Event #66: $50,000 Poker Players Championship Day 2 | 2025 World Series of Poker

06-25-2025 02:02 UTC-8

Day 2 Seat Draw

Matthew Pitt

Late registration remains open, so additional players may fill the empty seats.

Casino	Table	Seat	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds	Big Bets
Event Center	Silver 654	1	Josh Arieh	United States	302,000	101	25
Event Center	Silver 654	3	Jon Kyte	Norway	699,500	233	58
Event Center	Silver 654	4	John Hennigan	United States	438,000	146	37
Event Center	Silver 654	6	Roy Thung	United States	39,000	13	3
Event Center	Silver 654	7	Andrew Yeh	United States	251,500	84	21

Event Center	Silver 658	1	Kevin Gerhart	United States	422,000	141	35
Event Center	Silver 658	2	China Rheem	United States	488,500	163	41
Event Center	Silver 658	4	Kristopher Tong	United States	500,000	167	42
Event Center	Silver 658	5	Ali Eslami	United States	903,000	301	75
Event Center	Silver 658	6	Mike Matusow	United States	365,000	122	30

Event Center	Silver 659	1	Bruno Portaro	Australia	210,500	70	18
Event Center	Silver 659	2	Naseem Salem	United States	275,000	92	23
Event Center	Silver 659	4	Phil Hui	United States	470,000	157	39
Event Center	Silver 659	5	Dario Sammartino	Italy	450,000	150	38
Event Center	Silver 659	6	Mike Gorodinsky	United States	704,000	235	59
Event Center	Silver 659	7	Aaron Katz	United States	493,500	165	41

Event Center	Silver 660	2	Aaron Kupin	United States	458,000	153	38
Event Center	Silver 660	3	Esther Taylor	South Korea	160,000	53	13
Event Center	Silver 660	4	Scott Seiver	United States	227,500	76	19
Event Center	Silver 660	5	Benny Glaser	United Kingdom	392,500	131	33
Event Center	Silver 660	7	Phil Ivey	United States	380,500	127	32

Event Center	Silver 661	1	David Funkhouser	United States	639,000	213	53
Event Center	Silver 661	2	Chris Hunichen	United States	828,000	276	69
Event Center	Silver 661	3	Maksim Pisarenko	Russia	286,000	95	24
Event Center	Silver 661	4	Matthew Vengrin	United States	160,000	53	13
Event Center	Silver 661	5	Ryan Hoenig	United States	305,500	102	25
Event Center	Silver 661	6	Michael Rocco	United States	143,000	48	12

Event Center	Silver 662	2	Dario Alioto	Italy	435,500	145	36
Event Center	Silver 662	3	Matthew Ashton	United Kingdom	174,000	58	15
Event Center	Silver 662	5	Dzmitry Urbanovich	Poland	109,000	36	9
Event Center	Silver 662	6	James Obst	Australia	526,000	175	44
Event Center	Silver 662	7	Jeremy Ausmus	United States	886,500	296	74

Event Center	Silver 663	1	Marco Johnson	United States	304,000	101	25
Event Center	Silver 663	3	Jason Kluska	United States	127,500	43	11
Event Center	Silver 663	4	Lawrence Brandt	United States	222,500	74	19
Event Center	Silver 663	5	John Monnette	United States	171,500	57	14
Event Center	Silver 663	6	Bryce Yockey	United States	291,500	97	24
Event Center	Silver 663	7	Yosuke Miki	Japan	272,500	91	23

Event Center	Silver 664	1	Hal Rotholz	United States	152,500	51	13
Event Center	Silver 664	3	Christian Roberts	Venezuela	381,500	127	32
Event Center	Silver 664	4	Christopher Vitch	United States	809,000	270	67
Event Center	Silver 664	5	Justin Liberto	United States	739,500	247	62
Event Center	Silver 664	6	Brian Tate	United States	281,000	94	23
Event Center	Silver 664	7	Freddy Deeb	Lebanon	554,000	185	46

Event Center	Silver 665	1	Brian Yoon	United States	318,500	106	27
Event Center	Silver 665	2	Ben Yu	United States	338,000	113	28
Event Center	Silver 665	3	Maximilian Schindler	United States	171,000	57	14
Event Center	Silver 665	4	Albert Daher	Lebanon	607,000	202	51
Event Center	Silver 665	5	Chad Eveslage	United States	531,500	177	44
Event Center	Silver 665	6	Philip Sternheimer	Germany	412,500	138	34

Event Center	Silver 666	1	Shaun Deeb	United States	204,000	68	17
Event Center	Silver 666	2	Viktor Blom	Sweden	138,000	46	12
Event Center	Silver 666	3	Greg Mueller	Canada	226,500	76	19
Event Center	Silver 666	4	Johannes Becker	Germany	325,500	109	27
Event Center	Silver 666	6	Bruno Fitoussi	France	192,500	64	16
Event Center	Silver 666	7	Ben Lamb	United States	217,500	73	18

Event Center	Silver 667	1	Jason Mercier	United States	455,000	152	38
Event Center	Silver 667	2	Daniel Negreanu	Canada	662,000	221	55
Event Center	Silver 667	4	Daniel Smith	United States	370,000	123	31
Event Center	Silver 667	5	Michael Mizrachi	United States	849,500	283	71
Event Center	Silver 667	6	David Benyamine	United States	403,500	135	34
Event Center	Silver 667	7	Kane Kalas	United States	256,000	85	21

Event Center	Silver 668	1	Matt Glantz	United States	650,000	217	54
Event Center	Silver 668	3	Brad Owen	United States	146,500	49	12
Event Center	Silver 668	4	Maxx Coleman	United States	721,500	241	60
Event Center	Silver 668	5	Erick Lindgren	United States	710,500	237	59
Event Center	Silver 668	6	Nick Schulman	United States	162,500	54	14
Event Center	Silver 668	7	Joey Couden	United States	152,000	51	13

Event #66: $50,000 Poker Players Championship

Day 2 Started

06-25-2025 10:49 UTC-8

Daniel Negreanu Among Seven Champions Returning for Day 2 of Poker Players Championship

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Ryan Lashmar

For many top pros and mixed game specialists, the $50,000 Poker Player's Championship is the most prestigious title on the World Series of Poker schedule. The event, featuring a nine-game mix, $50,000 buy-in and a field full of the best players in the world, is considered by many to be the ultimate test of poker skill.

Last year, after winning this event and ending an 11-year bracelet drought, Daniel Negreanu described the event as the one he wanted to win the most. Today, Negreanu finds himself off to a great start towards a title defense, going into Day 2 just outside the top ten with 662,000.

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

Negreanu will have his work cut out for him as plenty of big names remain in the field, including six other former champions. Three-time PPC winner Michael Mizrachi was leading most of Day 1, ending the day with 849,5000, good for a top-three stack. Also among the returning champions are Mike Gorodinsky (781,000), John Hennigan (438,000), Phil Hui (470,000) Freddy Deeb (405,000) and Matthew Ashton (179,000).

Several more elite players remain in contention. Ali Eslami leads the field with 903,000, just ahead of six-time bracelet winner Jeremy Ausmus with 886,500. Of all the pros in the field, no player has as much momentum coming in as Benny Glaser, who just last week won his third WSOP bracelet of the summer and eighth overall. Glaser comes into Day 2 with a healthy stack of 392,500 and will look to become the first player to win four bracelets in a single summer with a victory in this event.

The action resumes at 1 p.m. local time, starting at Level 7, with the 1,500/3,000 blinds in no-limit and pot-limit games, and limits of 6,000/12,000 in the limit games. Play is scheduled for six 100-minute levels, with a 60-minute dinner break at the end of Level 9. Late registration ends at the conclusion of the dinner break around 7:30 p.m.

The first day attracted 88 entries and with three levels of late registration available today, it is all but inevitable that last year's attendance of 89 will be bested.

Stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all the exciting action as the best players in the world battle in one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year.

Tags: Ali Eslami Benny Glaser Chris Hunichen Christopher Vitch Daniel Negreanu Erick Lindgren Freddy Deeb Jeremy Ausmus John Hennigan Jon Kyte Justin Liberto Matthew Ashton Maxx Coleman Michael Mizrachi Mike Gorodinsky Phil Hui

Level: 7

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

06-25-2025 12:00 UTC-8

Shuffle Up and Deal

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David Salituro

Level 7

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

The 68 returning players have been joined by two new entries, and Day 2 is underway.

06-25-2025 12:00 UTC-8

Day 2 Entries

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David Salituro

Level 7

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

Player	Chips	Progress
Luke Schwartz	300,000 300,000	300,000
Jesse Lonis	300,000 300,000	300,000

06-25-2025 12:05 UTC-8

Mercier Shows an Early Bluff

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David Salituro

Level 7

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

Razz

Jason Mercier: XxXx/2xAx6xJx/Xx
Michael Mizrachi: XxXx/5x7x7xQx/Xx

Michael Mizrachi completed, Jason Mercier raised, and Mizrachi called.

Mercier continued betting on each street down to seventh as Mizrachi called. Mercier then bet again on seventh and Mizrachi gave up his hand.

Mercier showed Ax6x as he took the pot. "Only hand I could have. If I make a jack I check. If I don't, I bet. Only way I could win," Mercier said.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Mizrachi	800,000 49,500	49,500

Jason Mercier	500,000 32,000	32,000

Tags: Jason Mercier Michael Mizrachi

06-25-2025 12:07 UTC-8

Hui Takes Without Showdown

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Brett Slezak

Level 7

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

Razz

Phil Hui: XxXx / 6x4x8xAx / Xx
Dario Sammartino: XxXx / 5x3x6x3x / Xx - folded on seventh street

Hui completed, Sammartino raised, and Hui called.

Sammartino led on fourth and fifth before sixth street checked through.

On seventh, Hui led before Sammartino had a peek at cards and elected to let it go, conceding a sizeable early pot to Hui without showdown.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hui	510,000 40,000	40,000

Dario Sammartino	415,000 35,000	35,000

Tags: Dario Sammartino Phil Hui

06-25-2025 12:09 UTC-8

Ashton Takes from Obst with a Seven

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Connor Richards

Level 7

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

Razz

Matthew Ashton: Ax7x6x / 2x9x10x4x
James Obst: XxXx / 2x9x7x5x / Xx

Matthew Ashton completed and James Obst raised. Ashton made it three bets and Obst called. Obst then bet on fourth street and Ashton called, and the same action took place on fifth street. Ashton then took the betting lead on sixth street and Obst called.

Obst checked on seventh street and Ashton bet. Obst went in the tank and squirmed a bit in his chair before calling, only to muck as Ashton announced a seven.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Obst	465,000 61,000	61,000

Matthew Ashton	200,000 26,000	26,000

Tags: James Obst Matthew Ashton

06-25-2025 12:13 UTC-8

Glaser Gets a Fold from Ivey

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 7

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

Razz

Benny Glaser completed, Phil Ivey raised and Aaron Kupin three-bet. Glaser four-bet, Ivey called and Kupin called.

Benny Glaser: XxXx/2xAx3x4x
Phil Ivey: XxXx/7x2x8x7x - folded on sixth street
Aaron Kupin: XxXx/3xQx - folded on fourth street

Glaser bet fourth street, Ivey raised, Kupin folded and Glaser called. Glaser then bet fifth and sixth street with Ivey calling on fifth before folding on sixth.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benny Glaser	490,000 97,500	97,500

Aaron Kupin	428,000 30,000	30,000
Phil Ivey	315,000 65,500	65,500

Tags: Aaron Kupin Benny Glaser Phil Ivey