Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
Day 2 Completed
2025 World Series of Poker
Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
Day: 2
Event Info
2025 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,208,025
Total Entries
910
Level
33
Limits
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
0
Entries
224
Players Left
16
Players Left 1 / 910
Filter
Level 25
: Limits 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 25,000-50,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
There was no shortage of split pots and broken hearts today at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas as the first mixed event of the 2025 World Series of Poker returned for Day 2 of Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better.
From a starting field of 910 hopefuls, just 224 survived Day 1 and returned to the action in the Horseshoe Ballroom today. However, only 137 made the money and secured themselves a minimum cash of $3,027.
Over the course of ten hours of play, the ballroom transitioned from a frenzied affair to an intimate and intense endeavor as the number of tables got smaller and smaller.
By night’s end, just 16 players punched their ticket to Friday’s Day 3 when a champion will be crowned and a bracelet awarded.
Leading the pack into the final day is Melvin McCraney who utilized a late-night surge on his way to a bag of 3,425,000. In second place is Day 1 chip leader David Shmuel, who finished with 3,060,000. Rounding out the podium in third place is Russia's Ilia Krupin with 2,985,000.
End of Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melvin McCraney | United States | 3,425,000 | 57 |
| 2 | David Shmuel | United States | 3,060,000 | 51 |
| 3 | Ilia Krupin | Russia | 2,985,000 | 50 |
| 4 | Patrick Stacey | Canada | 2,310,000 | 39 |
| 5 | Darren Taylor | United Kingdom | 1,840,000 | 31 |
| 6 | Joe Ford | United States | 1,540,000 | 26 |
| 7 | Eric Polirer | United States | 1,225,000 | 20 |
| 8 | Gregory Wood | United States | 1,200,000 | 20 |
| 9 | Jon Kyte | Norway | 1,010,000 | 17 |
| 10 | Joseph Bertrand | United States | 965,000 | 16 |
A number of notable names marched on to Day 2, but were unable to find their way into the money. Some of these include reigning Player of the Year Scott Seiver, the fearless Michael Moncek, four-time bracelet winner Brad Ruben, and all-around superstar Alex Livingston.
On the second hand of hand-for-hand play, Nontajit Sawaddee was forced all in from the small blind and could not connect with the board as the remaining 137 celebrated making it to the money.
Several well-known names advanced into the money but fell short of contention for the bracelet. Among these were Ari Engel (134th-$3,027), Yueqi Zhu (122nd-$3,027), Mike Matusow (111th-$3,027), Brad Owen (91st-$3,027), David Funkhouser (75th-$3,305), Scott Bohlman (62nd-$3,820), Stoyan Madanzhiev (61st-$3,820), Scott Clements (57th-$3,820), Robert Mizrachi (47th-$4,807), Todd Brunson (39th-$5,561), Dylan Smith (35th-$5,561), and Ken Aldridge (27th-$6,562).
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $205,333 |
| 2 | $136,855 |
| 3 | $95,253 |
| 4 | $67,392 |
| 5 | $48,480 |
| 6 | $35,471 |
| 7 | $26,403 |
| 8 | $20,001 |
| 9 | $15,423 |
| 10-11 | $12,112 |
| 12-15 | $9,688 |
| 16 | $7,897 |
Play resumes Friday, May 30, at 1 p.m. local time in the Horseshoe Bronze Section. The action will commence in Level 26 with blinds at 30,000/60,000 and limits at 60,000/120,000 with an average stack of 1,420,000. Play will continue in 60-minute levels until a winner is decided.
Stay tuned to PokerNews as we provide coverage through to the end of this event and all bracelet events here at the 2025 World Series of Poker.
Level 25
: Limits 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 25,000-50,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
| Casino | Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event Center | Bronze 612 | 1 | Martin Matranca | United States | 680,000 | 11 |
| Event Center | Bronze 612 | 2 | Gregory Wood | United States | 1,200,000 | 20 |
| Event Center | Bronze 612 | 3 | Christopher Vitch | United States | 835,000 | 14 |
| Event Center | Bronze 612 | 4 | Melvin Mccraney | United States | 3,425,000 | 57 |
| Event Center | Bronze 612 | 5 | Eric Polirer | United States | 1,225,000 | 20 |
| Event Center | Bronze 612 | 6 | Dennis Morrison | United States | 95,000 | 2 |
| Event Center | Bronze 612 | 7 | Matthew Grapenthien | United States | 535,000 | 9 |
| Event Center | Bronze 612 | 8 | Ilia Krupin | Russia | 2,985,000 | 50 |
| Event Center | Bronze 616 | 1 | Jon Kyte | Norway | 1,100,000 | 18 |
| Event Center | Bronze 616 | 2 | Darren Taylor | United Kingdom | 1,840,000 | 31 |
| Event Center | Bronze 616 | 3 | Austin Marks | United States | 485,000 | 8 |
| Event Center | Bronze 616 | 4 | David Shmuel | United States | 3,060,000 | 51 |
| Event Center | Bronze 616 | 5 | Joseph Bertrand | United States | 965,000 | 16 |
| Event Center | Bronze 616 | 6 | Patrick Stacey | United States | 2,315,000 | 39 |
| Event Center | Bronze 616 | 7 | Joe Ford | United States | 1,545,000 | 26 |
| Event Center | Bronze 616 | 8 | Kevin Pier | United States | 685,000 | 11 |
Level 25
: Limits 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 25,000-50,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
3,425,000
125,000
|
125,000 |
|
||
|
3,060,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
||
|
2,985,000
215,000
|
215,000 |
|
2,310,000
410,000
|
410,000 |
|
1,840,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
1,540,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
1,225,000
75,000
|
75,000 |
|
1,200,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
1,010,000
75,000
|
75,000 |
|
965,000
35,000
|
35,000 |
|
835,000
75,000
|
75,000 |
|
||
|
685,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
680,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
535,000
35,000
|
35,000 |
|
485,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
95,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
Level 25
: Limits 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 25,000-50,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
The final 16 players have put their chips into a bag, and they will return tomorrow at 1:00 in Horseshoe Bronze.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for full chip counts and an end of day recap soon to follow.
Level 25
: Limits 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 25,000-50,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
On the last hand of the night, Joseph Bertrand raised under the gun, Joe Ford reraised in middle position, and Bertrand called.
The flop came 8♠7♥5♥ and Ford continued with a bet. Bertrand called and then led out on the K♦ turn. Ford called and they checked down the 3♣ river.
Ford showed A♠J♠7♣2♣ for a pair of sevens and a low, and Bertrand mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,500,000
175,000
|
175,000 |
|
|
1,000,000
275,000
|
275,000 |
Level 25
: Limits 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 25,000-50,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
| Table | Seat | Player | Chip Counts | Big Bets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 502 | 1 | Martin Matranca | 705,000 | 7 |
| 502 | 2 | Gregory Wood | 1,100,000 | 11 |
| 502 | 3 | Christopher Vitch | 910,000 | 9 |
| 502 | 4 | Melvin McCraney | 3,300,000 | 33 |
| 502 | 5 | Eric Polirer | 1,300,000 | 13 |
| 502 | 6 | Dennis Morrison | 90,000 | 1 |
| 502 | 7 | Matt Grapenthien | 500,000 | 5 |
| 502 | 8 | Ilia Krupin | 3,200,000 | 32 |
| 503 | 1 | Jon Kyte | 1,085,000 | 11 |
| 503 | 2 | Darren Taylor | 1,800,000 | 18 |
| 503 | 3 | Austin Marks | 470,000 | 5 |
| 503 | 4 | David Shmuel | 3,150,000 | 32 |
| 503 | 5 | Joseph Bertrand | 1,275,000 | 13 |
| 503 | 6 | Patrick Stacey | 1,900,000 | 19 |
| 503 | 7 | Joe Ford | 1,325,000 | 13 |
| 503 | 8 | Kevin Pier | 675,000 | 7 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,300,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,200,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
3,150,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,900,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
1,800,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
1,325,000
310,000
|
310,000 |
|
|
1,300,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
1,275,000
675,000
|
675,000 |
|
|
1,100,000
375,000
|
375,000 |
|
|
1,085,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
|
910,000
110,000
|
110,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
705,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
|
675,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
|
|
500,000
350,000
|
350,000 |
|
|
470,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
|
90,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
Level 25
: Limits 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 25,000-50,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Joe Ford raised from under the gun and five players called including Davin Anderson in the cutoff who was all in for his last 45,000.
The flop rolled out A♥9♥8♦ and action checked to David Shmuel in the hijack who bet and only Ford called.
Both players checked the turn 4♦ to the river 2♥ where Ford checked over to Shmuel who bet and Ford called.
Davin Anderson: A♣J♠10♥7♥ 
David Shmuel: J♥6♥3♦2♦
Joe Ford: A♠6♠3♣2♠
Ford and Shmuel shared the same low, but Shmuel had rivered a jack-high flush to best Anderson's ten-high flush. The start of day chip leader raked in the pot while Anderson took his leave from the tournament.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,250,000
1,670,000
|
1,670,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,015,000
585,000
|
585,000 |
|
Busted | |
Level 25
: Limits 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 25,000-50,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Kevin Pier raised in the hijack and was called by Christopher Vitch in the cutoff and Joseph Bertrand on the button.
The flop came 10♦7♠3♦ and Pier checked to Vitch who bet. Both opponents called and the 9♠ fell on the turn.
Action checked to Bertrand and he bet and both Pier and Vitch called. All three players then checked the 5♦ river.
Bertrand had K♦J♠10♣9♦ for two pair to win the high, while Pier had A♥8♣3♥2♥ and Vitch A♥5♠4♣2♠ to chop the low.
A few hands later at this table, Martin Matranca bet all three streets from the big blind on a board of Q♠2♠9♣9♥K♠ and Ilia Krupin called to the river on the button. Krupin then raised Matranca on the river, and Matranca gave up his hand.
Krupin and Bertrand then went heads-up on a flop of J♦9♦K♦ where Bertrand bet from the hijack. Krupin called int he cutoff, then called another bet on the K♠ turn.
The river was the 4♦ and Bertrand checked to Krupin who bet. Bertrand called and Krupin showed A♦K♥8♠4♠ for a running full house as Bertrand tossed two jacks into the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,200,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
1,200,000
750,000
|
750,000 |
|
|
800,000 | |
|
|
||
|
|
700,000
85,000
|
85,000 |
|
|
700,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
Level 25
: Limits 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 25,000-50,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Limits: 50,000-100,000
Action was picked up three ways to the turn with the board reading A♠J♥4♥J♦. Raul Paez led from the big blind and was called by Matt Grapenthien on the button and Melvin McCraney in the small blind.
On the 3♥ river, McCraney led from the small blind and Paez called all-in for 65,000. Grapenthien called as well to create a small side pot.
Raul Paez: A♦K♦7♠5♣
Melvin McCraney: 10♥10♦5♦2♠
McCraney rivered a wheel to eliminate Paez who could not get away on the river as he exited in 18th.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,900,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
