There are moments in poker when time seems to freeze—when every chip movement echoes like a drumbeat, and each decision becomes a masterstroke on the canvas of history. On Wednesday night at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, that moment belonged to Nick Schulman. Battling through a grueling eight-hour heads-up war against Darren Elias in the $10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Single Draw Championship, Schulman cemented his legacy as one of the game’s greatest lowball players, capturing his seventh WSOP bracelet and joining an elite club of legends.
With this victory, Schulman not only became a three-time champion in the same event—a feat accomplished by only a handful of players in WSOP history—but he also secured the largest-ever first-place prize in a deuce-to-seven event, a massive $497,356. The win pushes his lifetime tournament earnings close to $23.8 million, further solidifying his name among the most consistent performers in poker history.
Schulman’s Masterclass in the Game He Loves Most
For Schulman, no-limit deuce-to-seven single draw isn’t just another poker variant—it’s his passion.
“It’s my favorite game to play,” he said in his post-match reflection. “Anytime you’re doing something that you really enjoy, it’s good.”
This wasn’t Schulman’s first dance with the 2-7 field. He won the same event in 2009 and 2012, finished runner-up in 2015, and fifth in 2011. The 2025 edition brought a record 233 entries, the biggest turnout this event has ever seen, and it required every ounce of Schulman’s experience and grit to outlast such a formidable field.
The Final Table: Stars Collide
When play resumed on Wednesday with six players remaining, Darren Elias led the pack. A lightning-fast first hour saw half the table eliminated. Schulman quickly went to work, knocking out Dan Smith in sixth with two brilliant seven-six and eight-seven lows.
Ben Yu, a four-time bracelet winner, was eliminated by Chad Eveslage, who was dealt a ten-eight low against Yu’s ten-nine. Elias then sent Oscar Johansson to the rail in fourth after besting him in a tight draw showdown.
Three-handed, it seemed like Eveslage had momentum—but poker can be cruel. He shoved into Schulman with a ten-six low but was drawing dead by the time Schulman paired his already superior nine-seven hand with an eight. Eveslage walked away with $231,321 for his deep run.
Eight Hours of Heads-Up Fireworks
What followed was a legendary heads-up battle that will go down in WSOP history.
The two titans traded massive pots and chip leads back and forth, with no dinner break and no let-up. Early on, Elias looked poised to take control after landing a big pot with an eight-seven low against Schulman’s ten-seven. But Schulman didn’t flinch.
“It became very crap-shooty at the end,” he admitted, “but that’s real end-boss territory. I’m honored to somehow come out on top.”
The pendulum swung wildly for six full hours. At one point, Elias was drawing to a wheel with 7-4-3-2 but paired up. Schulman, drawing to 8-5-3-2, managed to catch an ace and double up at a critical moment.
Still, Elias battled back. He made a queen-jack call in a big pot and later doubled with a jack-ten low. Schulman’s tenacity ultimately paid off, though. On the final hand, Schulman stood pat with a ten-eight low. Elias, who had shoved all-in, drew one—but his ten-nine left him second-best and drawing dead.
Joining the Seven-Bracelet Club
With this win, Schulman ties Benny Glaser for the 10th most WSOP bracelets in history. He also becomes just the seventh player ever to win the same WSOP event three times, joining the likes of:
- Johnny Moss and Stu Ungar (WSOP Main Event)
- Brian Rast and Michael Mizrachi ($50K Poker Players Championship)
- Adam Friedman ($10K Dealers Choice)
- Billy Boyd (Five-Card Stud)
Schulman won two WSOP bracelets in 2024, including a $25K High Roller in Las Vegas and a $5K event at WSOP Paradise. This 2025 win further strengthens his run at Player of the Year, earning him 960 Card Player POY points and 497 PokerGO Tour points, catapulting him to #1 in the PGT standings.
A Nod to Darren Elias
Even in defeat, Darren Elias won the respect of everyone in the poker world. Known for his dominance in the World Poker Tour, Elias had never reached a WSOP heads-up before. Schulman praised him in heartfelt terms:
“Darren is kind of the best at this game. It was really an honor to play with him.”
Elias, who has multiple deep runs in this event (3rd in 2017 and 2019), earned $336,421 for his runner-up finish. Expect to see him at more final tables this summer—perhaps even holding a bracelet soon.
Final Table Payouts – Event #XXX: $10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Championship
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points | PGT Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Schulman | $497,356 | 960 | 497 |
| 2 | Darren Elias | $336,421 | 800 | 336 |
| 3 | Chad Eveslage | $231,321 | 640 | 231 |
| 4 | Oscar Johansson | $161,721 | 480 | 162 |
| 5 | Ben Yu | $114,989 | 400 | 115 |
| 6 | Dan Smith | $83,179 | 320 | 83 |
| 7 | Daniel Negreanu | $61,231 | 240 | 61 |
Final Thoughts: Schulman’s Legacy Is Still Unfolding
Nick Schulman’s calm, cerebral presence at the poker table belies the fire and passion he brings to the game—especially in formats like no-limit deuce-to-seven. His win in the largest-ever field for this format wasn’t just another line on his resume—it was a full-circle moment, nearly 16 years after he first won this same event.
The WSOP 2025 continues to deliver unforgettable moments, and Schulman’s seventh bracelet will be talked about long after the cards are shuffled again. For those following poker in the USA, this is a defining chapter in the story of one of the game’s modern greats.
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source: cardplayer