The lights are dim but the energy crackles. It’s Day 7 of the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event and the room feels heavy with tension. Every chip moved carries the weight of dreams, and every bustout is a reminder of just how brutal tournament poker can be. Among the 24 players who bagged chips for Day 8 are legends, grinders, new stars—and one woman on the edge of history. Leading the charge is Belgian tournament director-turned-pro Kenny Hallaert, who is chasing a return to the WSOP Main Event final table after nearly a decade.
As the remaining players gear up to play down to the final nine, the eyes of the poker world are fixed on the Horseshoe in Las Vegas. The top prize? A life-changing $10 million and the eternal glory of being crowned the 2025 WSOP Main Event champion.
Kenny Hallaert Dominates Back-to-Back Days
With 63,600,000 chips, Kenny Hallaert is the frontrunner heading into Day 8. He’s been here before—his deep run in the 2016 Main Event ended with a sixth-place finish. But this time, he looks even more composed, confident, and dangerous. If he makes the final table again, he would join a very short list of players to do so more than once in the modern era.
Behind him is Braxton Dunaway (51,100,000), known for winning the 2023 WSOP Monster Stack event, and Muhamet Perati (50,100,000), both of whom are within striking distance of the chip lead.
Adam Hendrix: Finally Ready for the Spotlight?
Fourth in chips is Adam Hendrix (39,500,000), a player with over $8.4 million in lifetime earnings. While he’s had success on the World Poker Tour and made 12 WSOP final tables, the Main Event is different. And now, he’s perfectly poised for a career-defining moment.
“Pretty smooth day,” Hendrix shared after bagging. “Besides one big all-in where I won with kings against king-jack and ace-king, it was just about picking spots.” He described a failed four-bet bluff earlier in the day that forced him to reset mentally—a powerful reminder that even the most seasoned pros have to battle not just their opponents, but their own impulses.
Mizrachi, Gregg, and the Star Power Among the Final 24
If you love poker for its legends, the 2025 WSOP Main Event hasn’t disappointed.
Michael Mizrachi, the four-time Poker Players Championship winner and seven-time bracelet holder, is still in it—though short-stacked in 19th place with 11,400,000. The “Grinder” will need to do just that to survive Day 8, but he’s never been one to back down from a fight.
Meanwhile, Tony Gregg—a name synonymous with high roller success—ended Day 7 with 22,500,000 chips, good for 12th overall. Known best for winning the 2013 $111,111 One Drop High Roller, Gregg stepped away from the high-stakes scene due to a dislike of the emerging solver-heavy meta. Now, he’s back, rediscovering the passion that first drew him to the game.
“It’s just kind of crazy how many things need to go your way to play eight days of tournament poker without busting,” Gregg said. “I’m just excited to keep going.”
Leo Margets Makes Her Mark—Again
With 17,800,000 chips, Leo Margets is the last woman standing—and has already surpassed her previous best Main Event finish of 27th in 2009. She’s now gunning to become just the second woman ever to make the WSOP Main Event final table, a feat first accomplished by Barbara Enright in 1995.
Margets’ composed demeanor and sharp gameplay have caught the attention of fans worldwide, and she could be one of the biggest stories of the summer if she breaks through to poker’s most elite stage.
Drama, Bustouts & Heartbreaks: Merson, Kassouf, Afriat Fall Short
There will be no repeat champion this year. 2012 WSOP Main Event winner Greg Merson was eliminated in 52nd place for $200,000 after losing a key hand to Lautaro Guerra. Merson’s deep run was nostalgic, but it wasn’t meant to be.
William Kassouf, always a magnet for controversy, once again made headlines—drawing multiple penalties, including one for calling other players “little bitches.” His final hand saw him shove with sevens into Hallaert’s king-five. Hallaert flopped top pair and rivered two pair to send Kassouf to the rail in 33rd place for $300,000.
Another big name to fall was Eric Afriat, a three-time WPT champ. Afriat, who started Day 7 as the second chip leader, experienced a stunning downfall. After misreading a full house and later bluffing off his stack, he exited in 29th place for $300,000.
Other Notables Still In Contention
- Lautaro Guerra: The WSOP Paradise $100K PLO champ is in 13th with 18M.
- Maksim Pisarenko: 2024 $10K H.O.R.S.E. winner climbed the ranks with a big hand involving pocket kings.
- Chris Dombrowski: One of six bracelet holders still in, currently 22nd in chips.
- Sebastian Schulze: Day 5 chip leader is still alive in 21st place.
Final 24 Chip Counts – Who Will Make the Final Table?
| Rank | Player | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenny Hallaert | 63,600,000 |
| 2 | Braxton Dunaway | 51,100,000 |
| 3 | Muhamet Perati | 50,100,000 |
| 4 | Adam Hendrix | 39,500,000 |
| 5 | Luka Bojovic | 33,900,000 |
| 6 | Richard Freitas | 32,500,000 |
| 7 | Joey Padron | 29,900,000 |
| 8 | Daniel Iachan | 28,100,000 |
| 9 | Ruben Correia | 26,700,000 |
| 10 | Daehyung Lee | 25,600,000 |
| 11 | Stefan Nemetz | 23,200,000 |
| 12 | Tony Gregg | 22,500,000 |
| 13 | Lautaro Guerra | 18,000,000 |
| 14 | Leo Margets | 17,800,000 |
| 15 | Joseph Ozimok | 15,100,000 |
| 16 | Diego Ponce | 14,900,000 |
| 17 | Jarod Minghini | 14,200,000 |
| 18 | Michael Mizrachi | 11,400,000 |
| 19 | Sergio Veloso | 11,200,000 |
| 20 | Chris Dombrowski | 11,000,000 |
| 21 | Sebastian Schulze | 11,000,000 |
| 22 | John Wasnock | 9,500,000 |
| 23 | Tomas Szwarcberg | 5,400,000 |
What’s at Stake – WSOP Main Event Payouts
| Place | Payout |
|---|---|
| 1 | $10,000,000 |
| 2 | $6,000,000 |
| 3 | $4,000,000 |
| 4 | $3,000,000 |
| 5 | $2,400,000 |
| 6 | $1,900,000 |
| 7 | $1,500,000 |
| 8 | $1,250,000 |
| 9 | $1,000,000 |
| 10–11 | $750,000 |
| 12–13 | $560,250 |
| 14–17 | $450,000 |
| 18–24 | $360,000 |
Final Thoughts
With just 24 players remaining, the 2025 WSOP Main Event is set for a dramatic Day 8 showdown. Legends like Michael Mizrachi and Tony Gregg are chasing glory, rising stars like Adam Hendrix are hunting their moment, and poker fans across the globe are rallying behind Leo Margets in hopes of witnessing history.
With $10 million on the line, the pressure is enormous, the lights are bright, and every decision could define a lifetime. Buckle up—the road to the 2025 WSOP Main Event final table is about to reach full throttle.
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