660]'s flush. Normand then announced a bet of 3,900,000 and slid the chips forward. [Removed:660] called.
When the 9♥ landed on the river, Normand bet all but 300,000 of his stack, [Removed:660] shoved, and Normand called off his last few chips.
The stacks were so close that they were counted down and after a minute, confirmation that [Removed:660] had the bigger stack was given, meaning Normand had to settle for second.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Frederic Normand made it 600,000 on the button with K♦7♦ and [Removed:658] called holding 10♣3♣ in the big blind.
The flop came 5♣4♣3♠ and after [Removed:660] checked, Normand checked back to see the 9♦ drop on the turn. Again the action went check-check and they watched the A♣ hit the river, completing [Removed:660]'s flush. He led out for 1,500,000 and Normand laid it down.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
[Removed:658] limped in with 6♠2♥ on the button and Frederic Normand checked with 4♥3♣ from the big blind.
The flop came 7♥A♣4♠ and Normand check-called a bet of 400,000 from [Removed:660] to the 8♦ turn, where Normand checked and [Removed:660] fired 2,100,000. Normand stuck around with a call.
A J♠ hit the river and Normand tapped the table again. [Removed:660], with just six-high, announced a bet of 5,500,000. Normand had the best hand with his pair of fours, but couldn't make a decision as he was still in the tank after around five minutes.
"I don't know what to do," said Normand as he exhaled.
Another five minutes passed and [Removed:660] called the clock, putting Normand on a countdown. Eventually, Normand did lay it down, allowing [Removed:660] to breathe a sigh of relief and almost even out the stacks.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Christian Roberts raised to 800,000 from the small blind with K♥7♣ and Frederic Normand defended Q♣10♣ from the big blind.
On the 2♥7♠6♣ flop, both checked to the Q♦ turn, where Roberts checked again. Normand then bet 675,000 and Roberts called to see the 2♠ pair the board on the river.
Roberts quickly checked and Normand shoved. Roberts had 5,150,000 behind and took around five seconds before he made the call, ending his tournament run in third.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
[Removed:658] limped in from the small blind with K♣4♠ and Christian Roberts checked 10♠8♠ in the big blind.
Both saw the 6♣4♦J♠ flop where [Removed:660] checked and Roberts bet 450,000. [Removed:660] then check-raised to 1,125,000 and Roberts made it an even 2,000,000. [Removed:660] called.
A 9♣ on the turn saw [Removed:660] check it over, and then Roberts went with a bet of 1,000,000. [Removed:660] called again.
When the 5♥ landed on the river, [Removed:660] led out for 5,000,000. Roberts sat motionless for a while, but had no choice except to lay down his hand.
Level: 32
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 300,000
Level 31
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Christian Roberts min-raised to 500,000 on the button with K♣7♣ and Frederic Normand called in the small blind with K♦J♦. [Removed:658] was in the big blind and called with J♣8♣.
The flop came K♠K♥Q♣, which gave both Roberts and Normand trips. The action checked to Roberts, who fired out 400,000. Normand called and [Removed:660] got out of the way.
A 9♦ fell on the turn and after Normand checked, Roberts checked back to the 9♣ river, which gave both a full house. Normand bet 3,200,000 and Roberts snap-called, leaving them both to chop it up.
Level 31
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Christian Roberts limped from the small blind with A♦J♣ and Frederic Normand raised to 875,000 from the big blind holding J♠J♦. Roberts called.
The flop came 10♣7♠3♣ and after Roberts checked, Normand bet 1,500,000 and after thinking it over, Roberts called with ace-high.
A 2♥ dropped on the turn and after Roberts checked again, Normand shoved for 8,600,000. Roberts laid it down and Normand regained the chip lead.