When Destiny Changed Seats at the Final Table
It was supposed to be Chino Rheem’s moment. The veteran pro walked into the Horseshoe Events Center at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) on the cusp of poker history. Unknown to even himself at the time, Rheem was just one win away from joining the rarefied ranks of Triple Crown winners—champions who’ve conquered the WSOP, WPT, and EPT. But poker doesn’t bend to narrative. It bends to resilience, endurance, and timing. And on this particular night, it was Nick Guagenti who seized those virtues and turned them into his third career bracelet.
The $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship delivered everything a poker fan could ask for—Hall of Famers, comeback stories, strategic wars, and a final heads-up duel that stretched five exhausting hours. In the end, Guagenti didn’t just win the bracelet and $2,95,008; he rewrote the headlines.
A Star-Studded Final Table
The final table was a who’s who of the mixed-game poker world. Mike “The Mouth” Matusow was chasing his fifth bracelet after a 12-year drought. Dan Heimiller was looking to sweep both Stud titles of the series. And there was Rheem—poised, focused, and in dominant chip position from the start of Day 3.
Guagenti, however, entered the day without the fanfare but with a deep arsenal of mixed-game expertise. Known for his calm demeanor and strategic edge, the Ohio native already had bracelets in Limit Hold’em and No-Limit formats. This final table would give him the chance to complete a personal triple crown of his own—three bracelets in three completely different poker disciplines.
Mike Matusow’s Early Exit
Matusow began Day 3 with high hopes and declared to PokerNews that “no one wanted this bracelet more” than him. But desire alone wasn’t enough. He clashed repeatedly with Rheem, losing key pots, and eventually went out in 8th place after bricking his board while holding a pair of deuces. Guagenti was the one to finish the job, showing early signs of the silent dominance that would define his performance.
The Fall of the Legends
Dave Rogers was the first to bust, followed by a series of poker legends. Dan Heimiller, who already had one Stud title under his belt this series, finished in 7th. Adam Friedman, a five-time WSOP bracelet winner, couldn’t find traction and went out in 6th.
Mori Eskandani, a Hall of Famer and producer of iconic poker broadcasts, tangled frequently with Rheem but eventually fell in 5th. His bust-out hand epitomized the match-up—Rheem simply had his number all day.
Paul Volpe and Qiang Xu: The Bridge to Heads-Up
Paul Volpe was eliminated in fourth after an aggressive shove with trips ran into a straight from China’s Qiang Xu. It was Xu’s deep run that impressed many. Though not a stud specialist, Xu showcased remarkable composure, navigating a minefield of mixed-game pros.
However, Xu’s inexperience in Seven Card Stud caught up to him. In a three-handed battle with Guagenti and Rheem that dragged on for hours, he eventually succumbed when Rheem made a full house on sixth street, leaving him drawing dead before the final card.
The Heads-Up Battle: A War of Wills
With Rheem holding a 2.5:1 chip lead heading into heads-up, it looked like history was in the making. Rheem’s momentum, table image, and experience gave him the upper hand. At one point, he was just a few bets away from victory.
But Guagenti had other plans. He found a crucial flush on seventh street to stay alive, then clawed his way back into contention. Fatigue became a visible factor as both players struggled to maintain focus deep into the night. Rheem even offered to finish the match immediately so they could both late-register for the $10K 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship the next day. Guagenti agreed, but with a twist of fate, it would soon be Rheem rushing to the cage alone.
After the final break, Guagenti pulled off three big pots, including one where Rheem made a disciplined but costly fold. That hand left him with just three big bets. In the very next hand, the chips went in on fifth street—Guagenti held split sevens; Rheem had split sixes. By the time the final card hit the felt, Guagenti had improved to kings-up, while Rheem’s board went dry.
Nick Guagenti: A Stud of Stud
With this win, Guagenti’s total live tournament earnings have soared just shy of the $3 million mark. More importantly, he’s now part of a very rare group of players to win WSOP bracelets in No-Limit Hold’em, Limit Hold’em, and Seven Card Stud—arguably three of the most distinct formats in poker.
The win also further establishes him as one of the most well-rounded and underrated players on the WSOP circuit. Guagenti isn’t known for flashy headlines or viral soundbites, but his results now speak volumes.
Final Table Results – Event #XX: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Guagenti | United States | $2,95,008 |
| 2 | Chino Rheem | United States | $1,96,662 |
| 3 | Qiang Xu | China | $1,35,828 |
| 4 | Paul Volpe | United States | $96,502 |
| 5 | Mori Eskandani | United States | $70,587 |
| 6 | Adam Friedman | United States | $53,201 |
| 7 | Dan Heimiller | United States | $41,357 |
| 8 | Mike Matusow | United States | $33,190 |
| 9 | Dave Rogers | United States | $27,528 |
What’s Next?
The $10K Stud Championship was one of the marquee mixed-game events of the 2025 WSOP, and it certainly lived up to the hype. With storylines around Hall of Fame dreams, Triple Crown ambitions, and deep personal legacies, this final table was more than just cards and chips—it was poker storytelling at its best.
Chino Rheem’s Triple Crown will have to wait, but his run was nothing short of exceptional. For Nick Guagenti, the win cements his place among the most versatile players in modern poker.
Final Thoughts
Nick Guagenti’s win in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship is a celebration of persistence, endurance, and mastery across poker formats. In a game of narratives, he flipped the script and reminded everyone why the WSOP remains the ultimate proving ground in poker.
As the WSOP 2025 rolls on, stay tuned with BetterPokerNews for more gripping stories, big wins, and crushing heartbreaks straight from the felt.
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Source: PokerNews