2025 WSOP Paradise

Bernhard Binder Wins WSOP Paradise Super Main Event for $10,000,000 after Marathon Heads-Up Match
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WSOP Paradise continued today from Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas, with the conclusion of the festival’s marquee event, the record-breaking $60,000,000 guaranteed Super Main Event.

A field of 2,891 entrants, which obliterated the guarantee to create a prize pool worth $72,275,000, was whittled down over the last five days to just eight hopefuls, who all returned to the Atlantis Grand Ballroom today at noon local time with their eyes set on the $10,000,000 first-place prize and the coveted Super Main Event diamond bracelet.

When the dust settled, it was

who would emerge victorious after defeating “Mr. Main Event” 78-year old Frenchman

after nearly three hours of heads-up play.

Although this is unsuprisingly Binder’s biggest career scrore, he’s no stranger to million dollar cashes, as he recently took down the GGMillion$ online tournament for $1,800,000.

Thorel came into the day holding nearly half of the chips in play, with Binder a distant second, and

rounding out the top three.

Mercier was in position to beat the record for highest cash by a female poker player with a fourth-place finish or better, set by

in this very event a year ago, but would unfortunately bow out in sixth-place after Thorel was able to spike a king on the river to beat her turned pair of queens.

The eliminations started early, with

moving his short stack in with ace-jack, but running into the pocket queens of

.

fell next after getting it in good with ace-king to the ace-queen of Binder. However, Binder held the ace of diamonds and found a four-diamond runout to make the nut flush and eliminate Chien.

Five-handed play would go on for quite some time, with Wasserson bowing out next after Binder turned a flush with king-queen to beat Wasserson’s ace-jack.

PokerOrg’s

expertly navigated his short stack to ladder up throughout the day, but ran into the flopped flush of Binder when he check-raised middle pair all in. Reid’s been on a tear lately and this finish only adds to the lore.

After starting nine-handed play yesterday with only four big blinds, Brazil’s

was able to spin it all the way to a third-place finish. De Souza patiently picked his spots and it paid off, taking home $4,000,000 for the effort. De Souza was eliminated in tough fashion when he ran his full house into the quads of Thorel in a blind vs blind confrontation.

Binder started heads-up play with around a two-to-one chip lead, but Thorel closed the gap right away. The two would go on to battle for roughly three hours, sending the chip lead back and forth multiple times. It wasn’t until Binder began chipping away at Thorel in Level 40 that the two ended up all in. Thorel called it off with

against Binder’s

. Thorel went unimproved on the

runout and Binder was crowned Super Main Event Champion.

Final Table Results:

1st: Bernhard Binder - $10,000,000
2nd: Jean-Noel Thorel - $6,000,000
3rd: Belarmino De Souza - $4,000,000
4th: Terrance Reid - $3,000,000
5th: Eric Wasserson - $2,350,000
6th: Natasha Mercier - $1,800,000
7th: Peter Chien - $1,400,000
8th: Franco Spitale - $1,100,000

Jean-Noel Thorel Elimiated in 2nd Place ($6,000,000)
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raised to 58,000,000 from the button,

three-bet to 500,000,000 in the big blind, and Thorel called all in for 309,000,000 effective.

Thorel:

Binder:

The

left both players unimproved, and the little was changed by the

turn. The

completed the board and Binder finished with a pair of eights to be crowned champion.

Bernhard Binder Chipping Away at Jean-Noel Thorel
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raised to 58,000,000 from the button, and

called in the big blind.

The dealer peeled an

flop, Binder checked, Thorel continued for 50,000,000, and Binder called.

The

turn checked through to bring the

River.

Binder bet 175,000,000 and Thorel folded.

River Overbet Sends One to Bernhard Binder
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limped the button, and

checked the big blind.

The flop landed

, and checked through to the

turn.

Thorel checked, Binder bet 16,000,000, and Thorel called to reveal the

river.

Thorel checked a third time, Binder fired an overbet of 120,000,000 into a pot of 80,000,000, and Thorel let it go.

Bernhard Binder gets Value from Jean-Noel Thorel
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limped the button, and

checked his option.

The flop fell

and checked through.

Thorel bet 25,000,000 on the

turn, and Binder called.

The river was the

, and Thorel slowed down with a check. Binder bet 65,000,000, and Thorel put in the call. Binder tabled

for a pair of jacks, and Thorel mucked

.

The Super Main Event Final Table Livestream Continues on the WSOP YouTube Channel
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Catch all the Super Main Event final table action on the WSOP YouTube channel with Ali Nejad and Randy Lew on the comms.

Break Time ⏰
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The two players are taking a quick break and will return to Level 40, with blinds 8,000,000/16,000,000 (16,000,000).

Remaining Payouts:

1st: $10,000,000
2nd: $6,000,000

Updated Chip Counts:

limped the button, and

raised to 48,000,000 in the big blind, with Thorel making the call.

The flop came

, Binder bet 27,000,000, and Thorel called.

The turn was the

, Binder checked, Thorel bet 75,000,000, and Binder called.

The river brought the

, and both players checked. Binder turned over

for treys and fours, but Thorel tabled

to win with queens and treys.

Bernhard Binder Overbets the River
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raised to 40,000,000 from the button, and

called in the big blind.

The flop landed

, and Binder check-called 60,000,000.

Both players checked the

turn, and after taking a moment to consider his options, Binder bet 250,000,000 into a pot of 212,000,000, and Thorel folded.

Jean-Noel Thorel gets Value with a Boat
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raised to 26,000,000 from the button, and

called in the big blind.

The two players checked a

turn board, and Binder bet 33,000,000 on the

river. Thorel raised to 80,000,000, and Binder called. Thorel tabled

for a full house to Binder’s surprise.

Updated Chip Counts
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Bernhard Binder Shoves River on Jean-Noel Thorel to Take Some Back
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raised to 24,000,000 from the button, and

called in the big blind.

The flop came

, and Thorel check-called 40,000,000.

The turn was the

, Thorel checked, Binder bet 90,000,000 and Thorel called.

The river brought the

, Thorel led for 80,000,000, and Binder moved all in for 345,000,000. Thorel thought for a moment, then let it go.

Jean-Noel Thorel Slowplays Top Pair
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raised to 31,000,000 from the button, and

defended the big blind.

The

turn board checked through, and Binder bet 55,000,000 on the

river, getting a quick call from Thorel. Binder showed

to play the board, and Thorel tabled

to win with aces and treys.

Jean-Noel Thorel Bombs the River on Bernhard Binder
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raised to 24,000,000 from the button, and

called in the big blind.

Binder checked the

flop, then raised a bet of 30,000,000 from Throel to 75,000,000, with Thorel making the call.

The turn was the

, and Thorel checked. Binder bet 150,000,000, and Thorel called.

The river brought the

, and Thorel dropped in a stack of blue 25,000,000 chips for a bet worth 350,000,000, leaving 40,000,0000 behind, and Binder quickly folded.

Jean-Noel Thorel Rivers a Winner
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raised to 24,000,000 from the button, and

called in the big blind.

The flop came

, and Thorel check-called 15,000,000, revealing the

turn.

Thorel checked, Binder bet 60,000,000, and Thorel continued.

The river was the

, and both players quickly checked. Thorel tabled

for kings and sixes, and Binder mucked.