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Event #7: $25,000 Heads Up Championship
Day 1 Completed
2025 World Series of Poker
Event #7: $25,000 Heads Up Championship
Day: 1
Event Info
2025 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
Buy-in
$25,000
Prize Pool
$1,504,000
Total Entries
64
Level
66
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
0
Entries
64
Players Left
16
Players Left 1 / 64
Filter
Level 21
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
The first two rounds of Event #7: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship have been completed with just 16 players returning to the felt for the money round Saturday, as they pursue the top prize of $500,000. Many players call this event the most-skilled tournament on the schedule and the fans turned up to watch the action as the rail was packed throughout the day at the Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas, home of the World Series of Poker.
The field was capped at 64 players and the tournament had no trouble reaching that mark for the first time in years. In fact, there was an alternate line to start the day as many big names were on the sidelines hoping to get a seat.
When the bracket-style draw was formed just prior to the start of play, one of the first-round matchups that stood out was Andrew Lichtenberger taking on Alan Keating, who mentioned he entered this event only because he saw one name in particular on the registration list, only to be disappointed that he didn't play. PokerNews will have the latest on this story and more in this featured article.
A back-and-forth duel between the two eventually led to Keating making a hero-call with second pair, followed by him cracking Lichtenberger's pocket jacks with a flopped two pair. Keating moved on to battle with David Chen in the second round in one of the last remaining matches of the night. Unfortunately for the mystery millionaire, Keating was unable to move past Chen after a series of late all-ins that favored Chen.
Alex Foxen had a strong start to the event, dispatching his opponent, Stoyan Madanzhiev, in timely fashion during round one. That set up the marquee second round duel with the most notable Phil Ivey, which gathered the attention of many. Foxen took an early lead but Ivey continued to fight back on multiple occasions. However, Foxen eventually came out on top with a mere ace-high against Ivey's king-high.
On the other side of the bracket, Chance Kornuth was dealt a hand that threw him back to the past when he stared down the barrel of heads-up legend John Smith in the opening round. Smith, who often makes a surprisingly deep run in this event, fell short this year around. Kornuth returned in the second round to face another senior in Edward Sebesta. Despite an early lead from Sebesta, Kornuth battled back to take over the chip lead and things ended when Sebesta's kings were cracked by a rivered two pair from Kornuth.
Other notables making it through to Day 2 and the third round include Patrick Leonard, Artur Martirosian, Harvey Castro, and heads-up specialist Kevin Rabichow. The money round will be next on display when the final 16 players return to the felt at 12 p.m. local time on Saturday, May 31. The prize pool has been announced with the final eight players locking up at least $86,000, while the winner will take home an even $500,000.
Another two rounds will be on the schedule for Day 2, playing down to the final four players and eventually the winner on Sunday, June 1.
Stay tuned to PokerNews to find out who will advance through the next couple of rounds and who will have a shot at earning a coveted WSOP gold bracelet.
Level 21
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
Stephen Song limped on the button and Aliaksei Boika checked his option.
Both players checked on the 10♠9♠3♣ flop.
When the 6♥ hit the turn, Boika checked and Song bet 14,000. Boika check-raised to 50,000, and Song called.
The river brought the 4♣ and Boika moved all in. Song went deep into the tank and after utilizing a time bank, he made the call.
Boika revealed the 10♥9♥ for top-two pair which beat Song's A♥6♦.
Song was eliminated, and Boika advanced to the Round of 16.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
600,000
270,000
|
270,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 21
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
The match between Killian Desnos and Keith Lehr started with blind raises and 250 big blind three-bet all-ins pre-flop. In the end, though, it took a cooler to decide a winner.
All the money went in pre-flop, and the players showed their hands.
Killian Desnos: AxKx
Keith Lehr: AxJx 
There was no help for Lehr on the run out, and the entertaining Desnos progresses to the next round.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
600,000
263,000
|
263,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level: 21
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 0
Level 12
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 0 ante
Alan Keating was dwindled down to under 100,000 again and then shipped all in blind on the button for 95,200. David Chen asked for a count and then called.
Alan Keating: 8♣3♣
David Chen: K♦8♥
"Oh, we're in bad shape," Keating said when he finally looked at his cards. The flop of 10♣4♠2♠ provided no immediate help for Keating although he did pickup some backdoor draws. The 4♥ on the turn ended all of those possibilities and the J♠ on the river spelled the end for Keating.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
600,000
195,000
|
195,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 12
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 0
Level 20
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 0 ante
The swings between David Chen and Alan Keating continue in another consequential hand of their match.
Chen limped before Keating raised it to 20,000 preflop.
Chen called leading to the flop of 2♠A♦8♦. Keating continued for 25,000 and Chen called.
The A♣ turn did not slow Keating down as he slid out 35,000. Chen chose to call once again.
Keating pushed Chen all in on the 5♥ river. Chen risked his tournament life with a call on the river. He found out the good news when he showed his 8♠5♠ and Keating mucked his hand to take the lead in the match.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
405,000
205,000
|
205,000 |
|
|
195,000
205,000
|
205,000 |
Level 20
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 0 ante
Chanracy Khun limped on the button, and Kevin Rabichow raised to 18,000 from the big blind.
The flop fanned out 8♦7♥5♠ and Rabichow bet another 18,000. Khun then moved all in. Rabichow hesitated for a moment and then made a reluctant call.
Rabichow: 8♣3♦
Khun: J♣7♦
The 6♣ and 6♠ completed the board and Rabichow scooped the pot and moved onto the next round.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
600,000
278,000
|
278,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Level 20
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 0 ante
It didn't take long for Alan Keating and David Chen to get all of their chips in the middle preflop, with Keating being the player at risk for 199,800.
Alan Keating: 9♠9♥
David Chen: A♦10♥
The flop fell Q♣4♦2♣ and Keating stared into the abyss while the cards hit the felt. The turn was the Q♦ and the river was the J♥, securing the double up for Keating who now took over the chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
400,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
|
200,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
