Over the last two weeks, the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event has captivated the poker world with record-breaking action, emotional moments, and historic achievements. And now, from a massive field of 9,735 entries, just nine players remain. Among them, we have a trailblazing woman, two iconic veterans chasing their second Main Event final table glory, and an unlikely chip leader who started Day 8 near the bottom of the leaderboard.
It’s more than just a poker tournament at this point—it’s a moment in history. And for each of these final nine, a $10,000,000 payday and poker immortality are now within reach.
The Final Table Is Set
The final nine players of the 2025 WSOP Main Event will return on July 15, each guaranteed at least $1 million, with escalating pay jumps all the way to the top prize of $10 million and the prestigious WSOP Main Event bracelet. The stage is now set at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas, and these players will battle it out over two days to determine who will be crowned poker’s newest world champion.
Let’s take a closer look at the final nine and the compelling storylines heading into the climax of poker’s biggest event.
1. John Wasnock – The Comeback King
Sitting atop the leaderboard is John Wasnock from North Bend, Washington, with a stack of 108,100,000. What makes his run remarkable is not just his chip count, but how he got there.
Wasnock began Day 8 as one of the shortest stacks. Early in the day, he managed to double through Michael Mizrachi with A♦Q♦ against A♠J♦. From there, he clawed his way up through patience and timely aggression. In his own words: “Three hours ago, I had 10 bigs… and now I’m chip leader.”
A full-time investment consultant with modest poker earnings of just over $120K prior to this run, Wasnock now sits on the edge of poker history with a guaranteed seven-figure payday and a shot at $10 million.
2. Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi – Legend Reborn
Right behind Wasnock is Michael Mizrachi, the only player at the table with seven WSOP bracelets, including a historic fourth win in the $50K Poker Players Championship this summer.
Mizrachi’s journey to the final table has been nothing short of miraculous. At one point, he was down to a few big blinds after a hand against Wasnock. But Mizrachi isn’t called “The Grinder” for nothing. He doubled through Braxton Dunaway with a four-flush and then again versus pocket fives with a rivered flush. By the end of the day, he had stormed into second place with 93,000,000.
For Mizrachi, this marks his second WSOP Main Event final table—the first coming back in 2010. A win here would solidify his place as one of the all-time greats.
3. Braxton Dunaway – Quiet Force, Big Moves
Third in chips is Braxton Dunaway with 91,900,000, a name that might be unfamiliar to casual fans but one that’s been climbing the ranks steadily. He won the 2023 WSOP Monster Stack, besting a field of 8,317 players for $1.16 million.
Dunaway led for much of Day 8 before dropping slightly in the final hand. Still, his calm, steady play and previous deep run experience make him a serious contender heading into the final table.
4. Kenny Hallaert – The Belgian Beast Returns
Kenny Hallaert is back. The Belgian tournament director-turned-poker-pro made the 2016 WSOP Main Event final table and now finds himself once again among the elite, holding 80,500,000 chips.
Hallaert led the field at multiple points during Days 7 and 8 and displayed veteran control throughout. “It’s just amazing to make it twice,” he said. “You dream about it, but never think it will happen again.”
A final table appearance is rare. Two? That’s legendary.
5. Leo Margets – Making Poker History
It’s been 30 years since a woman last made the WSOP Main Event final table. In 1995, Barbara Enright broke that barrier. Now, Leo Margets becomes just the second woman in WSOP history to achieve the same feat.
Margets enters the final table with 53,400,000 chips and a shot at not just the title, but at setting the record for the highest live tournament cash by a woman if she finishes fourth or higher. She’s already a bracelet winner, having taken down a WSOP event in 2021, and her game has never looked sharper.
“It’s so unreal,” Margets told Jeff Platt. “How lucky am I to live this?”
6. Luka Bojovic – The Grinder With Zen
Representing Serbia, Luka Bojovic has quietly maneuvered through the field with discipline and resilience. A professional and CoinPoker ambassador, Bojovic enters the final table with 51,000,000 chips and a unique outlook.
“I’m a heavy grinder. I can play for days,” he said, crediting his success to routine—meditation, workouts, clean eating, and consistent play.
His consistency and calm demeanor could serve him well as the pressure intensifies.
7. Adam Hendrix – Experience With Something To Prove
Holding 48,000,000 in chips, Adam Hendrix brings a wealth of experience with more than $8.4 million in live tournament earnings. Despite 12 WSOP final tables and multiple WPT appearances, Hendrix still seeks a career-defining victory.
His sharp analytical skills and adaptability make him a dangerous threat. “The Grinder always throws some curve balls,” he said. “It makes it interesting for my brain.”
8. Daehyung Lee – The South Korean Underdog
The only Asian representative at the table, Daehyung Lee of South Korea, sits with 34,900,000 chips. With just nine major live cashes before this Main Event, Lee is the underdog—but he’s already exceeded expectations.
Earlier this year, he cashed at APT Taipei, but this final table appearance will redefine his career and likely spark poker interest across Asia.
9. Jarod Minghini – The Circuit Crusher
Rounding out the final table is Jarod Minghini with 23,600,000 chips. A mid-stakes WSOP Circuit grinder, Minghini has tasted success at WSOPC Lake Tahoe and North Carolina. Now, he has a shot at the big one.
If he can pull off a miraculous comeback from the short stack, it would be the story of the decade.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Payout |
|---|---|
| 1st | $10,000,000 |
| 2nd | $6,000,000 |
| 3rd | $4,000,000 |
| 4th | $3,000,000 |
| 5th | $2,400,000 |
| 6th | $1,900,000 |
| 7th | $1,500,000 |
| 8th | $1,250,000 |
| 9th | $1,000,000 |
What’s Next?
The final table kicks off Tuesday, July 15, with blinds at 800K/1.6M and a big blind ante. The plan is to play down to the final three, who will return on Wednesday to battle for the championship.
Expect drama. Expect surprises. Expect poker history.
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sources: cardplayer