Veteran pro Ian Johns cemented his reputation as one of the all-time greats in Limit Hold’em by capturing his third WSOP title in the variant, and second in this exact championship, at Event #41: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship at the 2025 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. In a final table packed with poker pedigree, Johns outmaneuvered a star-studded field to win $282,455 and claim his fourth WSOP bracelet overall.
This year’s Limit Hold’em Championship may have featured a smaller field of just 124 entries, but the competition was elite—highlighted by Viktor “Isildur1” Blom, who was chasing his maiden bracelet. Blom came into the final day as chip leader, but Johns’ composure, precision, and deep knowledge of limit strategy ultimately overwhelmed the Swedish icon in heads-up play.
Final Table Payouts – Event #41: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ian Johns | United States | $282,455 |
| 2 | Viktor Blom | Sweden | $188,295 |
| 3 | Anthony Zinno | United States | $130,447 |
| 4 | Pedro Neves | Portugal | $92,774 |
| 5 | Ryan Bambrick | United States | $67,782 |
| 6 | Max Hoffman | United States | $50,915 |
| 7 | David Lieberman | United States | $39,349 |
| 8 | Daniel Negreanu | Canada | $31,316 |
| 9 | Scott Bohlman | United States | $25,687 |
Ian Johns Reflects on Another Limit Hold’em Triumph
This victory marks Ian Johns’ second title in the $10K Limit Hold’em Championship, with his first coming in 2016, nearly a decade ago. His first WSOP bracelet came all the way back in 2006, also in Limit Hold’em, and he added a third that same summer in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event. With three of his four bracelets coming in limit formats, Johns has carved out a unique legacy as a specialist in a discipline few young pros focus on today.
When asked about his feelings after the win, Johns said:
“It feels amazing to still be competitive after all these years. This game has always been my first love—it’s what I started grinding online when I was 18. I’ve played millions of hands, studied forums, and just obsessed over it for years.”
His path to victory wasn’t easy. The final table featured 19 combined bracelets, with poker legends like Daniel Negreanu and Anthony Zinno in the mix. But Johns remained composed throughout, building a stack early and never looking back.
Day 3 Recap – Stacked Final Table, High Drama
Nine players returned for the final day, each hoping to etch their name into WSOP history. Scott Bohlman was the shortest stack and became the first casualty after his pocket aces fell to a turned flush. Daniel Negreanu, eyeing bracelet #8, soon followed in 8th place after running into a rivered flush from David Lieberman.
Lieberman couldn’t build on that momentum and bowed out in 7th place. Max Hoffman fell in 6th when his ace-queen ran into Pedro Neves’ dominating ace-king. Ryan Bambrick, who started Day 3 second in chips, watched his stack steadily erode before busting in 5th.
Pedro Neves, the 2024 WSOP Monster Stack champion, continued to battle but was eliminated in 4th place after three-handed play began. That’s when the real war started.
Zinno Falls, Johns Takes Command
The three-handed clash between Zinno, Blom, and Johns turned into a tug-of-war for the chip lead. Zinno surged past the 3 million mark but suffered a brutal downswing that saw him exit in third place. Blom and Johns were left to battle for the bracelet.
Although Blom is known for his fearless aggression and online wizardry, Johns entered heads-up play with a significant chip lead and never let it slip. A key hand saw his pocket tens hold against Blom’s ace-jack, and soon after, Blom was forced to shove a flush draw into Johns’ top pair. The river bricked out, and it was all over.
Viktor Blom Narrowly Misses First Bracelet
For Viktor “Isildur1” Blom, this was his deepest live run yet at the WSOP. Known primarily for his legendary online high-stakes clashes, Blom has long been one of poker’s most electrifying figures. His runner-up finish and $188,295 payday might sting now, but it also signals that a WSOP bracelet could be on the horizon soon—perhaps even this summer.
What This Means for Ian Johns’ Legacy
Johns has now won three WSOP bracelets in Limit Hold’em, putting him in rare company. With a style that prioritizes discipline, timing, and deep hand-reading abilities, he’s proven time and again that Limit Hold’em still has a place at the highest levels of competition.
As the 2025 WSOP continues, this win reminds fans that while flashy no-limit fields often grab headlines, Limit Hold’em remains the domain of true grinders, and Ian Johns is its modern-day king.
Key Takeaways
- Ian Johns wins his fourth WSOP bracelet, third in Limit Hold’em, second in the $10K Championship.
- Defeated Viktor “Isildur1” Blom heads-up to deny him his first bracelet.
- Outlasted a star-studded final table featuring Anthony Zinno, Daniel Negreanu, and others.
- Reaffirms his status as one of the best Limit Hold’em players in modern poker history.
FAQs – WSOP 2025 Event #41
Q: How many players entered the $10K Limit Hold’em Championship?
A: 124 entries created a prize pool of $1,097,400.
Q: How many WSOP bracelets has Ian Johns won?
A: Four total — three in Limit Hold’em and one in H.O.R.S.E.
Q: Has Viktor Blom ever won a WSOP bracelet?
A: No, this was his closest finish yet — second place in this event.
Q: What was Daniel Negreanu’s finish in this event?
A: He finished 8th and earned $31,316.
Q: What’s next for the 2025 WSOP?
A: The action continues with several high-profile events including the $50K High Roller and the $1,500 Monster Stack.
Stay locked on BetterPokerNews for daily WSOP 2025 coverage, player interviews, final table recaps, and expert insights.
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