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.
Scott Seiver
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).
Mike Matusow
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.
