Las Vegas isn’t just about neon lights and blackjack tables—on Day 13 of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP), it was the heartbeats of champions and the dreams of grinders that lit up the Horseshoe and Paris casinos. As the chips shuffled and players made the long walk to the payout desk or Day 3 bagging area, the poker world was once again reminded why WSOP remains the grandest stage in the game.
From seasoned legends like Nick Schulman battling in specialist lowball formats, to everyday heroes like Carlos Caldas turning a $500 Colossus entry into a shot at a half-million-dollar payday, Day 13 delivered drama, storylines, and poker excellence at every level.
Schulman Out Front in $10K NL 2-7 Lowball Championship
If you want to find the purest form of poker skill, look no further than Event #30: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship. Known for attracting poker’s sharpest minds, this event lived up to its reputation. A total of 179 entries (including re-entries) were logged on Day 1, and 79 players advanced to Day 2. The field was so stacked it read like the guest list of a poker Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Leading the pack is none other than six-time bracelet winner Nick Schulman, who bagged 322,500 chips. Schulman is no stranger to this format—his name is synonymous with high-stakes lowball expertise, and he’ll be gunning for his seventh WSOP bracelet.
Just behind Schulman is Scott Seiver, the reigning champion, with 304,000 chips. Seiver had to fire three $10,000 bullets to get to this stack, but he now sits in prime position to make another deep run. Joining them near the top are Alex Foxen (300,500), Bradley Jansen (293,500), and Darren Elias (287,500), each of whom has carved out impressive careers and is hungry for more WSOP gold.
Notables advancing include Daniel Negreanu, who also fired three bullets and bagged 273,500; Dan Smith (276,500); Brian Rast (198,500); Joao Vieira (190,000); and Shaun Deeb (142,000). Even 1996 Main Event champ Huck Seed is still alive with 136,500.
Anatoly Nikitin Leads Elite Field in $25K High Roller
High-roller events are where legends are made and reputations are tested. Event #26: $25,000 High Roller lived up to the hype, and after two days of intense poker, only 18 players remain from a tough and talented field.
Leading the charge is Russia’s Anatoly Nikitin, who bagged 5,550,000 chips. Nikitin is riding a hot streak, having recently shipped a $10,000 side event at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. With nearly double the average stack, he enters Day 3 as the man to beat.
Hot on his heels is Malaysia’s Chin Wei Lim (4,830,000) and American grinder Andrew Ostapchenko (4,605,000). The chip counts reveal a global field full of elite-level talent: Orpen Kisacikoglu (4,550,000), Byron Kaverman (4,525,000), Punnat Punsri (4,370,000), and Joao Simao (3,440,000) all bring deep stacks and deeper resumes.
Even shorter stacks like Joe McKeehen (3,030,000), Jim Collopy (1,335,000), and Brandon Wittmeyer (1,065,000) can’t be counted out—each is only one double-up away from contention.
The final table promises a $1,949,044 top prize, with each remaining player already guaranteed $73,639. A finish in the top two secures more than $1.2 million, ensuring the final day will be a battle for both money and glory.
Ryan Hoenig Chasing Second Bracelet of the Series in Big O
While most players spend a lifetime chasing a single bracelet, Ryan Hoenig is within reach of his second WSOP title in a week. After winning the $10K Dealer’s Choice Championship earlier in the series, Hoenig now sits fifth in chips (2,375,000) in Event #27: $1,500 Big O.
The Big O event, a five-card Omaha hi-lo variant, plays big and swings fast—and Hoenig has proven he can handle the variance.
Leading the field into Day 3 is Kevin Ho, who holds a commanding lead with 6,480,000 chips—more than double second-place Nicolas Milgrom (2,915,000), a bargain pick for Team DPMD in the $25K Fantasy Draft. Milgrom cost his owners just $4 and is now one of the draft’s best value picks.
The remaining players include bracelet winners Lawrence Brandt (2,150,000), Michael Christ (1,945,000), Owais Ahmed (1,630,000), and Shawn Daniels (1,515,000). If Christ manages to go back-to-back in this event, it would be one of the most remarkable feats of the summer.
Play resumes at 1:00 p.m. local time, with 17 players eyeing Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Day 13 of the 2025 World Series of Poker delivered everything poker fans could hope for—elite battles in specialist formats, life-changing money in the Colossus, and the potential for repeat champions. As the summer rolls on, these narratives will only grow richer. Can Schulman continue his march toward a seventh bracelet? Will Carlos Caldas complete his underdog story? And who will claim the $1.9 million in the High Roller?
Stay tuned to BetterPokerNews for all your WSOP 2025 updates.
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