Kristen Foxen was sitting on a fresh stack of 300,000 and shoved all in from the hijack. The action folded to Mathew Frankland in the big blind who quickly flicked in a call.
Kristen Foxen: K♦J♥
Mathew Frankland: 8♥8♣
The flop came A♦10♣6♥ and Foxen picked up additional outs to her two over cards. The 9♥ on the turn and the 4♥ on the river bricked out, sending Foxen's stack across the table.
Martin Kabrhel just got done complaining about his tough table that includes Alex Foxen, Bryn Kenney, Chino Rheem and Poker Hall of Famer John Hennigan before Hennigan moved all in for 255,000 from under the gun and Kabrhel called from the next seat.
John Hennigan: A♣8♠
Martin Kabrhel: A♥J♥
Hennigan was dominated and got no help as the board ran out 6♦2♠5♠5♥9♥ to mark his elimination.
Christoph Vogelsang opened to 40,000 from under the gun and Orpen Kisacikoglu defended his big blind.
Kisacikoglu check-called for 20,000 on the K♠J♦8♣ flop, and then check-jammed for the remainder of his starting stack over a bet of 85,000 on the 7♦ turn. Vogelsang quickly called as the slightly bigger stack.
Orpen Kisacikoglu: K♦J♥
Christoph Vogelsang: 7♣7♠
Kisakoglu flopped top two pair, but Vogelsang turned a set of sevens to be the huge favourite heading to the river.
The board rounded out with the 5♠, and Vogelsang received a quick double.
On the next deal, Seth Davies opened to 40,000, and Vogelsang came along from the big blind. He check-called bets of 25,000 and 150,000 on the flop and turn for the final board to read Q♥7♣2♠3♣8♣. Action checked through to showdown, where Vogelsang tabled 10♦7♦ for a pair of sevens. Davies turned over Q♦9♥ for top pair and the pot.
Davies opened to 40,000 once more. This time, Aliaksei Boika and Gregory Jensen called from the cutoff and big blind, respectively.
The action checked to Boika on the 7♥3♦2♦ flop and he bet 40,000. Jensen made it 175,000 and recieved two quick folds.
Michael Moncek opened to 40,000 on the button and Lander Lijo three-bet to around 150,000 in the big blind. Moncek responded by four-betting all in with a stack of around 550,000 and Lijo quickly called.
Michael Moncek: K♣10♠
Lander Lijo: A♥Q♥
Moncek couldn't improve as the board ran out 4♠J♦2♥A♠5♥ to mark his elimination. But Texas Mike wasted no time hopping back into the event, while his brother, Tyler Moncek, is also in the High Roller Field.
Sean Perry was down to around 200,000 chips and pushed all in from the hijack. Seth Davies was in the blinds and made the call to put Perry at risk.
Sean Perry: A♣2♣
Seth Davies: 6♥6♦
The flop came Q♥J♦2♦ and Davies was still able to avoid the dreaded ace that Perry was looking for. The 5♦ on the turn narrowed the outs even more and the J♥ on the river locked up the win for Davies.
Oliver Weis opened to 40,000 from the cutoff and Laszlo Bujtas called from the button. David Peters then three-bet to 140,000 from the small blind, with Weis being the only caller.
Weis check-called bets of 80,000 and 120,000 on the flop and turn for the board to read 10♠4♥2♥6♣3♣.
Weis checked for a third time, and Peters fired out 193,000, leaving one chip behind. The 2024 EPT Cyprus Main Event champion went deep into the tank, using a couple of time banks before make a one-chip call.
Peters tabled A♦A♠ and Weis frustratingly mucked his hand.
"Well played David," said Martin Kabrhel. "I put you on aces."
"David, can you do me a favour today please? Can you be quiet?" Kabrhel rounded out.
Kathy Lehne shoved all in for a little over 200,000 in the hijack and Oliver Weis called from the small blind. The two hands were tabled and they were off to the races.
Kathy Lehne: 7♥7♣
Oliver Weis: A♣Q♦
The flop of 10♠6♣3♦ favored Lehne with the pocket pair. The 8♦ on the turn was also safe but the Q♥ on the river gave Weis a pair of queens, eliminating Lehne from the tournament.
Viktor Blom opened to 32,000 from under the gun and Biao Ding flat-called in middle position. Brock Wilson three-bet to 140,000 in the big blind and Blom just called. Ding four-bet all in for 338,000 and Wilson called, sending Blom's cards into the muck.
Biao Ding: A♠J♣
Brock Wilson: A♦Q♥
Wilson was in a dominating position and the flop of Q♠7♠5♦ put him even further ahead with a pair of queens. Ding turned some hope on the J♥ but the 3♠ on the river sent Ding to the rail.
On the first hand of the day, Kristen Foxen found herself all in and at risk for 245,000. She was called by Sam Soverel with a bigger stack and Foxen was in need of some help.
Kristen Foxen: A♥4♥
Sam Soverel: K♠K♥
The flop came 8♥8♣5♠ and Soverel was still out front with his pair of kings. The J♥ on the turn gave Foxen a flush draw but she couldn't find a heart on the 7♦ river.
In the $25,000 High Roller, 72 players jumped in during the first level of Day 2, including dozens in the final moments before registration closed. That surge ballooned the field to a record-setting 392 entries and forced staff to redraw seats for all 158 remaining players. Now, with the $50,000 High Roller still open for registration until the end of Level 10 (approximately 2:15 p.m.), the question is: will lightning strike twice?
Blom Still Hunting for First Bracelet
Viktor Blom
One player already through is Viktor Blom. The online legend bagged 1,810,000 chips, good for second in the counts and 151 big blinds. Blom is no stranger to big stacks or big spots at the WSOP, but he’s still missing that bracelet accolade.
Since the start of 2023, Blom has reached five WSOP final tables, including a fourth-place finish in this summer’s $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Championship. Last year, he also placed third in both the $50,000 and $100,000 High Rollers, and fourth in the $1,500 Dealer’s Choice. Could this be the run that finally seals it?
End of Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts
Rank
Player
Country
Chip Count
Big Blinds
1
Alexandre Reard
France
2,335,000
195
2
Viktor Blom
Sweden
1,810,000
151
3
Joao Simao
Brazil
1,636,000
136
4
Jack Roser
United States
1,496,000
125
5
Brock Wilson
United States
1,495,000
125
6
Joao Vieira
Portugal
1,380,000
115
7
Brandon Steven
United States
1,300,000
108
8
Marius Gierse
Austria
1,270,000
106
9
Oliver Weis
Germany
1,155,000
96
10
Jason Koon
United States
1,049,000
87
Reard Leads, Field Stacked Behind
Alexandre Reard
Day 1 saw 124 entries, with 52 players advancing. France’s Alexandre Reard leads all with 2,335,000, while other top stacks include Joao Simao, Brock Wilson, and Jack Roser.
Also returning are Jason Koon, Joao Vieira, Brandon Steven, Kristen Foxen, and the triple crown chasing Chino Rheem.
Play resumes at noon with blinds at 8,000/16,000/16,000. Ten levels are scheduled, with 15-minute breaks every two levels and a 60-minute dinner break after Level 14.
As always, stay tuned to PokerNews for all official live updates from the 2025 WSOP.
