Event #55: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship Day 3 | 2025 World Series of Poker

06-20-2025 23:02 UTC-8

Tong Keeps Catching Spades

Josh Noy

Level 24 : Limits 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-80,000, 80,000-160,000, 20,000 Ante

Seven Card Stud

Kristopher Tong: XxXx / 4♠7♠2♠5♠
Marco Johnson: XxXx / Q♥A♠5♣10♦ - folded on sixth street
Brad Ruben: XxXx / K♦7♥ - folded on fourth street

Kristopher Tong's bring in was completed by Brad Ruben. Marco Johnson made the call, as did Tong.

Johnson led out on fourth, with Tong calling and Ruben getting out of the way. Johnson then checked fifth, where Tong bet after catching a third spade.

The call was made to sixth, where Johnson checked again. Tong caught another spade and bet, with Johnson taking some time before opting to fold.

Tong tabled A♣Q♣ as he raked in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kristopher Tong	4,100,000 600,000	600,000

Brad Ruben	1,800,000 100,000	100,000

Marco Johnson	1,580,000 320,000	320,000

Tags: Brad Ruben Kristopher Tong Marco Johnson

06-20-2025 23:05 UTC-8

Alex Livingston Eliminated in 6th Place ($76,581)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 24 : Limits 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-80,000, 80,000-160,000, 20,000 Ante

Seven Card Stud

Alex Livingston: XxXx/K♥7♦10♦3♣/Xx All in
Kristopher Tong: XxXx/8♠Q♦8♣5♣/Xx
Maximilian Schindler: XxXx/5♠2♦9♦9♥/Xx

Before the hand, the players at the table discussed the wild swings they've seemingly all gone through at the final table. "We're a resilient bunch," Brad Ruben said.

"Give me rolled up fours," Alex Livingston said as the cards were dealt.

"That's a very specific request," Maximilian Schindler added. Kristopher Tong then completed, Livingston raised all in, and Schindler called, as did Tong.

"Wake me up when I need to see," Livingston said as he completely covered his face in his hood. Schindler and Tong checked through to seventh, where Tong bet and Schindler folded.

Tong turned over A♦8♦7♣ for trips. "Did anybody have a king in their hand?" Livingston asked as he showed 8♥K♠ and prepared to peel his last card. "I don't have a sweat," he said, tossing the A♥ into the muck before making his exit in sixth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kristopher Tong	4,300,000 200,000	200,000

Maximilian Schindler	2,600,000 100,000	100,000

Alex Livingston	Busted

Tags: Alex Livingston Kristopher Tong Maximilian Schindler

06-20-2025 23:06 UTC-8

Mercier Takes the Last Pot Before Break

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 24 : Limits 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-80,000, 80,000-160,000, 20,000 Ante

Stud Hi-Lo

Jason Mercier: XxXx/10♥7♣6♠A♥/Xx
Maximilian Schindler: XxXx/K♠6♣8♦5♣/Xx

In a limped pot, Jason Mercier bet on fourth street and Maximilian Schindler called.

Mercier continued betting on fifth and sixth as Schindler called him down. Mercier then bet on seventh and Schindler again called.

Mercier turned over A♠7♥3♣ for aces and sevens, and Schindler mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kristopher Tong	4,350,000 50,000	50,000

Jason Mercier	2,500,000 300,000	300,000

Brad Ruben	2,000,000 200,000	200,000

Maximilian Schindler	1,970,000 630,000	630,000

Marco Johnson	1,550,000 30,000	30,000

Tags: Jason Mercier Maximilian Schindler

06-20-2025 23:21 UTC-8

Tong Keeps Climbing

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 25 : Limits 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Limit Flop: 50,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000 Limits
Stud Games: 30,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000, 20,000 Ante

Stud Hi-Lo

Kristopher Tong: A♠7♠3♥ / A♦5♦3♦10♥
Marco Johnson: 8x4x / 10♠6♠7♣6♣ / Xx

After Marco Johnson's bring in, Kristopher Tong completed with his ace. Johnson made the call to fourth street, where Tong fired a bet.

Johnson called and action repeated on fifth. Johnson then led out with a bet after pairing on sixth street. Tong made the call to seventh, where Johnson checked.

Tong fired one last bet, and the call was made. Tong tabled his two pair, taking down the pot as Johnson showed his missed low draw.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kristopher Tong	5,300,000 950,000	950,000

Marco Johnson	780,000 770,000	770,000

Tags: Kristopher Tong Marco Johnson

06-20-2025 23:29 UTC-8

Five Is Good For Mercier

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 25 : Limits 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Limit Flop: 50,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000 Limits
Stud Games: 30,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000, 20,000 Ante

Stud Hi-Lo

Jason Mercier: XxXx/5♠K♥2♣A♠/Xx
Brad Ruben: XxXx/4♦K♠3♣10♠/Xx

Jason Mercier bet on fourth street and Brad Ruben called.

Mercier continued betting on fifth and sixth as Ruben called. Both players then checked on seventh and Mercier showed 9♥6♦5♦ to win the pot with a pair of fives.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Mercier	3,450,000 950,000	950,000

Brad Ruben	1,150,000 850,000	850,000

Tags: Brad Ruben Jason Mercier

06-20-2025 23:34 UTC-8

Ruben Gets There on the River

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 25 : Limits 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Limit Flop: 50,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000 Limits
Stud Games: 30,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000, 20,000 Ante

Limit Hold'em

Brad Ruben raised in the cutoff and Marco Johnson and Jason Mercier called in the big blind.

The flop came K♠5♠8♣ and Ruben continued with a bet. Only Mercier called and they both checked the 10♥ turn.

Mercier led out with a bet on the 2♠ river and Ruben raised. Mercier called and Ruben showed Q♠10♠ for a rivered flush to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Mercier	2,600,000 850,000	850,000

Brad Ruben	2,000,000 850,000	850,000

Marco Johnson	500,000 280,000	280,000

Tags: Brad Ruben Jason Mercier Marco Johnson

06-20-2025 23:41 UTC-8

Marco Johnson Eliminated in 5th Place ($104,089)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 25 : Limits 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Limit Flop: 50,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000 Limits
Stud Games: 30,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000, 20,000 Ante

Limit Hold'em

Marco Johnson raised in the cutoff before Kristopher Tong slid out a three-bet from the small blind. After taking some time, Johnson moved the rest of his stack all in, and the call was made.

Marco Johnson: A♥2♦ All in
Kristopher Tong: 6♣6♦

Johnson picked up some additional straight outs on the 3♦J♦4♠ flop.

The table watched as Johnson could not improve on the 10♦ turn or 7♥ river, ending his run in fifth position.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kristopher Tong	5,950,000 650,000	650,000

Marco Johnson	Busted

Tags: Kristopher Tong Marco Johnson

06-20-2025 23:46 UTC-8

Schindler Calls Down Ruben

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 25 : Limits 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Limit Flop: 50,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000 Limits
Stud Games: 30,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000, 20,000 Ante

Omaha Hi-Lo

"I'm supposed to raise here, but my instincts are telling me not to," Kristopher Tong said as he folded on the button. Brad Ruben then raised in the small blind.

"You play so good," Ruben told him. Maximilian Schindler called in the big blind, and he and Ruben went heads-up to the Q♦K♣8♣ flop.

Ruben checked to Schindler who bet, and Ruben called. Ruben then led out with a bet on the A♣ turn and Schindler called.

Ruben bet again on the 9♣ river and Schindler called. Ruben showed J♣J♠4♥3♠, but Schindler had K♠J♥10♥4♦ for a straight to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maximilian Schindler	3,000,000 1,030,000	1,030,000

Brad Ruben	1,100,000 900,000	900,000

Tags: Brad Ruben Maximilian Schindler

06-20-2025 23:53 UTC-8

Mercier Calls Down Ruben

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 25 : Limits 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Limit Flop: 50,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000 Limits
Stud Games: 30,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000, 20,000 Ante

Razz

Jason Mercier: 8x2xAx / 6x8xAx3x
Brad Ruben: XxXx / 2x7x5x3x / Xx

Jason Mercier completed and Brad Ruben made the call to see fourth street. Mercier led with a bet and was called, with action reversing on fifth.

Both players then checked through sixth street, with Ruben leading out on seventh. Mercier took a moment before tossing in the call.

"Three pair," said Ruben as he watched Mercier show his eight-six to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Mercier	2,800,000 200,000	200,000

Brad Ruben	800,000 300,000	300,000

Tags: Jason Mercier Brad Ruben

06-21-2025 00:05 UTC-8

Tong Takes from Mercier

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Josh Noy

Level 25 : Limits 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Limit Flop: 50,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000 Limits
Stud Games: 30,000-100,000, 100,000-200,000, 20,000 Ante

Seven Card Stud

Kristopher Tong: A♥K♠J♥ / 6♦J♣K♦6♠
Jason Mercier: XxXx / 2♣10♠3♥10♥ / Xx

Jason Mercier saw a deuce and slid the bring in forward before Kristopher Tong completed on his left. Mercier called to fourth street, calling another bet from Tong.

Another bet from Tong and call from Mercier led to sixth street, where Mercier checked. Tong bet again and the call was made.

Mercier tapped the table one last time on seventh, and Tong slid out another bet. Mercier stuck in the call, with Tong showing down his two pair to claim the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kristopher Tong	5,850,000 1,150,000	1,150,000

Jason Mercier	2,100,000 700,000	700,000

Tags: Jason Mercier Kristopher Tong