Event #81: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship Day 6 | 2025 World Series of Poker

07-11-2025 19:32 UTC-7

The SCOTUS Lawyer Who Won $50m Playing Poker—And Got Indicted

Lyle Bateman

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

For two decades, Tom Goldstein was at the top of the legal world. He argued more cases before the United States Supreme Court than almost any private attorney and founded SCOTUSblog, a legal blog that quickly became the go-to source for Supreme Court analysis. He lectured at Stanford University and Harvard University and regularly appeared on national news programs.

But Goldstein had another life. When he wasn’t arguing before Supreme Court justices, Goldstein was flying to Hollywood or Hong Kong and winning or losing millions in ultra-high-stakes poker matches. He played heads-up against California businessmen and foreign gamblers, at one point allegedly winning over $50 million in just a few sessions.

Goldstein’s luck turned in January 2025 when the US Department of Justice a federal grand jury initiated a 22-count indictment accusing the attorney of failing to report millions in poker winnings and diverting law firm funds to pay his personal poker debts.

In a new PokerNews video essay, we take a look at the life of Tom Goldstein and the high-stakes poker game that led to his federal indictment.

Watch the Video Essay Here!

07-11-2025 19:07 UTC-7

WSOP Records That Will (Probably) Never Be Broken

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Lyle Bateman

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

In poker, like in life, they say records are meant to be broken.

But sometimes, someone sets a milestone that just feels impossible to top. Whether it’s because of insane skill, perfect timing, a bit of luck, or a mix of all three, the World Series of Poker has seen some feats over the years that seem like they’ll never be matched.

However, while all records may eventually fall, these achievements are currently some of the most jaw-dropping in WSOP history. Will any of them ever be broken? Only time will tell. For now, though, here are the most incredible WSOP records that will (probably) never be broken.

Read the Full List Here

07-11-2025 18:50 UTC-7

Dinner Break

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Connor Richards

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

The remaining 95 players have been sent on a 75-minute dinner break. Action will resume at approximately 8:05 p.m. local time on Level 27 with blinds of 60,000/120,000/120,000.

Take a look at some of the highlights from the past level.

07-11-2025 18:49 UTC-7

Perfilev Chips Up Before Dinner Against Vecino

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

The open raise of Dmitrii Perfilev in the hijack was defended by Juan Carlos Vecino in the big blind who then checked the A♣A♦9♦ flop. Perfilev bet 140,000 and the Spanish poker pro called.

Both players opted to check the J♦ on the turn and Vecino led the 5♦ river for 265,000. Perfilev raised to 775,000 and received a quick call to flip over his 5♥5♣ for a rivered full house to claim the pot right before the dinner break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Juan Carlos Vecino	8,320,000 5,055,000	5,055,000
Dmitrii Perfilev	7,450,000 2,650,000	2,650,000

Tags: Dmitrii Perfilev Juan Carlos Vecino

07-11-2025 18:49 UTC-7

Not Making Dinner Break

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Kai Cocklin

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Arsenii Karmatckii	Busted
Dai Ishibashi	Busted

07-11-2025 18:49 UTC-7

Pupo Shatters Ramsey's Dream

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David Salituro

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Around 2,000,000 was already in the pot as Nicholas Ramsey and Giovanni Pupo went to the turn on a board of 6♣Q♥7♦K♣. Ramsey then bet 650,000 from the big blind and Pupo moved all in from the cutoff.

Ramsey tanked for several minutes into the dinner break before eventually calling for around 1,200,000 more. He showed 9♣8♣ for straight and flush draws, while Pupo had 7♠7♣ for a set.

The river 3♦ was no help to Ramsey and he slammed the table in frustration. "Sorry, man," Pupo said as the big pot was pushed toward him. A shocked Ramsey remained in his seat for a few minutes with his head resting on the rail before finally heading off to the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giovanni Pupo	8,000,000 3,005,000	3,005,000
Nicholas Ramsey	Busted

Tags: Giovanni Pupo Nicholas Ramsey

07-11-2025 18:48 UTC-7

Freitas Passes the Test, Approaching 13,000,000

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Kai Cocklin

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Richard Freitas opened to 250,000 with K♠10♥ from the button and Mounir Tajiou three-bet to 675,000 out of the small blind with A♥J♦. When it got back to Freitas, he dropped in the call.

They saw a flop of 8♥3♥4♦, where Tajiou continued with a bet of 700,000. Freitas then announced a raise to 1,500,000, and Tajiou quickly called with his ace-high.

A K♦ on the turn was a welcome relief for Freitas as he made a pair of kings, and the action was on him as Tajiou checked. After rechecking his cards, Freitas knuckled back to the 9♥ river. Tajiou wasted no time in announcing a bet of 1,700,000, and Freitas took around a minute before he called.

Tajiou sheepishly flipped his ace-high, and Freitas raked in a pot worth almost 8,000,000 right before dinner break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sebastian Schulze	13,485,000

Richard Freitas	12,900,000 3,720,000	3,720,000
Yuchen Chen	6,910,000 450,000	450,000
John Wasnock	5,565,000

Jameson Painter	3,865,000 200,000	200,000
Corey Skogrand	2,365,000
Albert Calderon	1,230,000 200,000	200,000
Mounir Tajiou	815,000 3,270,000	3,270,000

Tags: Mounir Tajiou Richard Freitas

07-11-2025 18:47 UTC-7

Kajtez Takes from Buhaiov

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Tim Baker

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Nazar Buhaiov raised to 200,000 from middle position with Matija Kajtez calling from the small blind.

Kajtez checked when he saw the 6♠10♥Q♥ flop, allowing Buhaiov to bet 230,000. Kajtez flicked in the call.

Both players checked down the 7♣ turn and 4♦ river. Kajtez took down the pot with A♦6♦ for a pair of sixes, as Buhaiov held A♥2♦ for ace-high.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stefan Nemetz	9,925,000 160,000	160,000
Craig Trost	7,125,000
Michael Mizrachi	7,075,000 50,000	50,000

Hans Bosman	5,540,000 250,000	250,000
Nazar Buhaiov	5,330,000 20,000	20,000
Kyle Grupp	4,820,000
Matija Kajtez	4,450,000 680,000	680,000
Sam Darkin	4,165,000 50,000	50,000
Richard Buckingham	1,180,000 250,000	250,000

Tags: Matija Kajtez Nazar Buhaiov

07-11-2025 18:46 UTC-7

Voegele Fills Up to Bust Wysotchanski in a Cooler

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David Salituro

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Octavian Voegele filled in a few details after busting Wagner Wysotchanski in a massive pot.

Voegele opened to 200,000 in middle position and was called by Thomas Eychenne in the hijack, Wagner Wysotchanski on the button, and big blind Pedro Padilha.

The flop came 9♣Q♣8♣ and Voegele bet 200,000. All three opponents called to the A♦ turn.

Action then checked to Wysotchanski on the A♦ turn and he bet 1,300,000. Only Voegele called and the Q♦ fell on the river. Wysotchanski then bet 1,500,000, Voegele moved all in, and Wysotchanski called for 2,800,000.

Wysotchanski had two eights for a flopped set, but Voegele had rivered a full house with A♣Q♠ to win the pot and send Wysotchanski to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Octavian Voegele	12,500,000 6,700,000	6,700,000
Pedro Padilha	9,500,000 500,000	500,000
Thomas Eychenne	7,700,000 1,100,000	1,100,000
Wagner Wysotchanski	Busted

Tags: Octavian Voegele Pedro Padilha Thomas Eychenne Wagner Wysotchanski

07-11-2025 18:44 UTC-7

Huge Hero-Call Propels Sudell to Big Stack

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

The hand started with a raise to 225,000 by Kenny Hallaert and Derek Sudell called in the hijack before Jarod Minghini came along on the button. The J♥10♦2♥ flop was checked by Hallaert and Sudell bet 200,000. That was raised to 650,000 by Minghini and Hallaert folded while Sudell called.

Heads-up to the 5♣ turn, Sudell checked before he called a bet of 1,800,000 by Minghini and they headed to the 2♦ on the river.

Sudell checked again and Minghini moved all-in with the covering stack. By then, the hand had lasted only four minutes and Sudell was sent deep into the tank. The camera crew rushed by to film the action from multiple angles.

After six minutes, Arsenii Karmatckii called the clock on Minghini after he was stuck on only seven blinds - having lost a monster pot to Minghini not long ago.

During the thirty second count down, Sudell said "I don't think I can fold ... . Deuce deuce?! Should have three-bet pre," while he was on the clock. With two seconds left, Sudell splashed in chips for the call and Minghini showed the J♠10♠ for jacks and tens.

Sudell's Q♦Q♠ for queens and deuces were good as he secured the double for 3,735,000 on the river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kenny Hallaert	20,600,000 2,025,000	2,025,000

Derek Sudell	13,925,000 7,075,000	7,075,000
Jarod Minghini	11,800,000 4,500,000	4,500,000
Sergio Veloso	9,900,000 600,000	600,000
Mikhail Prokopchuk	4,560,000 860,000	860,000
Greg Merson	4,375,000 1,625,000	1,625,000

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	2,100,000 120,000	120,000
Arsenii Karmatckii	725,000 275,000	275,000

Tags: Arsenii Karmatckii Derek Sudell Jarod Minghini Kenny Hallaert