On June 30th, as the neon lights of Las Vegas bathed the Horseshoe and Paris casinos in their familiar glow, something electric was in the air. Amid the chip shuffles and crowd murmurs, one name echoed louder than the rest—Daniel Negreanu. The Canadian poker icon is now just one step away from an eighth WSOP bracelet, reigniting the dreams of fans and silencing critics who doubted his grind. But this day wasn’t only about Negreanu—it was a poker kaleidoscope of controversy, comebacks, multi-tabling madness, and breakout stars. Welcome to Day 35 of the 2025 World Series of Poker.
Controversy Clouds Millionaire Maker: No Bracelet Awarded
Before diving into the highs of the day, let’s address the elephant in the poker room. The much-discussed Event #53: $1,500 Millionaire Maker ended in scandal. Jesse Yaginuma’s dramatic comeback over James Carroll has now been declared void of a bracelet. While the prize money—over a million dollars—was split between the two finalists, the WSOP decided not to recognize a winner, leaving the event without its most coveted prize: the gold bracelet.
This decision followed widespread speculation of potential chip dumping during heads-up play. The poker world has been abuzz with opinions, making this one of the most controversial moments in recent WSOP history. While Yaginuma and Carroll walk away with hefty paydays, the poker community remains divided.
Ian Pelz Turns $300 Into Gold in Gladiators of Poker
From controversy to inspiration, Ian Pelz gave poker fans something to cheer about in Event #67: $300 Gladiators of Poker. The Colorado native, who had recently finished third in the $3,000 6-Handed NLHE event, decided on a whim to enter Gladiators while picking up his car after a night out. That spontaneous decision led to a career-best $420,680 payday and his first WSOP bracelet.
Pelz’s run captured the essence of the poker dream—taking a small buy-in and converting it into life-changing money. His story serves as a powerful reminder that anyone, even a last-minute registrant, can rise to the top at the WSOP.
Negreanu Second in Chips in $2,500 Mixed Big Bet
Let’s get back to the man of the hour—Daniel Negreanu. The GGPoker ambassador is sitting second in chips in Event #76: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet, just ten players away from joining the elite eight-bracelet club. With 2,513,000 chips, Negreanu trails only Aaron Kupin (3,028,000) and is well-positioned to make a deep run.
This event is critical for Negreanu, who has already reached three final tables at the 2025 WSOP but has yet to clinch a title. Should he win, Negreanu will join legends like Erik Seidel and Phil Ivey in the rarefied air of players with eight bracelets.
Notable players still in the mix include Marco Johnson, Jeff Madsen, and Christopher Vitch, making the final day a star-studded affair. Play resumes at 1:00 p.m. local time, and poker fans across the globe will be glued to their screens.
Quan Zhou Leads $10K PLO Championship Final Table
Meanwhile, the battle for the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship is down to its final seven players. China’s Quan Zhou leads the way with 16,750,000 chips, followed closely by Sean Rafael (13,250,000). Zhou has a solid edge heading into the final day and is in prime position to bring home the bracelet to Asia.
Joining them are experienced pros like Michael Wang, Javier Francort, and Alex Foxen. Foxen, interestingly, has been multi-tabling—juggling this event while playing another $10K tournament at the Wynn Las Vegas. While his stack is the shortest at the table (2,725,000), never count out a player of Foxen’s caliber.
Ethan “Rampage” Yau Bounces Back in the Mini Main Event
Day 1b of the $1,000 Mini Main Event (Event #75) saw a massive turnout of 6,717 entrants, bringing the total field to 10,794. One of the most notable stacks belonged to Ethan “Rampage” Yau, who bagged 2,350,000 chips heading into Day 2.
Yau’s summer hasn’t gone as expected. He previously told PokerNews how frustrating the series had been, but his perseverance is paying off. Now among the top ten stacks, Yau looks hungry to make a statement and perhaps capture his second bracelet.
France’s Bernard Kobis topped the Day 1b chip counts with 7,770,000, followed by Chakib Mhiri and Jens Ullrich. Other familiar names advancing include Martin Kabrhel, Joe Cada, Matt Affleck, and Uri Reichenstein.
Shaun Deeb in Contention in $10K Stud Hi-Lo
Shaun Deeb continues his mission to dominate the mixed games as he sits second in chips after Day 1 of Event #77: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship. With 310,000 chips, Deeb trails only Walter Chambers (372,500) and is well-poised for another deep run.
Deeb has already cashed 15 times this summer, including two final tables. The six-time bracelet winner is chasing number seven and is arguably the most dangerous player in the field.
Others in contention include Anthony Zinno, Scott Bohlman, Brian Hastings, Nick Guagenti, Mike Gorodinsky, and even Viktor Blom. This event has drawn a who’s who of mixed game legends and promises to be one of the most competitive of the summer.
What’s Ahead on WSOP Day 36?
Bracelets are on the line today in two major non-Hold’em events—Event #74: $10K PLO Championship and Event #76: $2.5K Mixed Big Bet, both set to conclude by night’s end.
At 11:00 a.m., Day 2 of the Mini Main Event begins with 859 survivors chasing down a final five. At 10:00 a.m., one of the most exciting events on the WSOP schedule kicks off—Event #78: $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship. In 2024, Hector Berry outlasted over 5,000 players to win it all. Will another underdog rise this year?
And at 12:00 p.m., all eyes turn to the debut of Event #79: $100,000 PLO High Roller, where the game’s biggest names will clash. With players like Phil Ivey, Ben Tollerene, and Jason Koon expected, this promises to be high-stakes poker at its finest.
Final Thoughts
Day 35 of WSOP 2025 delivered everything poker fans could ask for—heart-stopping moments, fresh champions, rising tension, and the promise of legendary milestones. With Daniel Negreanu on the brink of an eighth bracelet, and Shaun Deeb aiming for number seven, we are witnessing greatness unfold in real-time.
As the poker world converges in Las Vegas, the stakes—both emotional and financial—have never been higher. Whether you’re a grinder, a fan, or just someone fascinated by the game’s stories, this WSOP continues to prove why it’s the greatest stage in poker.
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