2025 WSOP Paradise

Koray Aldemir Wins Event #12: $10,000 8-Game Mixed for $287,800!
—

It was a story made to be told as 2021 WSOP Main Event champion

claimed his second career gold bracelet. Aldemir defeated a field of 113 players to take home the top prize of $287,800.

“This one feels a bit smaller,” Aldemir joked after taking pictures with the classic WSOP bracelet, unlike his first piece of jewelry that came with an $8,000,000 payday. “I haven’t busted a tournament this year!”

Not often can a poker pro say they’ve never busted a tournament in a calendar year, but for Aldemir he can currently use that line. This was the first tournament of 2025 for the German pro who now resides in Vienna, as he has taken a step back from grinding poker tournaments.

Not only that, but Aldemir was also well-known for playing in the high-stakes no-limit Hold’em tournaments for most of his career. However, in the past few years he has began to dabble in the mixed games and really enjoys that fresh scene on the felt.

Aldemir found himself on the final table with some of the greats in mixed games but maneuvered his way through seemlessly. That included a heads-up match with

where Aldemir started with a huge chip deficit. It only took one double up followed by a few big pots for him to turn things around and take control of the match.

It was fitting that the match ended in no-limit Hold’em, Aldemir’s game of choice, after looking down at pocket kings. It will be a quick turnaround after a 3am finish and coming back tomorrow to play in Day 1D of the Super Main Event. Can Aldemir keep his undefeated 2025 alive or who will be the first player to bust the former Main Event champion?

Felipe Ramos Eliminated in 2nd Place ($188,900)
—
No-Limit Hold’em

In the last hand of the night,

jammed all in for around 1,200,000 on the button but

woke up with a monster.

Ramos:

Aldemir:

The flop of

made things interesting as Ramos picked up a straight draw. However, the

on the turn and the

on the river bricked out, sending Ramos home in second place.

Aldemir Starting to Dominate
—
Omaha 8 or Better

On a flop of

,

fired out a bet on the button and

called. The turn was the

and Aldemir check-called another bet from Ramos.

The

completed the board and Aldemir led out with a bet this time. Ramos called and Aldemir tabled

to claim the high and low for a scoop.

Last Break of the Night
—

The two players just took their last quick break of the night. They will be playing down to a winner or calling it quits around 3:45am.

More Chips for Aldemir
—
Limit Hold’em

raised it up on the button and

called in the big blind. The flop came king-high and both players checked to the turn. Aldemir led out with a bet on the jack turn and Ramos called.

Another jack on the river and Aldemir fired again. Ramos still called and Aldemir tabled

to rake in the pot.

Aldemir Stops the Bleeding
—
Razz

started the heads-up match as the chip leader and was pulling further ahead with every pot that he dragged in. However, the two players got all of their chips in the middle on fifth street with Aldemir at risk for 1,085,000.

Aldemir had the bets hand with a nine-six but Ramos was drawing to the nuts with

. Unfortunately he paired up on the river and Aldemir doubled up.

Philip Sternheimer Eliminated in 3rd Place ($128,400)
—
No-Limit Hold’em

It was a three-way limped pot heading to a flop of

.

moved all in for his last 85,000 and was called by both

and

.

The action checked through on the

turn and

river. Aldemir tabled

for a flush and nobody could beat it.

Chris Klodnicki Eliminated in 3rd Place ($90,100)
—
2-7 Triple Draw

and

were heads-up in the blinds. On the second draw, Ramos took one and Klodnicki stayed pat. Ramos checked and Klodnicki slid out a bet which Ramos called.

Both players stayed pat this time and Ramos checked again. Klodnicki shrugged as he pushed in his last 285,000. Ramos deliberated before making the call.

Klodnicki was not happy to turn over a pair of sixes and Ramos tabled a ten to send Klodnicki to the rail.

The Dangler Plays for Aldemir
—
Pot-Limit Omaha

raised to 300,000 and

retained to 950,000 out of the big blind. Aldemir just called and the flop of

hit the board. Klodnicki slid out a big bet and Aldemir called off his last 1,205,000 chips.

Aldemir:

Klodnicki:

The

and

runout changed nothing, leaving Aldemir’s measly deuce as the winner.

Dan Shak Eliminated in 6th Place ($49,200)
Mike Watson Eliminated in 5th Place ($65,400)
—
Razz

After

was withered down to just a few chips, he was forced all in with his ante.

also chose to risk his last 110,000 chips and was called by

.

On sixth street, Klodnicki had both of his opponents drawing dead already after making an eight. Shak was the shorter stack and awarded sixth place while Watson received the pay jump for fifth place.

Watson Short on Break
—
Omaha 8 or Better

raised it up and

defended from the big blind. The flop came

and Watson check-raised a bet from Sternheimer which he called.

The turn was the

and Watson fired out another bet. Sternheimer raised this time and Watson just called. The

completed the board and Watson checked. Sternheimer moved all in for 105,000, putting Watson in the tank. With only 110,000 in front of him, Watson eventually decided to give his hand up.

The remaining six players are taking another 15-minute break as the stacks start to shallow out.

Ramos Distances Himself
—
No-Limit Hold’em

For the entire final table, there has yet to be anyone who has built a significant chip lead, until now.

raised in middle position and

defended from the big blind.

The flop came

and Ramos check-called a bet of 325,000 from Klodnicki. The

landed on the turn and Ramos check-called another bet of 875,000.

The

hit the river and Ramos quickly shoved all in as the big stack. Klodnicki went into the tank for his remaining 2,080,000 but eventually decided to fold.

Watson Survives Multiple Times
—
Stud 8 or Better/2-7 Triple Draw

After a series of double ups, it was

who was left on the super short stack. Watson was the bring in and risked his last 115,000 chips. He was called by

and

. Knock barrelled fourth and fifth street, getting Ramos to fold two pair.

However, Klodnicki only had a pair of threes with a low draw. Watson made a small two pair to claim the high pot and Kkodnicki made his low to claim the other half.

Shortly after in 2-7 triple draw, Klodnicki fired twice and Watson called off his last chips again. Watson drew two cards and then stayed pat. Kkodnicki had originally stayed pat but now had a decision to make. He opted to stand pat and Watson showed a perfect eight, good enough to beat Klodnicki’s nine.

Break Time
—

The final six players are heading on another 15-minute break. Here is how they stack up now.

Josh Arieh Eliminated in 7th Place ($38,400)
—
Seven Card Stud

was engaged in a huge pot with

heading to seventh street. Arieh was left with only 30,000 and opted to fold to a bet from Kkodnicki.

On the next hand, Arieh risked his last 30,000 and picked up three callers.

folded out the rest of the table and they were left heads-up. Arieh finished with two pair, fours and threes, but Aldemir made jacks and threes to send Arieh to the rail.