On a sweltering July day in Las Vegas, history and anticipation filled the air at the Horseshoe and Paris Casino. The doors opened early, and in walked a familiar face — a living legend of the game. Billy Baxter, the Hall of Famer with a rich poker legacy stretching back to the golden days, took the mic. With a calm authority born of decades in the game, he uttered the four words every poker player dreams of hearing at the World Series of Poker: “Shuffle up and deal!” And just like that, the $10,000 WSOP Main Event was officially underway.
Day 37 of the 2025 WSOP wasn’t just the beginning of the most prestigious poker tournament in the world. It was a day of monumental performances, major chip swings, and intense bracelet battles across multiple events — a defining day for poker in Las Vegas and globally.
Main Event Day 1a: Victor Vo Leads 634 Survivors
The opening flight of the $10,000 WSOP Main Event drew 923 hopefuls, each carrying the dream of becoming poker’s next world champion. From seasoned professionals to wide-eyed amateurs, the mix at the tables was classic WSOP. By the end of play, 634 players had navigated the minefield of Day 1a and secured their spots in Day 2abc on July 6.
Leading the way is Victor Vo, who bagged an impressive 352,000 chips. Hot on his heels were Justin Yaker (348,000), Miguel Coussement (320,200), and Stanislav Zegal (256,400), the 2023 WSOP Paradise Main Event winner.
Also advancing were a handful of familiar names:
- Martin Kabrhel (168,700) – fresh off a bracelet win.
- Ryan Eriquezzo (121,700)
- Scott Blumstein (99,200)
- Billy Baxter, the man who kicked things off, still has chips in play with 39,900.
Though players like Marco Johnson, Adrian Mateos, and Kevin Gerhart bagged shorter stacks, they’ll return with fighting chances. It’s the Main Event — one double-up can change everything.
Martin Kabrhel Wins Fourth Bracelet in the $1K Mini Main
While the Main Event captured the spotlight, Martin Kabrhel quietly carved his name deeper into WSOP lore. The talkative Czech pro emerged victorious in Event #75: $1,000 Mini Main, outlasting a staggering 10,793 players to claim $843,140 and his fourth career bracelet.
Kabrhel’s victory not only solidifies his place as one of Europe’s elite tournament players, but it also propelled him to the top of the 2025 WSOP Player of the Year leaderboard. With over $16 million in live earnings now, he’s making a compelling case as one of the most dangerous players in the field.
Stud Hi-Lo Championship Paused with Four Players Left
Event #77: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship was scheduled to finish on Day 37, but the final four battled so fiercely that play had to be paused at 12:30 a.m. local time.
Qinghai Pan, a two-time bracelet winner, leads the pack with 5,265,000 chips. He’ll return on July 3 at noon, alongside David Lin (3,135,000), Luke Schwartz (1,965,000), and Andrey Zhigalov (795,000), with the bracelet and a $411,051 payday still up for grabs.
Deepstack Championship: Daniel Schill in Control, Aditya Sushant Still in the Mix
In Event #78: $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship, Day 2 reduced the field from 635 players down to just 55. Daniel Schill, a Michigan-based online grinder, surged ahead with a chip-leading stack of 12,475,000 — the only player to cross the eight-figure mark.
One name familiar to Indian poker fans also stood out — Aditya Sushant, India’s first bracelet winner, bagged a healthy 5,555,000 and is very much in contention for a deep run. The event resumes at 11:00 a.m. on July 3, aiming to play down to the final five.
Isaac Haxton Headlines $100K PLO Final Table
The nosebleed action didn’t stop there. Event #79: $100,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller saw its field swell to 121 entries after Day 2 late registration. By night’s end, just seven players remained — and what a final table it is.
Isaac Haxton, always a threat in high-stakes formats, leads with 15,725,000, closely followed by:
- Shaun Deeb (13,625,000)
- Lautaro Guerra (11,100,000)
- Arthur Morris (9,900,000)
- Alex Foxen (9,875,000)
- Phil Ivey (8,700,000)
- Sean Rafael (3,675,000)
One of these seven poker titans will walk away with $2,957,229 and a coveted gold bracelet. Action resumes at 1:00 p.m. — and with names like Deeb and Ivey in the mix, fireworks are guaranteed.
Dutch Dominate Day 1a of the $800 Summer Celebration
Event #80: $800 Summer Celebration saw an incredible 3,054 players enter on Day 1a. After 22 grueling levels, just 168 survived, and Dutch players made a serious statement.
Roelof Pepping topped the chip counts with 2,775,000, while fellow countrymen Johannes Deusing, Thijs Hilberts, and David Peer also cracked the top 10.
Several bracelet winners also advanced to Day 2, including Pei Li, Arkadiy Tsinis, and David Diaz. With more starting flights ahead, this event is shaping up to be another massive-field spectacle.
Qiang Xu Leads Eight Game Mix Championship
To round off the day, Event #82: $10,000 Eight Game Mix Championship saw 166 players battle it out on Day 1. Just 75 made it to Day 2, and China’s Qiang Xu leads the way with 311,000 chips.
Xu, already a bracelet winner, has been on fire this summer, notching seven WSOP cashes, and will now aim for another final table in this prestigious mixed-game test.
Other big names in the top ten include:
- Jon Turner
- Nate Silver
- Brian Yoon
- Mike Gorodinsky
- Dario Sammartino
- Todd Brunson
Late registration remains open until Level 12 on July 3, giving more elite players a chance to jump in.
Final Thoughts: A Day That Captures the Spirit of the WSOP
Day 37 of the 2025 World Series of Poker had it all — a ceremonial nod to tradition from Billy Baxter, breakout performances from rising stars like Victor Vo, and high-stakes drama featuring legends like Phil Ivey and Isaac Haxton.
Whether you’re following poker in India or watching the WSOP unfold from afar, this summer has been a showcase of what makes poker the greatest mind sport on the planet. With the Main Event rolling on and multiple championships nearing their finales, the next few days promise more sweat, more glory, and more unforgettable moments from Las Vegas.
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Sources: pokernews