Event #85: $600 Ultra Stack
Day 3 Completed
2025 World Series of Poker
Event #85: $600 Ultra Stack
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2025 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$600
Prize Pool
$2,992,086
Entries
7,057
Level
46
Blinds
4,000,000 / 8,000,000
Ante
8,000,000
Entries
14
Players Left
1
Level 46
: Blinds 4,000,000/8,000,000, 8,000,000 ante
Thousands came for glory, but only one left with it. From start to finish, Event #85: $600 Ultra Stack at the 2025 World Series of Poker was a heart-pounding rollercoaster. Smashing through a field of 7,057 players chasing their shot at history and a staggering $2,992,086 prize pool, Justin Fawcett refused to back down. In a high-stakes heads-up showdown against Thai Dinh, Fawcett captured the gold bracelet and a massive $355,110 payday under the bright lights of the Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas.
While the poker world’s spotlight shone on the Main Event, a fierce battleground was brewing for those who didn’t fancy its grueling structure. The $600 Ultra Stack offered something rare: a shot to turn a modest buy-in into over $350,000 in just three days. At the World Series of Poker, champions are crowned at every buy-in level, and no one is left out. Anyone with the courage and the buy-in can fight for life-changing riches and the ultimate prize: a coveted gold bracelet.
$600 Ultra Stack Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justin Fawcett | United States | $355,110 |
| 2 | Thai Dinh | Vietnam | $236,740 |
| 3 | Zhengyu Guan | United States | $176,620 |
| 4 | Delano Jackson | United States | $132,710 |
| 5 | Eric Rabelas | United States | $100,450 |
| 6 | Blake Napierala | United States | $76,620 |
| 7 | Riku Mieda | Japan | $58,890 |
| 8 | Kirk Staples | United States | $45,620 |
| 9 | Eric Dillon | United States | $35,610 |
Winner's Reaction
Fawcett has enjoyed his best summer to date, which he attributes to a process of trial and error. “I feel like I’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past and have been able to make a few adjustments to my game. I’m trying to be more disciplined with what I play and focus on events that suit my strengths.”
When asked how important physical endurance was to his win, he explained, “I have a lot of experience playing long hours, so the long tournament days aren’t as grueling for me because I’m used to it. I also don’t eat during a tournament day, I think that helps with my endurance because sometimes when I eat, I get tired.”
What does this win mean to Fawcett? “I’ve been playing poker for 20 years. It’s everyone’s dream to win a bracelet. I had a lot of friends who believed in me and kept telling me this was my year, and I’m grateful to everyone who supported me along the way. I don’t think I could have had this success without their help. Fawcett also thanked his mental game coach, John, and his friend Parm for cheering him on from the rail today.
What’s next for Fawcett? “It’s easy, after a big score like this, to start firing bigger tournaments, and before you know it, the money is gone. I don’t play full time, and the series is almost over, so we’ll see.”
Day 3 Action
Paul Grisi became the day’s first casualty when his ace-seven couldn’t crack Eric Dillon's jacks. The knockouts kept coming, and in just one hour, three more players hit the rail, setting the stage for the unofficial final table. Then, in a flash, the official final table of nine was set as Keegan Ripp’s ten-nine of clubs went down in flames against Delano Jackson’s king-nine.
The final table exploded into action as Dillon was eliminated in ninth place. He, Dinh, and Blake Napierala were all in preflop with pocket pairs, and all three held sets by the river. Dinh’s eights stood tall against Napierala’s sevens and Dillon’s fours.
A crucial hand occurred during three-handed play between Fawcett and Zhengyu Guan, when Guan three-bet but then folded pocket jacks face up after Fawcett shoved all in, giving Fawcett the chip lead and control of the table. Fawcett told PokerNews he had kings in that hand but chose not to show, wanting to keep Guan uncertain about whether she made the right fold or not.
Fawcett held a massive chip lead when heads-up play began, but Dinh clawed his way back with a huge bluff that briefly flipped the momentum. However, Fawcett kept his cool, stuck to his game, and ultimately found a path to victory.
This concludes coverage of Event #85: $600 Ultra Stack. Stay tuned to PokerNews for more from the 2025 World Series of Poker.
Level 46
: Blinds 4,000,000/8,000,000, 8,000,000 ante
Justin Fawcett opened the action with a raise to 16,000,000, which was called by Thai Dinh. The 8♠10♠5♥ flop checked through, bringing in the 3♣ turn. Here, Dinh led out for 17,000,000, and Fawcett flatted.
The dealer peeled off the 9♠ on the river, and Dinh didn't slow down with a bet of 26,000,000. Fawcett took his time, pondered his options, and announced "all in." Dinh could not have called any quicker, with the snappiest of snap calls. Dinh turned over 5♦3♥ for a turned two pair, but Fawcett's rivered straight with 7♠6♥ gave him the win, as the two shared a handshake.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
423,000,000
92,000,000
|
92,000,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 46
: Blinds 4,000,000/8,000,000, 8,000,000 ante
The action began on a flop of K♥9♦7♣. Justin Fawcett bet 10,000,000 chips on the button and Thai Dinh called.
Fawcett bet 15,000,000 when the 10♠ hit on the turn. Dinh raised to 40,000,000.
Fawcett thought about it for a long time — half in the dark as the lights were out for a 10-minute stretch of play — before pushing all in.
Dinh quickly folded, having lost the chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
331,000,000
141,000,000
|
141,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
92,000,000
141,000,000
|
141,000,000 |
Level 46
: Blinds 4,000,000/8,000,000, 8,000,000 ante
Thai Dinh raised the button to 16,000, and Justin Fawcett put in the call. The A♦Q♣10♣ flop checked through, as did the A♥ turn. The river brought in the Q♠ and here Fawcett led out for 30,000,000. After a brief pause to think, Dinh folded, showing the K♥.
"King-high's good," said Fawcett, showing 7♠7♦ for absolutely nothing, having been counterfeit.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
233,000,000
35,000,000
|
35,000,000 |
|
|
190,000,000
35,000,000
|
35,000,000 |
|
|
||
Level 46
: Blinds 4,000,000/8,000,000, 8,000,000 ante
Justin Fawcett raised to 20,000,000 on the button. Thai Dinh three-bet to 64,000,000. Fawcett called.
The flop came K♠6♦10♦, and Dinh continued with a bet 15,000,000-chip bet. Fawcett called.
The turn of the K♦ brought a check from them both, but Dinh fired 55,000,000 — more than half of his remaining stack — when the 8♦ landed on the river.
Fawcett didn't take too long before folding to a paired board with four diamond.
Dinh proudly showed A♣2♣ for the smooth bluff that gave him the chip lead for the first time.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
268,000,000
80,000,000
|
80,000,000 |
|
|
155,000,000
180,000,000
|
180,000,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 46
Blinds: 4,000,000/8,000,000
Ante: 8,000,000
Level 45
: Blinds 3,000,000/6,000,000, 6,000,000 ante
The final two competitors — Justin Fawcett and Thai Dinh — are taking a 15-minute break and will resume play around 5:35 p.m. local time.
Level 45
: Blinds 3,000,000/6,000,000, 6,000,000 ante
Justin Fawcett raised to 16,000,000 from the big blind. Thai Dinh made the call.
The flop came 4♣4♠2♣ and Fawcett bet 22,000,000. Dinh came over the top with an all-in for 75,000,000 total. Fawcett didn't hesitate to make the call.
Thai Dinh: Q♦2♥
Justin Fawcett: 10♣9♣
Dinh was ahead with a pair of deuces, but had to fade two overcards and a flush draw. Fawcett missed when the 8♦8♠ fell.
Dinh, who had built the biggest stack he has had in the tournament, reached for the gold bracelet and slid it closer to his seat.
"Move that thing a little closer," he said. "This bracelet is mine."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
335,000,000
5,000,000
|
5,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
188,000,000
95,000,000
|
95,000,000 |
Level 45
: Blinds 3,000,000/6,000,000, 6,000,000 ante
Zhengyu Guan was on the button, and shoved for 45,000,000. Justin Fawcett went deep into the tank from the small blind, and after some time decided to call.
Zhengyu Guan: A♠Q♣
Justin Fawcett: A♣2♣
"Thank you," said Guan to the dealer after seeing the 3♠3♣Q♥ flop, as she had her opponent drawing to runner-runner. "No club," she pleaded after, however she wouldn't get her wish as the 9♣4♣ runout improved Fawcett to the nut flush, ending her spin-up early.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
330,000,000
45,000,000
|
45,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
93,000,000
17,500,000
|
17,500,000 |
|
Busted | |
