2025 World Series of Poker

Event #61: $500 No-Limit Holdem Freezeout
Day: 1
Event Info
2025 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
qq
Prize
$229,628
Event Info
Buy-in
$500
Prize Pool
$2,109,030
Entries
5,082
Level Info
Level
43
Blinds
1,500,000 / 3,000,000
Ante
3,000,000
Players Info - Day 1
Entries
5,082
Players Left
211
Players Left 1 / 5082

"It's Now or Never"

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Eric Olson
Eric Olson

Chip leader Eric Olson is having a tremendous start to the tournament, and he's doing so while dealing with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS for short.

Olson shared with PokerNews that he used to attend the World Series of Poker, but stopped coming once he began to have kids. Olson, a proud father, shared that his six kids, Sophie, MeiLi, Tristan, Bryce, Scarlett, and Rini, prompted him to take a break from the game of poker, but after his children grew up, he began to play more as he had additional free time.

The desire to play at the WSOP was urged on by his ALS diagnosis. Olson has lived with ALS for four years, and stated that "It's now or never" in regards to playing at the WSOP.

Olson stated that his wife, Andrea, has been very supportive of him coming out and playing his first event of the summer. He plans to play more as the summer progresses, but for now, finds himself one of the top stacks in the room in a deep field.

Olson related that he's "loving" his start to the tournament, and he won't be alone if the cards keep going his way. "I've got a bunch of friends to cheer me on," said Olson.

Tags: Eric Olson