In the glitz and grind of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, dreams are made and crushed every day. But on June 11, one story stood out among thousands — the remarkable comeback of Jonathan Stoeber in Event #31: $800 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack. With just four and a half big blinds at the final table, Stoeber didn’t just survive — he thrived. In a few electric hours, he went from the short stack to champion, taking home his first gold bracelet and a life-changing $352,610.
For the young New Jersey native, who had narrowly missed WSOP gold in online events before, this moment was years in the making. His win marks a milestone in a poker journey filled with near-misses, smart aggression, and undeniable resilience. In a field of 4,481 entries and a prize pool of $3,136,700, it was Stoeber who rose to the top.
A Roller Coaster Day 2 With No Expectations
Heading into Day 2 with 1,000,000 in chips, Stoeber knew the odds were steep. “With 250 people starting the day, I had no expectations,” he admitted. “I knew it would be a roller coaster the whole way.”
While others went to war early with triple his stack, Stoeber patiently maneuvered through the middle stages. He avoided trouble, bided his time, and waited for the tournament to shift into “push poker” mode — that critical point where stack sizes shrink relative to blinds and one mistake can cost a bracelet.
It was a strategy born from experience. Stoeber has been grinding live and online events for years, consistently placing deep but never quite sealing the deal. This time, everything clicked at exactly the right time.
Four Big Blinds and a Dream: Final Table Fireworks
Stoeber entered the final table with just four and a half big blinds — a position few would envy. But as he said post-win, “I just kinda sun runned it, to be honest.”
He found queens against 9♠8♦, then kings versus queens — two huge flips that reignited his chances. With every pot, his stack swelled. One river card saved his tournament life, and from there, he never looked back.
Peter Fox’s eighth-place elimination was one of the key hands that helped Stoeber double up again. He then knocked out Geoffrey Coatar in fifth, pushing himself firmly into the chip lead.
In less than three hours, the entire final table played out — and by the end of it, Jonathan Stoeber had risen from obscurity to WSOP champion.
Final Table Payouts – Event #31: $800 NLH Deepstack
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonathan Stoeber | United States | $352,610 |
| 2 | Daniel Cosner | United States | $234,908 |
| 3 | Matthew Morin | Canada | $172,724 |
| 4 | Shawn Buchanan | Canada | $128,100 |
| 5 | Geoffrey Coatar | United States | $95,834 |
| 6 | Nicholas Seward | United States | $72,327 |
| 7 | Ryan Hohner | United States | $55,071 |
| 8 | Peter Fox | United States | $42,308 |
| 9 | Mikhail Sniatovskii | United States | $32,796 |
Playing for Pressure: “I Put People in the Blender”
Stoeber’s heads-up play was nothing short of dominant. Facing Daniel Cosner for the title, it took less than one level of play to seal the win. His strategy? Apply relentless pressure.
“I was just trying to put people in spots,” he explained. “If it’s six big blinds, but a $50K pay jump, you put people in the blender.”
It’s a classic tactic in short-stacked tournament poker — exploit ICM pressure and force opponents to fold marginal hands. But to execute it with such precision on the biggest stage in poker? That’s a skill honed over countless tournaments.
And the crowd noticed. Nearly 20 friends and fans cheered him on from the rail. When the final card fell, the room erupted. No one shouted louder than his crew — but the quiet relief on Stoeber’s face said it all.
What’s Next for the New Jersey Grinder?
With his first WSOP bracelet now secured, Jonathan Stoeber is already planning what’s next. Though he has a flight booked, don’t be surprised if he shows up for more events in Vegas soon.
“I’m coming back,” he promised.
Whether it’s a quick stop at home in Ewing, New Jersey, or a longer break to savor the victory, one thing’s for sure — the poker world hasn’t seen the last of Stoeber. He’s now more than just a contender; he’s a champion.
And as one member of his rail announced during the winner’s photos: “There’s still a lot more money to win.”
The Bigger Picture: WSOP 2025 Delivers Another Star
Jonathan Stoeber’s win isn’t just a personal victory — it’s the essence of what the WSOP is all about. A massive field, a relatively small buy-in, and a massive opportunity. These Deepstack events continue to give amateur grinders and regional heroes a shot at glory.
With over 4,400 entries, Event #31 was among the most accessible yet high-stakes tournaments of the summer. And Stoeber’s story will now be etched into WSOP history — a reminder that even with just four big blinds, a gold bracelet is always within reach.
For fans of poker tournaments, especially those tracking rising stars and underdog stories, this one hits all the right notes.
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