Stories

Sets the Pace Heading Into the Final Eight of the Super Main Event.
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The record-shattering Super Main Event didn’t just clear its $60 million guarantee, it obliterated it, pushing the prize pool more than $12 million beyond expectations. A staggering $10 million awaits the eventual champion, along with poker’s most coveted prize, the gold bracelet.

Jean-Noel Thorel is in complete control heading into the final eight, holding more than double the chips of his closest challenger. Thorel bagged a massive 567,000,000 after delivering a late-night cooler to Leonard Maue, his pocket aces besting Maue’s kings in the final hand of play.

sits second with 211,000,000, while

holds third at 165,000,000. Mercier also has history squarely in her sights, as a fourth-place finish or better would see her eclipse the record for the largest cash ever by a female player.

and

are the only remaining bracelet holders at the final table and will both be looking to add a second to the collection.

is well known for working in the poker industry but is looking to make headlines with a win not write them.

Brazilian

and Canada’s

round out the remaining 8 players. With enormous pay jumps on the line, history within reach, and $10 million waiting at the top, the stage is set for a thrilling finish to one of the biggest tournaments poker has ever seen.

When play resumes at noon, all eyes will be on whether Jean-Noel Thorel can convert his commanding chip lead into gold, or if one of the remaining challengers can mount a comeback under the bright lights of the Atlantis Casino Grand Ballroom.

Follow the action from the first hand down to a winner on the WSOP + app or on the WSOP YouTube page.

Eliminated in 9th Place ($850,000)
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opened to 8,000,000 from middle position before Leonard Maue three-bet to 28,000,000 in the hijack.

then four-bet to 55,000,000, prompting Binder to fold and Maue to shove, with Thorel quickly calling.

Leonard Maue:

Jean-Noel Thorel:

Maue held the second-best starting hand in poker, but Thorel woke up with the one hand Maue didn't want see. The board ran out

, drawing a roar from Thorel’s rail and sending Maue to the exit in the final hand of the day.

Imari Love Wins Maiden Bracelet in Event #15: $2,500 Closer Turbo Bounty for $145,725
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It was some rapid poker with all kinds of twists for the final event of 2025 WSOP Paradise and

braved the chaos to top a field of 509 entries. Love picked up his first WSOP gold bracelet and scored $145,725 along with many $1,000 bounties in the process.

The chaos was provided by the addition of a wheel that GGpoker implemented which provided game advantages and random prizes including pizza delivery, massages, and cash prizes up to $10,000. Many of the advantages came into play at the final table including the “run it twice” card. It worked in favor of Love at some points but also devastated him in other hands.

However, he was able to deny

his third bracelet of the year in a heads-up match that swung in both directions multiple times. Love entered heads-up as a big underdog but doubled up early to level the playing field. Despite a three-outer on the river that denied him the victory earlier, Love remained patient before eventually finishing off Zerjav with a straight.

Other notable final-table finishes belonged to

who hung on as long as he could but bowed out in third place for $65,800.

also used many of his advantages to make his tournament last but could only muster a fifth-place finish for $33,100.

There is still one bracelet event to be decided — the marquee event in the schedule — the $25,000 Super Main Event. Currently nine players are remaining and the final eight will return tomorrow to put a wrap on 2025 WSOP Paradise in The Bahamas.

Blaz Zerjav Eliminated in 2nd Place ($95,400)
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raised to 1,500,000 and

called in the big blind. The flop came

and both players checked to the

on the turn.

Zerjav led out with a bet of 2,500,000 and Love called to see the

on the river. Zerjav checked this time and Love shipped all in. Zerjav had a decision for his remaining 9,000,000 chips and used three time banks before calling.

Zerjav immediately tabled

for a pair of nines but Love turned over

for a rivered straight. Zerjav was denied his third WSOP bracelet of the calendar year but still pocketed nearly six figures.

Eliminated in 10th Place ($665,875)
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Benny Glaser was all in for 89,500,000 from the big blind and was called by

in the small blind.

Benny Glaser:

Eric Wasserson:

Glaser ran into pocket aces and found no help on the

runout, bringing an end to the eight-time bracelet winner’s tournament in 10th place.

5 Players Remain.

Zerjav Doubles in the Most Unlikely Way
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ripped all in for 6,300,000 on the button and

called from the big blind.

Zerjav:

Love:

After some discussion of when Zerjav could use his run it twice card, he had to make the decision before any community cards were dealt. He opted to not use it, leaving his fate up to the one and only board.

It ran out

with the deuce on the river to give him the best hand.

Eliminated in 11th Place ($665,875);

Eliminated in 12th Place ($520,000)
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William Blais was all in for 31,000,000 from the small blind, facing off against

in early position and Iuri Ribeiro in the cutoff, creating a three-way all-in.

William Blais:

Iuri Ribeiro:

Bernhard Binder:

The board ran out

and Binder’s pocket queens held up to send both Blais and Ribeiro to the rail, with Blais finishing 12th and Ribeiro bowing out in 11th place.

Love in the Lead
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After an early double up in the heads-up affair,

has now taken the lead over

. Love just picked off a bluff from Zerjav on the river and now holds a slight lead in this swingy matchup.

Sergi Reixach Eliminated in 3rd Place ($65,800)
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pushed all in for around 2,600,000 on the button and was called by

in the small blind.

Reixach:

Zerjav:

The flop of

left Zerjav in the lead with the only pair. The

on the turn gave Reixach a flush draw but the

on the river bricked out.

Eliminated in 13th Place ($520,000).
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Faraz Jaka was all in and at risk with pocket nines and was up against

's pocket tens.

The board ran out

for maximum drama and pain for Jaka.

Robert Pollmeier Eliminated in 4th Place ($46,200)
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shoved all in for just over 3,000,000 on the button and

called in the big blind.

Pollmeier:

Zerjav:

The flop came

and Pollmeier took a commanding lead. The

on the turn changed nothing but it was the

on the river that gave Zerjav a full house, knocking out Pollmeier.

Eliminated in 14th Place ($520,000)
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opened to 7,000,000 from the hijack before Charles Hook shoved for 53,500,000 from the cutoff. The action folded back to Thorel, who made the call.

Charles Hook:

Jean-Noel Thorel:

Thorel surged ahead on the

flop and saw his pair of kings hold through the

turn and

river, bringing Hook’s tournament run to an end in 14th place.

Daniel Neilson Eliminated in 5th Place ($33,100)
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opened to 600,000 and

reraised to 1,000,000. Zerjav announced all in and Neilson called off the extra few chips in front of him.

Neilson:

Zerjav:

Neilson chose to run it twice but Zerjav spiked a five on the first board to win that one and then turned a flush on the second board. Neilson was eliminated and Zerjav took a commanding chip lead.

7 Players Remain