Las Vegas shimmered under the neon glow on Day 15 of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP), and inside the Horseshoe and Paris casinos, the energy was electric. The buzz wasn’t just about the five bracelets awarded throughout the day—it was about one man. Phil Ivey, often regarded as the greatest poker player of all time, made his presence felt with a top ten finish in chips after Day 1 of the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship (PLO8). It’s the kind of development that rekindles the old WSOP magic.
While Ivey’s story commanded headlines, he wasn’t the only one lighting up the tables. Several players claimed career-defining victories, the $50K High Roller saw a dominating chip leader emerge, and the $10K No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Championship stretched into an extra day with star power still in the hunt. Here’s a full rundown of what made Day 15 a pivotal moment in this summer’s poker saga.
Phil Ivey Bags Big in the $10K PLO8 Championship
Poker fans have been eagerly waiting for Ivey to make a splash this summer, and on Day 15, he finally delivered. In Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, Ivey bagged 284,000 chips—good for sixth overall. It marks his first deep run of the 2025 WSOP and sets him up as a strong contender for what would be his 12th gold bracelet.
Though Ivey has conquered multiple forms of poker, he’s never won this specific format. Still, with two PLO bracelets and a mixed Omaha Hi-Lo/Stud title already under his belt, he’s one of the most feared players remaining.
Leading the charge is Bruno Furth (372,500), who’s been red-hot lately. Fresh off a win in the $5K PLO8 and another big score at the Wynn, Furth seems unstoppable. Others in the top ten include Michael Korody (336,500), Richard Green (310,500), and Blaz Zerjav (251,500), the Slovenian sensation who recently captured the $25K 6-Max High Roller.
The field, narrowed to 142 survivors out of 304 entrants, is packed with legends—Daniel Negreanu (133,500), Shaun Deeb (226,000), Brian Rast (185,500), Josh Arieh (136,500), Allen Kessler (160,000), and many more. With registration still open for two more levels, Day 2 promises fireworks.
Five Bracelets Awarded – Meet the Latest WSOP Champions
1. Courtenay Williams Wins the COLOSSUS
In one of the largest fields of the summer, Courtenay Williams outlasted a staggering 16,300 entrants to win Event #19: $500 COLOSSUS. He took home a career-best $542,540 and his first WSOP bracelet. Speaking to PokerNews, Williams admitted he’s still processing whether the money or the bracelet means more—a sentiment many first-time winners can relate to.
2. Igor Zektser Takes Down the $1.5K Big O
Event #27: $1,500 Big O needed an unscheduled Day 4 after Zektser and Paul Sincere paused heads-up play. When they returned, it didn’t take long—Zektser closed it out and collected $306,884, marking his first bracelet win.
3. Mark Darner Breaks Through in the $2.5K NLH
After falling short in three previous WSOP final tables, Mark Darner finally sealed the deal in Event #29: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em. His victory earned him $496,826, a long-awaited bracelet, and redemption after multiple near-misses.
4. Jonathan Stoeber Wins the $800 Deepstack
In Event #31: $800 NLH Deepstack, Jonathan Stoeber fought through a huge field to earn $352,610 and his first bracelet. A former fourth-place finisher in an online WSOP event, Stoeber’s climb to the top of a live tournament was a defining moment in his poker journey.
5. John Racener Adds Third Bracelet in $1.5K Super Turbo Bounty
Rounding out the list of champions, John Racener conquered a 2,232-entry field in Event #34: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty. The tournament wrapped in just under 16 hours, and Racener pocketed $247,595—adding a third bracelet to his decorated career.
Darren Elias Leads Final Six in $10K NL 2-7 Championship
Event #30: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship was supposed to crown a winner on Day 15, but six players bagged chips, forcing an extra day of play. Darren Elias leads the final table with 3,475,000 chips and has a golden chance to win his first WSOP bracelet.
Hot on his heels are six-time bracelet winner Nick Schulman (2,670,000), Oscar Johansson (2,910,000), Chad Eveslage (1,905,000), Ben Yu (1,870,000), and short-stacked Dan Smith (905,000). Elias has won everything except a bracelet—could Day 16 finally be the day?
Jason Koon Dominates the $50K High Roller
Jason Koon took command in Event #32: $50,000 High Roller, bagging a mammoth 14,575,000 chips—more than double the second-largest stack. Known for his consistency in high-stakes fields, Koon looks poised to score his second bracelet and a payday north of $1 million.
Other big names still in the mix include Andrew Lichtenberger (6,735,000), Aliaksei Boika (6,285,000), Viktor “Isildur1” Blom (5,005,000), and Ben Tollerene (4,805,000). With PokerGO set to stream the final six, this could be one of the most entertaining final tables of the summer.
Adam Tyburski Leads Final 7 in $1.5K Limit Hold’em
Event #33: $1,500 Limit Hold’em has whittled down to seven finalists—none of whom have ever won a WSOP bracelet. Adam Tyburski leads the way with 2,985,000 chips, followed by Bobbi Harrell and Nicholas Tsoukalas. With $130,061 up top, each of these players is dreaming of their first taste of WSOP glory.
Matt Affleck in Contention in the $3K Freezeout
Matt Affleck, remembered for a heart-wrenching 2010 WSOP Main Event exit, is once again deep in a WSOP tournament. In Event #35: $3,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em, Affleck bagged 690,000 chips—ninth overall out of 156 returning players. With $451,600 up top, Affleck has a chance to rewrite his legacy.
China’s Hongru Zhang leads with 992,000 chips. Other notable players still in the field include Nick Marchington, Kristen Foxen, Yuri Dzivielevski, Michael Mizrachi, and Patrick Leonard.
What’s Coming on WSOP Day 16
Day 16 will be no less dramatic. Three bracelets will be awarded:
- Event #30: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship
- Event #32: $50,000 High Roller
- Event #33: $1,500 Limit Hold’em
Meanwhile, deep fields in the $3K Freezeout and $10K PLO8 will continue to march toward final tables.
New tournaments will also kick off, including the fan-favorite Event #37: $1,500 Monster Stack, the elite Event #38: $100,000 High Roller, and the first H.O.R.S.E. tournament of the series, Event #39: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. (8-Handed).
Final Thoughts
From Phil Ivey’s resurgence to Jason Koon’s dominance and five newly minted bracelet winners, Day 15 of the 2025 WSOP was packed with unforgettable stories. As the summer grind continues, legends are being built, records are being challenged, and dreams are being realized under the Las Vegas lights.
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Source: PokerNews