Event #66: $50,000 Poker Players Championship
Day 1 Completed
2025 World Series of Poker
Event #66: $50,000 Poker Players Championship
Day: 1
Event Info
2025 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
Buy-in
$50,000
Prize Pool
$5,082,500
Entries
107
Level
26
Limits
0 / 0
Ante
0
Entries
88
Players Left
68
Players Left 1 / 107
Filter
Level 6
Limit Flop/Draw: 3,000-6,000, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
The World Series of Poker Main Event gets the media attention, but there is one event all the top pros have circled on their calendars all year: the $50,000 Poker Players Championship.
It’s this event, more than any other, that determines the best all-around player in the world and bolsters legacies. It has been a year since Daniel Negreanu ended his long bracelet drought by winning the title he coveted most of all, but the wait finally ended today on Day 1 of Event #66.
A total of 88 players arrived in the Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas to begin the chase for the reintroduced Chip Reese Memorial Trophy and the prize they all desire. Just 68 survived six 100-minute levels, and bracelet winner Ali Eslami ended up atop the leaderboard with 903,000.
Right behind him is someone who’s all too familiar with capturing this title. Michael Mizrachi was the first to win this tournament three times and was back for a shot at an unprecedented fourth title today. “The Grinder,” in top form so far this series with 10 cashes already, sat beside Negreanu for much of the day and got off to such a fast start that Negreanu predicted he would wrap up the tournament by Level 5. That didn’t happen, but Mizrachi was still the first player to eclipse the 1,000,000-chip mark before sliding back down to 849,000 to end the night, still good for third on the leaderboard.
Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds | Big Bets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ali Eslami | United States | 903,000 | 301 | 75 |
| 2 | Jeremy Ausmus | United States | 886,500 | 296 | 74 |
| 3 | Michael Mizrachi | United States | 849,500 | 283 | 71 |
| 4 | Chris Hunichen | United States | 828,000 | 276 | 69 |
| 5 | Christopher Vitch | United States | 809,000 | 270 | 67 |
| 6 | Mike Gorodinsky | United States | 781,000 | 260 | 65 |
| 7 | Justin Liberto | United States | 739,500 | 247 | 62 |
| 8 | Maxx Coleman | United States | 721,500 | 241 | 60 |
| 9 | Erick Lindgren | United States | 710,500 | 237 | 59 |
| 10 | Jon Kyte | Norway | 699,500 | 233 | 58 |
Jeremy Ausmus (886,500), Chris Hunichen (828,000), and Christopher Vitch (809,000) round out the top five. Negreanu began his title defense by bagging up 662,000, while Erick Lindgren (710,500), James Obst (526,000), $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. champion Kristopher Tong (500,000), and Chino Rheem (488,500) also ended up as big stacks.
Further down the leaderboard are 2019 champion Phil Hui (470,000), Poker Hall of Famer and 2014 champion John Hennigan (438,000), eight-time bracelet winner Benny Glaser (392,500), Phil Ivey (380,500), and Mike Matusow (365,000). Others who survived the day were Josh Arieh (302,000), Scott Seiver (227,500), Ben Lamb (217,500), Shaun Deeb (204,000), Nick Schulman (162,500), Brad Owen (146,500), and Viktor Blom (138,000).
Dan Cates made history when he became the first player to win this event back-to-back in 2022. Widely known for his flamboyant outfits and table antics, the man known as “Jungleman” made a subdued entrance today but didn’t last long. He first lost a massive all in with top two pair against Matt Glantz’s set of kings, then had his aces cracked by Glantz’s eights to become the first player to hit the rail. Glantz also sent out Eric Wasserson by spiking a two-outer on the river after both players were poised to chop the pot with two aces. Unlike Mizrachi, Brian Rast had his quest for a fourth title end early today, while Brad Ruben, Paul Volpe, Yuri Dzivielevski, Alex Livingston, and Dylan Smith will all have to wait until next year.
The 68 remaining players return tomorrow for Day 2 at 1 p.m. local time. The field is already within one of last year’s total, and with late registration open for the first three levels of the day, that mark would be well-exceeded. The action picks up on Level 7 with limits of 6,000/12,000 and blinds of 1,500/3,000.
PokerNews will be back tomorrow as one of the most anticipated events of the year rolls on into its second day.
Level 6
Limit Flop/Draw: 3,000-6,000, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Late registration remains open, so additional players may fill the empty seats.
Level 6
Limit Flop/Draw: 3,000-6,000, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
903,000
258,000
|
258,000 |
|
||
|
886,500
26,500
|
26,500 |
|
||
|
849,500
100,500
|
100,500 |
|
||
|
828,000
22,000
|
22,000 |
|
||
|
809,000
109,000
|
109,000 |
|
||
|
781,000
109,000
|
109,000 |
|
||
|
739,500
99,500
|
99,500 |
|
|
||
|
721,500
157,500
|
157,500 |
|
|
||
|
710,500
4,500
|
4,500 |
|
||
|
699,500
28,500
|
28,500 |
|
662,000
13,000
|
13,000 |
|
||
|
650,000 | |
|
||
|
639,000
89,000
|
89,000 |
|
|
||
|
607,000
78,000
|
78,000 |
|
531,500
286,500
|
286,500 |
|
||
|
526,000
69,000
|
69,000 |
|
|
||
|
500,000
308,500
|
308,500 |
|
|
||
|
488,500
38,500
|
38,500 |
|
470,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
|
||
|
468,000
93,000
|
93,000 |
|
|
||
|
458,000
178,000
|
178,000 |
|
450,000
93,500
|
93,500 |
|
|
||
|
445,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
|
||
|
438,000
205,500
|
205,500 |
|
|
||
|
422,000
22,000
|
22,000 |
|
|
||
Level 6
Limit Flop/Draw: 3,000-6,000, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Day 1 has ended with 68 players remaining out of 88 entries.
Stay tuned for chip counts and a recap of the day's action.
Level 6
Limit Flop/Draw: 3,000-6,000, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Stud Hi-Lo
Gabriel Ramos: XxXx/A♥J♥4♣ 
Phil Ivey: XxXx/7♠Q♠2♥
Phil Ivey completed, Gabriel Ramos raised, and Ivey called.
Ramos bet on fourth street and Ivey called. Ramos then bet on fifth, Ivey raised, and Ramos called all in.
Ivey finished with A♠6♠J♠Q♦ for a flush, and Ramos mucked A♦2♣5♠5♥ on his way to the rail on the last hand of the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
360,000
45,000
|
45,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 6
Limit Flop/Draw: 3,000-6,000, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
The floor has paused the clock with 10:00 remaining in Level 6 and announced that two more hands will be played at each table before the players bag for the night.
Level 6
Limit Flop/Draw: 3,000-6,000, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw
Justin Liberto opened to 7,000 from under the gun before Erick Lindgren clicked it to 15,000 next to act. In the small blind, Phil Ivey cold four-bet to 60,000. Liberto quickly got out of the way and Lindgren called.
Ivey announced pat and Lindgren patted behind. Ivey then cut out a bet of 175,000 and tossed it into the middle. Lindgren would go deep into the tank as the two players stared each other down. After two minutes, Lindgren tossed in the call.
Ivey announced a jack and Lindgren tabled 9x8x4x3x2x for the winner as he collected a massive pot towards the end of the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
715,000
285,000
|
285,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
640,000
99,000
|
99,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
315,000
45,000
|
45,000 |
|
|
||
Level 6
Limit Flop/Draw: 3,000-6,000, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
2-7 Triple Draw
John Monnette raised from under the gun, Jason Mercier three-bet from the small blind and Monnette four-bet. Mercier called.
Both players drew one, checked and drew one more. Mercier then check-called a bet from Monnette.
For the final draw Mercier drew one and Monnette stood pat. Mercier then check-folded to a final bet from Monnette.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
375,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
|
|
||
|
352,000
180,500
|
180,500 |
|
|
||
Level 6
Limit Flop/Draw: 3,000-6,000, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Pot-Limit & No-Limit: 3000/4500 Ante, 1500-3000 Blinds
Limit Hold'em
Michael Mizrachi and Bruno Portaro exchanged raises preflop until they both put in 30,000 going to the K♥Q♣2♣ flop.
Portaro then bet from the button and Mizrachi called in the hijack. Portaro bet again on the A♦ turn and Mizrachi called.
Mizrachi checked for a third time on the K♣ river and Portaro bet. Mizrachi folded this time and Portaro showed him Q♠Q♦ as he took the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
950,000
28,500
|
28,500 |
|
|
||
|
280,000
43,500
|
43,500 |
