More than a decade has passed since Greg Merson hoisted the WSOP Main Event bracelet in 2012, yet his legacy continues to inspire thousands who descend on Las Vegas each summer. At the 2025 WSOP, Merson is once again in the thick of it, bagging a healthy 1,495,000 chips at the end of Day 4 of the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship—better known as the 2025 WSOP Main Event.
This year’s field reached a staggering 9,735 entries, making it one of the largest Main Events in World Series of Poker history. After a long bubble period and over 12 hours of play, just 522 players remain in contention for poker’s most prestigious title and a multi-million-dollar payday. Merson, one of two former champions still in the field, continues to chase an unthinkable second world title.
Related Read The Complete History of the World Series of Poker (WSOP): Legends, Champions & How It Became Poker’s Greatest Stage
Smooth Sailing for Merson on Day 4—Despite Kassouf’s Presence
Merson finished Day 4 at the WSOP 2025 feature table, seated next to the always-entertaining and controversial Will Kassouf. Known for his talkative table persona, Kassouf managed to take down a few key pots against Merson, including one where he turned over pocket sevens to win a sizable hand.
“It’s been nice, smooth sailing,” Merson told reporters. “I didn’t do well on this feature table, but I started with 560K and ended with 1.5 million, so it was a good day.”
Merson, who has experienced both ends of the chip spectrum—he famously came back from one big blind to win in 2012—knows the importance of endurance. “This tournament is a marathon. Losing a million chips in the last hour doesn’t matter if you focus hand by hand,” he added.
Despite the tension, Merson was unfazed by Kassouf’s antics. “Any entertainment is good for the game. People love or hate polarizing players—look at Phil Hellmuth. But Kassouf was actually fun to play with. He didn’t slow the game down,” Merson said.
Harold Lam Leads; International Stars Pack the Leaderboard
The WSOP Main Event Day 4 chip counts were headlined by Harold Lam, who surged late in the day to bag 4,195,000 chips. The rest of the top 10 stacks includes a global mix of talent:
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harold Lam | United States | 4,195,000 |
| 2 | Jeremy Kottler | United States | 3,725,000 |
| 3 | Julien Mariani | France | 3,600,000 |
| 4 | Kohei Arai | Japan | 3,585,000 |
| 5 | Benjamin Williams | United States | 3,550,000 |
| 6 | Arsenii Karmatckii | Russian Federation | 3,445,000 |
| 7 | Ramon Pessoa | Brazil | 3,400,000 |
| 8 | Michael Hawker | United States | 3,400,000 |
| 9 | Mounir Tajiou | Sweden | 3,250,000 |
| 10 | Luke Chung | United States | 3,180,000 |
Another name drawing headlines is René-Charles Angélil, son of music legend Celine Dion, who bagged 2,550,000 and is turning heads in his WSOP debut.
WSOP Champions and Poker Elite Still in Contention
The remaining field includes several WSOP bracelet winners, high-stakes crushers, and international pros still grinding for glory. Notable chip counts include:
- Michael Mizrachi – 2,270,000
- Alex Lynskey (2018 finalist) – 2,050,000
- Stephen Chidwick – 1,940,000
- Isaac Haxton – 1,915,000
- Viktor Blom – 1,455,000
- Joseph Cheong – 850,000
- Nate Silver – 805,000
- Francis Anderson – 800,000
Joining Merson in the list of past champs still alive is Damian Salas, the 2020 WSOP Main Event winner, who bagged a short stack of 450,000. Stanislav Zegal, the first-ever WSOP Paradise champion, also survived with 630,000.
Youngest and Oldest in the Field: Poker’s Generational Bridge
The youngest remaining player is Garry Gurevich, just 21 years old, sitting on 480,000 chips. On the other side of the spectrum is Robert Buckenmayer, the 80-year-old still hanging in with a short stack of 120,000. This kind of generational span underscores the universality of poker—the World Series of Poker remains a battleground for all ages.
The Money Bubble Bursts After Two Hours of Tension
A total of 1,476 players began Day 4 just 15 spots off the money. After nearly two hours of intense hand-for-hand play, the bubble finally burst when Marco Dickner, Mathew Frankland, and Sachin Joshi were all eliminated simultaneously. They split a $10,000 min-cash, and Frankland won a $30,000 package into the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event in December.
Bustouts came fast and furious after that. Notable exits included:
- Yuri Dzivielevski – 1,402nd
- Phil Laak – 1,385th
- Vanessa Kade – 1,162nd
- Landon Tice – 1,131st
- Darren Elias – 1,046th
- James Obst – 935th
- Mike Matusow – 770th
- Jason Mercier – 707th
- Liv Boeree – 645th
Two players from the 2024 final table, Jason Sagle (957th) and Andres Gonzalez (555th), were eliminated, meaning the 2025 WSOP final table will feature nine new faces.
What’s Next? Day 5 Outlook and Payouts
Due to the lengthy bubble period, play ended early. Players will return to finish the last hour of Level 20, with blinds at 10,000/20,000 and a 20,000 big blind ante. Everyone left is guaranteed at least $32,500, but eyes are now firmly set on the $12 million+ top prize and the WSOP bracelet that comes with it.
Final Thoughts: A Champion’s Mentality
For Merson, this deep run marks his farthest in over a decade. Yet the hunger hasn’t dulled.
“It’s awesome. It doesn’t get old. It’s something no one can ever take away from me,” Merson reflected. “But I’m not taking it lightly. I’ll do my best every year. And this is the farthest I’ve gone in 12 years.”
With four days in the books and the field narrowed down to just 522, the road to WSOP Main Event glory is still long—but the stories, the legends, and the drama are unfolding beautifully.
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