It was supposed to be a day of celebration. Four bracelets were scheduled to be awarded, and champions expected to hoist the gold in triumph. But instead, as the clock neared midnight in Las Vegas, tension hung heavy over the felt. Heads-up battles raged on. Big names fought for high roller dominance. And for the second day in a row, the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) delivered more suspense than resolution. What was planned as a day of endings, became a stage for unfinished stories—and a reminder why poker at the WSOP is anything but predictable.
Here’s a full breakdown of the biggest stories from WSOP Day 10, with extra days scheduled, legends chasing glory, and a brand new WSOP record set in one of poker’s most obscure formats.
Ryan Hoenig Leads $10K Dealers Choice as Event Stretches to Day 4
Event #18: $10,000 Dealers Choice 6-Handed Championship is one of the most skill-intensive tournaments on the WSOP schedule. With a field of 130 entries and over 20 games in rotation, it demands deep knowledge and fast adaptation. It’s also known for producing elite champions—Adam Friedman, for example, won this exact event three times in a row from 2018 to 2021.
And Friedman was in the hunt again this year. He made it all the way to seventh place, nearly capturing a record fourth title before busting shy of the final table.
As Day 3 played deep into the night, it was Ryan Hoenig who bagged the chip lead with 4,995,000 chips. Trailing him are Dylan Smith (2,220,000) and Philip Sternheimer (1,910,000), both very much still in the fight. All three are chasing their first bracelet, and all three are guaranteed $154,460. But the winner will walk away with the coveted WSOP gold bracelet and $354,444.
The unscheduled Day 4 resumes today, and with no former bracelet winners left, we’re guaranteed a first-time champion in this prestigious mixed-game format.
Scott Bohlman and Dusti Smith Set for Heads-Up Showdown in $2,000 NLHE
Another event that refused to conclude was Event #17: $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em, which is now heads-up between Scott Bohlman and Dusti Smith. Bohlman, who already has a bracelet to his name from 2018, holds a narrow chip lead with 23.5 million chips, but Smith is close behind with 20.5 million.
For Bohlman, this is a chance to solidify his legacy. For Dusti Smith, it’s a chance at history. If she wins, she’ll join an elite club of women to win open-field WSOP events this decade—alongside names like Kristen Foxen, Vivian Saliba, and Leo Margets.
The winner will take home $436,044, while the runner-up still receives a handsome six-figure payout.
Jason Wheeler, Punnat Punsri Among Final 15 in $1,500 Shootout
Event #20: $1,500 Shootout is down to its final 15 players after two grueling rounds of single-table warfare. Among the notables still standing are Jason Wheeler, who is chasing his second bracelet, and Punnat Punsri, an emerging international star with deep runs across the global poker circuit.
The final round shifts to a traditional freezeout format, where players will battle it out for the bracelet and $267,373 top prize. Each player is guaranteed at least $13,440, but the real prestige comes with finishing first in one of the WSOP’s most strategically demanding formats.
Zachary Zaret Rises from Short Stack to Leader in $1,500 PLO-8
From six big blinds to chip leader—it doesn’t get much more dramatic than that. Zachary Zaret entered Day 2 of Event #21: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better with just a handful of chips, but by night’s end, he had bagged 7,060,000, more than 141 big blinds.
Zaret vaulted into the lead after winning a massive three-way pot with a Broadway straight, eliminating Jake Schwartz in the process. Trailing him are Bryce Yockey (4.1M) and Ronnie Tate (3.85M), while notables like Christopher Vitch, Calvin Anderson, and Marco Johnson are still in contention.
The final 11 players will return with eyes on the bracelet and the top prize, making this one of the most exciting Omaha split-pot finales in recent memory.
Michael Gathy Tops $25K 6-Max; Schulman, Davies Trail Close Behind
The stakes went sky-high in Event #22: $25,000 High Roller 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em, which drew 272 entries on Day 1—matching last year’s total, with late registration still open.
Leading the 72 Day 1 survivors is Belgium’s Michael Gathy, who is chasing bracelet number four and bagged 1.836 million chips. The field is packed with elite talent:
- Nick Schulman (1.519M) – Six-time bracelet winner
- Seth Davies (1.112M) – High roller regular
- Jared Bleznick, David Coleman, and Boris Kolev round out the top ten
This event is guaranteed to be one of the most watched on Day 11, with seven-figure prize pools and reputation on the line.
Ray Fishman Leads Biggest Badugi Tournament in WSOP History
Event #23: $1,500 Badugi quietly made history by attracting 534 entries, becoming the largest Badugi tournament ever run at the WSOP.
At the top of the leaderboard is Ray Fishman, who bagged 441,000 chips, ahead of Brian Tate (353,000) and Aloisio Dourado (348,000). This marks only the third time Badugi has appeared on the WSOP schedule, and it’s clearly growing in popularity.
Mixed-game specialists like Dan Zack, Ryutaro Suzuki, and Ben Yu are also through to Day 2, while past champions like Michael Rodrigues and David Prociak were eliminated.
Colossus Crushes Again: Over 6,000 Entries So Far
Event #19: $500 COLOSSUS continued to live up to its name, with Day 1b pushing total entries past 6,000. After 464 players advanced, it’s France’s Theo Rebour who leads with 1.5 million chips.
Among those also through are:
- Jeff Madsen – Four-time bracelet winner, sitting fifth in chips
- Jared Jaffee, Barry Shulman, Matt Glantz, and Kathy Liebert
With two more flights to go, the Colossus could reach record-breaking territory once again.
What’s Coming on Day 11 of WSOP 2025?
Buckle up—because Day 11 is stacked with action:
- Final tables expected in Events #17, #18, #20, and #21
- More flights in the $500 Colossus
- Day 2 in both $25K High Roller 6-Max and $1,500 Badugi
- Two new events launching:
- Event #24: $1,500 PLO Double Board Bomb Pot (a brand new twist!)
- Event #25: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship
There’s no better time to be following poker in the United States, and the WSOP 2025 continues to deliver fireworks with each passing day.
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