Event #7: $25,000 Heads Up Championship Day 2 | 2025 World Series of Poker

05-31-2025 09:31 UTC-8

Day 2 of $25,000 Heads-Up Event to Feature 16 Returning Players

Erick Torres

What began as 64 players chasing the $500,000 first-place prize is now down to 16 entrants vying for the bracelet in Event #7: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship after two rounds of play at the 2025 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

Harvey Castro will be one of the 16 players returning for Day 2. Castro punched his ticket to the final 16 by dispatching Cary Katz in the first round after winning a flip. Castro’s day did not get any easier as he faced off against returning 2024 WSOP Player of the Year Scott Seiver in the second round. Castro’s pocket aces managed to dispatch Seiver to advance to the third round of play.

The match that created the most buzz was a showdown between Alex Foxen and Phil Ivey in the second round. Ivey got off to an early lead over Foxen, but Foxen climbed back into the duel as the two jockeyed for position in a tightly contested match. Foxen eventually overtook Ivey before sending the 11-time bracelet winner to the rail. Foxen will return on Day 2 on a quest for his fourth bracelet, resuming play against Thomas Eychenne.

Heads-up specialist Kevin Rabichow is among the notable players returning for Day 2. Rabichow knocked out Rick Salomon in the first round before sending Chanracy Khun packing in the second round of play as he chases his potential first bracelet of his career.

Chance Kornuth's hopes of a fifth bracelet are still alive after defeating the formidable John Smith in the first round. Kornuth spoiled the hopes of Edward Sebesta by cracking his pocket kings to advance, much to the dismay of his opponent.

Other notable players set to return include Patrick Leonard , Artur Martirosian, and Joao Vieira.

Play is scheduled to resume on Saturday, May 31, at 12 p.m. local time for two more rounds of play. Day 2 will see the players enter the money as the final eight players are guaranteed at least $86,000, with the top prize of $500,000. The final four players will return for Day 3 on Sunday, June 1, and will play down until a champion is crowned.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for more updates on Day 2 action and the journey to a bracelet winner and heads-up champion.

Tags: Alex Foxen Artur Martirosian Cary Katz Chance Kornuth Chanracy Khun Edward Sebesta Harvey Castro Joao Vieira John Smith Kevin Rabichow Patrick Leonard Phil Ivey Rick Salomon Scott Seiver Thomas Eychenne

05-31-2025 11:55 UTC-8

Eychenne Batting 50 Percent on Three Bets

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Adam Lamers

Level 25 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 0 ante

Alex Foxen raised to 6,500 on the button and Thomas Eychenne three-bet to 25,000 in the big blind. Foxen fought back with a four-bet to 65,000 and Eychenne released his cards.

Two hands later, Foxen raised to 6,500 again on the button. Eychenne made it 25,000 to go from the big blind and Foxen slipped his cards in the muck in this time.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alex Foxen	615,000 15,000	15,000

Thomas Eychenne	585,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Alex Foxen Thomas Eychenne

05-31-2025 12:00 UTC-8

Castro Gets Value from Nut Flush

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Nick Vazquez

Level 25 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 0 ante

Joao Vieira raised from the button to 6,000 and Harvey Castro made the call from the big blind.

The board came out a monotone 6♥4♥3♥, and Vieira continued for 3,000 after Castro checked to him. Castro made the call.

The turn was the J♥ and both players checked.

Castro then decided to lead out on the K♣ for 15,000, and Vieira thought for a bit before making the call. Castro tabled the A♥3♣ for the ace-high flush, and took down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Harvey Castro	648,000 48,000	48,000
Joao Vieira	552,000 48,000	48,000

Tags: Joao Vieira Harvey Castro

05-31-2025 12:05 UTC-8

Kornuth Winning the Early Exchanges

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Stewart Morrison

Level 25 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 0 ante

Chance Kornuth raised the button to 5,500, and Killian Desnos three-bet to 16,000. Kornuth called, and the players went to a flop of 2♠J♣10♣.

Both players checked the flop, and Desnos then led out for 10,000 on the 10♥ turn. Kornuth called both this bet and another bet of 25,000 on the 2♦ river.

Desnos showed down K♠3♥; Kornuth A♦6♠. Ace-high was enough to take the pot.

A few hands later, Desnos limped on the button and Kornuth checked his option.

Kornuth check-called a bet of 5,000 on the 5♦8♠9♣ flop. He then check-called again on the K♦ turn, this time for 10,000.

Both players checked the 7♣ river, and Kornuth tabled 8♦2♣ for a pair of eights. Desnos flashed the 5♥ before mucking his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chance Kornuth	650,000 50,000	50,000

Killian Desnos	550,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Chance Kornuth Killian Desnos

05-31-2025 12:09 UTC-8

Zamani Off to Early Lead

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Erick Torres

Level 26 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 0 ante

Martin Zamani has taken an early lead against Patrick Leonard.

One hand among the opening skirmishes began when Leonard raised to 6,000 from the button. Zamani raised to 29,500, leading to a call from Leonard.

Leonard checked the flop of J♦5♦A♦ before Zamani slid out 28,000 in response. Leonard folded to award Zamani the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Martin Zamani	690,000 90,000	90,000

Patrick Leonard	510,000 90,000	90,000

Tags: Martin Zamani Patrick Leonard

05-31-2025 12:16 UTC-8

Kornuth Jams on River

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Nick Vazquez

Level 26 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 0 ante

Chance Kornuth raised the button and Killian Desnos re-raised to 18,000.

"I try new sizing," Desnos said, after he had raised to 20,000 from the big blind two hands earlier. Kornuth came along with a call.

The two saw a flop of J♣10♥7♥ and Desnos bet 20,000. That was met with a raise to 85,000 by Chance, and Desnos called.

On the turn the J♠ came and Desnos checked. Kornuth followed up with a bet of 120,000. Desnos called once again.

The 4♣ fell on the river, and when the action checked to Kornuth, he used a time bank card before announcing he was all in.

Desnos looked a bit frustrated and eventually folded, showing the K♦Q♣ for missed straight draw.

Kornuth took a significant lead in the match.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chance Kornuth	920,000 270,000	270,000

Killian Desnos	280,000 270,000	270,000

Tags: Chance Kornuth Killian Desnos

05-31-2025 12:24 UTC-8

Eychenne Folds to Foxen's River Bet

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Erick Torres

Level 26 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 0 ante

Alex Foxen dragged in a much needed pot after falling behind Thomas Eychenne early.

Foxen opened the action with a raise to 7,500 before Eychenne elected to call. The flop of A♦6♦5♠ resulted in a check from Eychenne before Foxen led out for 11,000. Eychenne came along with a call.

The J♦ turn did not slow Foxen down. After a check from Eychenne, Foxen opted to bet 28,000 garnering a call from Eychenne.

The 7♠ river saw another check from Eychenne. Foxen gave it some thought before pushing out a big bet of 124,000. Eychenne burned two times banks while thinking over his options before choosing to fold, awarding Foxen a much needed pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Eychenne	808,000 223,000	223,000
Alex Foxen	392,000 223,000	223,000

Tags: Alex Foxen Thomas Eychenne

05-31-2025 12:35 UTC-8

Shi Goes For it All

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Stewart Morrison

Level 27 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 0 ante

On a flop of 10♣5♥8♦, and roughly 55,000 chips in the middle, Mike Shi check-raised a bet from Matthew Wantman from 18,000 to 60,000.

Wantman called, and the players saw the 7♥ turn. Shi continued for 70,000, and Wantman, once again, called.

On the 7♦ river, Shi decided he wanted it all. Moving all in for roughly 500,000, which covered his opponent.

Wantman took some time before choosing to fold, as Shi extends his chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike Shi	790,000 190,000	190,000
Matthew Wantman	410,000 190,000	190,000

Tags: Matthew Wantman Mike Shi

05-31-2025 12:40 UTC-8

Desnos Doubles with Kings

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Erick Torres

Level 27 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 0 ante

In a match that has seen plenty of swings already there was yet another shift in momentum when Killian Desnos and Chance Kornuth got all the chips in preflop. Desnos jammed and was called by Kornuth to put Desnos at risk for his final 195,500.

Killian Desnos: K♦K♣ All in
Chance Kornuth: A♣J♠

Kornuth found some life on the 3♦7♦J♣ flop, but the 5♦ turn killed some of his outs to improve.

The 9♥ river sealed the deal awarding Desnos the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chance Kornuth	810,000 110,000	110,000

Killian Desnos	390,000 110,000	110,000

Tags: Chance Kornuth Killian Desnos

05-31-2025 12:48 UTC-8

Wild Swings Continue Between Kornuth and Desnos

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Erick Torres

Level 27 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 0 ante

Chance Kornuth restablished his dominant chip lead against Killian Desnos during a hand that began with a raise from Kornuth to 7,000.

Desnos responded with a reraise to 25,000. Kornuth opted to instead four-bet to 75,000 leading to a call from Desnos.

The flop of 9♠7♦5♥ resulted in a check from Desnos before Kornuth chose to bet out 50,000. Desnos called 50,000 to head to a turn.

The 3♦ turn saw Desnos lead out for 45,000. Kornuth opted to jam ending the affair and taking a commanding chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chance Kornuth	1,035,000 225,000	225,000

Killian Desnos	165,000 225,000	225,000

Tags: Chance Kornuth Killian Desnos