Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship
Day 4 Completed
2025 World Series of Poker
Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship
Day: 4
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 4
2025 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$3,589,800
Entries
386
Level
32
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
300,000
Entries
2
Players Left
1
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Limits: 300,000-1,050,000
Less than 16 hours ago, Philip Sternheimer was one card away from elimination, on the brink of narrowly missing out on a goal that has eluded him for years. However, the deck had other ideas, as Sternheimer hit a gutshot to take the chip-lead, and he rode that momentum all the way to his first bracelet.
A total of 386 entries were tallied for Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, a record-breaking field. After four days of play, it is Sternheimer who sits alone at the top, taking home a $763,087 payday after defeating the red-hot Bruno Furth heads-up.
Sternheimer, as his name suggests, has quite the stern demeanor at the table. He takes his time, stares down his opponents, and every move is methodical and calculated. However, once he secured the victory, the emotions were overwhelming for Sternheimer.
He ran over to his star-studded rail for hugs, called his family, and let out some tears. It is refreshing to see such vulnerability from someone as intense as Sternheimer, indicating just how much a WSOP victory means to those involved.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philip Sternheimer | United Kingdom | $763,087 |
| 2 | Bruno Furth | United States | $508,705 |
| 3 | Shaun Deeb | United States | $348,304 |
| 4 | Brian Hastings | United States | $243,144 |
| 5 | Christopher Vitch | United States | $173,121 |
| 6 | Magnus Edengren | Sweden | $125,772 |
| 7 | Sam Soverel | United States | $93,273 |
| 8 | Dennis Weiss | Germany | $70,639 |
| 9 | Edward Jackson Spivack | United Kingdom | $54,657 |
Winner’s Reaction
Sternheimer came into the day with a singular goal in mind, and he was as focused as ever.
“Sort of means everything, to be honest [the bracelet]. I was thinking this morning as I was walking to the tournament area, that I don't think I ever wanted something as bad as this one. And it feels truly surreal once the last card is dealt and you won the bracelet because it's been something I've been chasing for a very long time, and everyone who plays the game knows that.”
Sternheimer has come to terms with the fact that variance and luck play a role in tournament poker, but his mindset remains the same.
“You know, there's a lot of luck involved and whatnot, and you try to tell yourself that the outcomes don't matter as much and you should focus on what you can control. But it's just amazing [to win].”
Sternheimer doesn’t have a traditional path into the poker world that many of his contemporaries do. The 46-year-old previously had a very successful career in the finance industry, but the allure of poker has drawn increasing attention from him in recent years, and he loves the game as much as anyone.
“I've been playing for almost 25 years, I would say, with increasing intensity. You know, I just love the game. I've always devoted time to it.”
“I quit my job about two years ago. I started taking it even more seriously. And the great thing about poker is the more time you spend studying the game, the more you realize that you don’t know.”
It is that curiosity and drive to improve that fuels Sternheimer, and he knew that success would be in his future if he kept working hard.
“Everything just started coming together this year in terms of me studying poker. [I’ve been] working a lot on my mental game, and just trying to go with the flow when things are going your way or not going your way.”
“I've been working with Dylan Weisman on my PLO game. That's been exceptional. I've been working with Elliot Roe for the last couple of years on my mental game. Something just really, really clicked before the series when I talked to him.”
Sternheimer is more than familiar with the trials and tribulations that tournament poker presents, but his love for the game triumphs above its pitfalls.
“The World Series is like the Olympics for a poker player. So what I find tough sometimes is you're in a tournament series and you bust, you have sadness. Not just about busting, but like, I'm no longer playing the game I love.”
“What's amazing about the World Series is you can hop into the next one [after busting]. I really love all the games. And it's just great to have the variety. And you know, I wouldn't miss it for the world.”
“I just love the game, as do most people here at the series.”
Sternheimer wasn’t the only one to have premonitions about his future success, as other top pros seemed to believe in him as well.
“You know, I was sitting with Joao [Simao] in Monte Carlo, and we really bonded. He just looked at me and said he's absolutely sure I'm gonna win a bracelet this year, and he's going to be in the picture.”
Sure enough, Sternheimer got his bracelet, and Simao joined in the celebrations.
Day 4 Action
Sternheimer and Furth returned to the Horseshoe Events Center to battle on one of the feature tables, with Sternheimer holding a 56-37 big blind advantage.
It was almost over on the first hand as a raising war on the turn resulted in Furth being at-risk. Furth held just top pair against the nut low, flush draw, and open-ender of Sternheimer. There were 14 scoop outs for Sternheimer, but the river bricked out and the pot was chopped.
Then, the tides began to turn as a series of pots headed in the direction of Furth, and he took the chip-lead after Sternheimer folded to a river raise.
Shortly after, Sternheimer would regain control after all the chips went in on an ace-nine-six flop in a single-raised pot. Sternheimer held top two pair against the flush draw and superior low draw of Furth. Furth made his low but was counterfeit on the river, as Sternheimer scooped to take a massive chip lead.
Furth would not go down without a fight, and he found a double after making a wheel to even the gap as the stacks returned to their start-of-day position.
However, Furth’s momentum would be short-lived. A few hands later, Furth would flop a gutshot and flush draw against the top set of Sternheimer. All the chips got in on the flop, as Furth picked up an open-ender of his own on the turn. But, the river paired the board as the rail erupted and Sternheimer was able to breathe a sigh of relief after an intense battle.
That concludes PokerNews’s coverage of Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship. Stay tuned as we continue to provide extensive coverage from the floor for all events at the 2025 World Series of Poker.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Limits: 300,000-1,050,000
Philip Sternheimer has won Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship For $763,087 and his first World Series of Poker Bracelet. Stay tuned for a full recap of the day's action.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philip Sternheimer | United Kingdom | $763,087 |
| 2 | Bruno Furth | United States | $508,705 |
| 3 | Shaun Deeb | United States | $348,304 |
| 4 | Brian Hastings | United States | $243,144 |
| 5 | Christopher Vitch | United States | $173,121 |
| 6 | Magnus Edengren | Sweden | $125,772 |
| 7 | Sam Soverel | United States | $93,273 |
| 8 | Dennis Weiss | Germany | $70,639 |
| 9 | Edward Jackson Spivack | United Kingdom | $54,657 |
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Limits: 300,000-1,050,000
Philip Sternheimer raised to 750,000 on the button and Bruno Furth defended his big blind.
Furth led out for 1,100,000 on the 2♥9♦Q♥ flop, and Sternheimer potted it to around 5,100,000. Furth thought for a few moments, and then jammed for 7,650,000 total. Sternheimer snap-called.
Bruno Furth: K♦J♥5♣3♥ 
Philip Sternheimer: Q♦Q♠J♦9♠
Sternheimer had top set, but Furth had many outs he could hit to scoop himself.
The 4♠ fell on the turn to give Furth even more outs to scoop, and now he had a low draw to chop the pot. However, the board-pairing 2♠ landed on the river to improve Sternheimer to a full house, and he won the tournament, eliminating Furth in second place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
23,175,000
8,700,000
|
8,700,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Limits: 300,000-1,050,000
Bruno Furth opened the button to 750,000 and Philip Sternheimer defended his big blind. On the 9♦8♦6♥ flop, Sternheimer check-called a bet of 600,000. Furth sized up to 1,800,000 on the 5♦ turn, and Sternheimer quickly check-folded.
The next hand, Sternheimer limped the button, Furth potted to 900,000, and Sternheimer quickly folded.
Furth opened the button to 750,000 and Sternheimer potted to 2,250,000 from the big blind, and Furth called. On the A♦4♣3♣ flop, Sternheimer bet just one-third for 1,600,000, which earned a fold from Furth after some deliberation.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,475,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
8,700,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
|
|
||
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Limits: 300,000-1,050,000
Bruno Furth raised to 750,000 on the button and Philip Sternheimer defended the big blind.
The flop came down 3♣9♥8♣ and both players checked to see the J♦ appear on the turn. Sternheimer checked and Furth bet 1,200,000. Sternheimer folded, and Furth won the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,075,000
525,000
|
525,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
9,100,000
525,000
|
525,000 |
|
|
||
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Limits: 300,000-1,050,000
Philip Sternheimer potted the button to 900,000, Bruno Furth repotted to 2,700,000, Sternheimer jammed, and Furth was all-in for 3,850,000.
Bruno Furth: A♥A♣J♣5♦
Philip Sternheimer: A♠J♥7♣3♦
The Q♥3♥2♦ flop gave Sternheimer a pair and Furth picked up a wheel gutter. The 10♦ turn changed nothing before the 4♠ river gave Furth the wheel to scoop.
The next hand, Furth folded his button.
Then, Sternheimer limped the button and Furth checked his option.
On the 10♠8♥5♥ flop, Furth checked, Sternheimer bet 425,000, Furth check-potted, and Sternheimer quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,600,000
3,975,000
|
3,975,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
8,575,000
3,975,000
|
3,975,000 |
|
|
||
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Limits: 300,000-1,050,000
Philip Sternheimer limped the button and Bruno Furth checked his option.
Both players checked the A♦2♦5♠ flop to see the 9♣ hit the turn. Furth led out for 450,000, which Sternheimer called.
Two more checks followed on the 4♥ river, and Furth flipped over Q♠9♥6♠2♣, for two pair with a six-five low to win the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
18,575,000
1,300,000
|
1,300,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,600,000
1,300,000
|
1,300,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 32
Limits: 300,000-1,050,000
Level 31
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Limits: 250,000-875,000
Bruno Furth limped the button and Philip Sternheimer checked his option.
On the 10♠4♣3♦ flop, Sternheimer led for 325,000 and Furth called.
The 5♦ turn checked through to the 9♠ river. Sternheimer led for 250,000 and Furth snap-called. Sternheimer had A♦Q♠J♣9♥ for a pair of nines and Furth had K♣8♠7♥3♠ for the low.
The next hand, Sternheimer limped the button, Furth potted to 750,000, and Sternheimer quickly folded.
On the third hand, Furth limped the button and Sternheimer checked his option.
On the 9♥2♥2♦ flop, Sternheimer check-called a bet of 250,000.
The K♣ turn checked through to the 7♦ river which saw Sternheimer lead for 875,000 and Furth quickly called. Sternheimer announced his full house as he tabled 10♣7♠7♣5♦ for a rivered boat.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
19,875,000
1,875,000
|
1,875,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,300,000
1,875,000
|
1,875,000 |
|
|
||
