Las Vegas, July 4 — The World Series of Poker is a theater of dreams, and on Day 38, the stage belonged to Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi. In a city built on spectacle, Mizrachi put on one of his own, ending Day 1b of the $10,000 WSOP Main Event with the chip lead and adding yet another chapter to his legendary run at the 2025 WSOP.
As fireworks prepared to light up the Las Vegas sky on the eve of Independence Day, poker fans inside Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas witnessed fireworks of their own — ones lit by cards, chips, and incredible talent. Day 38 brought high drama, massive chip stacks, emotional comebacks, and yet another reminder that legends still walk among us at the World Series of Poker.
Further read WSOP 2025 Day 37 Recap: Billy Baxter Kicks Off Main Event as Martin Kabrhel Claims Fourth Bracelet
Mizrachi Leads 1,096 Runners in Day 1b of Main Event
Fresh off his historic fourth $50K Poker Players Championship title, Michael Mizrachi is on a heater for the ages. The Grinder bagged an impressive 2,97,000 chips — good for the top spot among the 799 survivors from Day 1b of Event #81: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship.
Mizrachi’s 15-year-old fifth-place finish in the Main Event earned him $2.33 million back in 2010. If his current form is anything to go by, we may be watching a repeat deep run unfold.
Close behind Mizrachi were Dakota Baggett (2,70,400), Raoul Kanme (2,70,000), and Juliet Hegedus (2,67,000), who’s fresh off a Ladies Championship final table. Adrien Guyader of France (2,59,700) rounded out the top five.
Past Main Event Champions Still in the Hunt
Five past Main Event champs took their seats on Day 1b, and all survived to see Day 2abc:
- Max Neugebauer (1,93,300)
- Qui Nguyen (94,500)
- Phil Hellmuth (85,000)
- Johnny Chan (57,800)
- Greg Merson (47,300)
Hellmuth, true to form, made a polarizing and theatrical entrance, sparking reactions across the poker floor and social media.
Also advancing were heavy-hitters like Daniel Negreanu (1,22,500), Yuri Dzivielevski (1,61,300), Mike Matusow (1,58,200), and Jason Mercier (78,700).
Deeb Dominates $100K PLO High Roller for Seventh Bracelet
Elsewhere, Shaun Deeb proved once again why he belongs in the WSOP elite. The American pro won Event #79: $100,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller, beating Isaac Haxton heads-up for a career-best $2,957,229 and his seventh WSOP bracelet.
Deeb, known for his fearless aggression and PLO prowess, added yet another high-stakes victory to his resume. Notably, he’s now won this same event at the $25K level twice. His latest conquest cements his status among the all-time greats.
Qinghai Pan Wins Third WSOP Bracelet
In Event #77: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, Qinghai Pan emerged victorious to claim his third career bracelet. Having previously won two online WSOP events, Pan captured his first live bracelet with a $411,051 score and a place among the 2025 standouts.
Deepstack Championship Final Table Set
Daniel Schill leads the final six players in Event #78: $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship, with a massive stack of 41 million. The final table features an international lineup, including Narimaan Ahmadi, Ran Kadur, and Jason Li. Up top: $302,165, a WSOP gold bracelet, and a 24-carat PokerNews commemorative coin.
Summer Celebration Draws 7,078 Players
Event #80: $800 Summer Celebration has lived up to its name, pulling in 7,078 total entries. Day 1b attracted 4,024 runners, with Darrin Oremba (2,475,000) leading the 193 survivors.
WSOP bracelet winner Keven Stammen (1,490,000) made a strong showing, along with Asi Moshe (1,010,000), Chris Hunichen, and others who have had deep runs in past WSOP events.
Thomas Taylor Leads Final 13 in $10K Eight Game Mix
Event #82: $10,000 Eight Game Mix Championship enters its final day with Thomas Taylor (1,800,000) in the lead. The Canadian is followed closely by Jon Turner, Kahle Burns, and a dangerous group that includes Brian Hastings, Jeremy Ausmus, Todd Brunson, and Mike Gorodinsky.
Taylor has racked up 11 cashes at this year’s WSOP but is still searching for his first bracelet. Could this be his moment?
Vitor Dzivielevski Shines in $2,500 Freezeout
Brazilian grinder Vitor Dzivielevski, older brother of Yuri Dzivielevski, bagged 568,000 chips in Event #83: $2,500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em. However, official chip leader status belongs to Noel Rodriguez, who finished with a towering 840,000.
This star-studded field also includes Phil Hui, Alex Keating, Stoyan Madanzhiev, and Mike Holtz among the top stacks heading into Day 2.
What’s Next on Day 39?
July 4 promises to be electric at the WSOP. The final table of the PokerNews Deepstack Championship will crown a champion. Day 2 of the Summer Celebration plays down to a winner, and Day 1c of the Main Event is expected to be the busiest flight yet.
Also on the schedule:
- Final day of the $10K Eight Game Mix
- Day 2 of the $2,500 Freezeout
- New Event: #84 $1,000 NLHE kicks off at 5:00 p.m. — last year’s champion Aditya Agarwal will be watching closely to see who takes his crown.
Final Thoughts
From Mizrachi’s dominant chip lead to Shaun Deeb’s near $3 million payday, Day 38 of the 2025 World Series of Poker was stacked with moments that remind us why the WSOP is poker’s grandest stage. As we head into America’s Independence Day, the fireworks in Las Vegas may light up the skies — but inside the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, the cards will keep flying, and new champions will emerge.
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