2025 World Series of Poker

Kristopher Tong Wins the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship

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Kristopher Tong proved his mastery of five poker variants to emerge victorious in Event #55: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship, taking down his first WSOP bracelet and $452,689 top prize.

Maximilian Schindler Eliminated in 2nd Place
($301,786)

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Stud Hi-Lo

Maximilian Schindler: 3♥2♣ / 3♠9♠Q♥2♦ / Q♥ All in

Kristopher Tong: 6♦4♠ / 7♠8♠9♣5♠ / 7♦

Kristopher Tong completed and Maximilian Schindler made the call. Schindler check-called on fourth street before moving all in on fifth. Tong called and the cards were turned up.

Tong made a straight by sixth street, while Schindler could not improve on his two pair. That saw Schindler exit in second place, matching his best finish in a WSOP event.

Schindler Smacks the River to Virtually Double

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Limit Hold'em

Kristopher Tong raised on the button, Maximilian Schindler reraised, and Tong called.

The flop came A♣7♥5♦ and Schindler bet. Tong called and the 8♥ fell on the turn.

Schindler then bet, but this time Tong came back with a raise. Schindler called and the river was the 9♥.

Tong then bet and Schindler raised, leaving himself around 200,000. Tong quickly called.

"Hearts," Schindler said, slamming down K♥10♥ for a rivered flush.

"This is the sickest hand ever," Tong replied as he flashed A♦A♥ for top set before handing over the massive pot.

I Was Trapping

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Stud Hi-Lo

Kristopher Tong: XXXX / 10♦2♣8♦8♥ / XX

Maximilian Schindler: XXXX / 6♦5♥6♠K♦ / XX

Kristopher Tong checked on fourth street, calling a bet from Maximilian Schindler. Fifth street saw Schindler lead out with another bet, and Tong made the call.

Both players checked through sixth street before Tong led out with a bet on seventh. Schindler did not take long to fold, as Tong increased his lead.

"I was trapping," said Tong as he collected the chips.

"Tens up?" asked Schindler.

"Tens full," answered Tong with a smile.

Schindler Gets Closer

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Stud Hi-Lo

Maximilian Schindler: A♠7♠6♣ / 10♥6♠10♣3♣

Kristopher Tong: XXXX / 10♠Q♦J♦4♣ / XX

Kristopher Tong completed and Maximilian Schindler called, with both players showing a ten. Action checked through fourth street, and Shindler bet after finding another ten.

Tong called to see sixth street, sliding in another call after Schindler fired once more. Seventh street saw both players check it down.

Schindler showed his two pair, closing the gap as Tong mucked.

Tong Takes Two Big Ones to Open Lead

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Limit Hold'em

Kristopher Tong raised on the button, and Maximilian Schindler called.

Tong bet on the 6♦5♦3♣ flop, and Schindler raised. Tong called to the 8♣ turn, where Schindler bet. Tong then raised, and Schindler folded. "Got my hand caught in the cookie jar," Schindler said.

The next hand, Schindler raised on the button and Tong called.

The flop came 8♥6♠5♥ and Tong led out with a bet. Schindler called to the 8♣turn, where Tong bet again. Schindler called once more.

Both players checked the 4♥ river, and Tong showed 6♠5♠ for two pair, winning another pot and taking the chip lead.

Tong Applies Max Pressure

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Seven Card Stud

Kristopher Tong: XXXX/7♦8♣K♣A♦/XX

Maximilian Schindler: XXXX/7♣9♠J♠4♦/XX

Kristopher Tong completed, Maximilian Schindler raised, and Tong reraised. Schindler called and they went off to fourth street.

Tong then bet and Schindler called. Tong continued betting on fifth and sixth as Schindler went up on his knees on his chair and called both bets.

Tong bet on seventh and Schindler stood up and began pacing around before tossing his cards into the muck. Tong showed that he had kings and sevens while taking in the pot.

Tong Hits the River and Runs Off to the Bathroom

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Limit Hold'em

The two players were discussing pausing the clock to take a quick bathroom break and decided to play one more hand. Maximilian Schindler then raised on the button and Kristopher Tong called.

Schindler bet on the 8♥3♠2♣ flop and Tong raised. Schindler called and the 8♦ fell on the turn. Tong bet and Schindler called.

The river was the 7♣ and Tong bet again. Schindler called and Tong showed 7♥5♥for a rivered two pair to win the pot before heading off on break.

Schindler Strikes Back

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Omaha Hi-Lo

After a raise and take from the button on the previous hand, Maximilian Schindler checked the 6♦A♦2♠ flop in the big blind. Kristopher Tong slid out a bet, and Schindler announced a raise.

Tong called to the 6♠ turn, where Schindler fired again. That produced a fold from Tong, as Schindler increased his chip lead once more.

Tong Narrowing the Gap

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Limit Hold'em

Maximilian Schindler raised on the button, Kristopher Tong reraised, and Schindler called.

Tong bet on the A♣3♠5♦flop and Schindler folded.

Tong then raised on the button and Schindler called. Tong continued with a bet on the A♦10♣4♦ flop and Schindler again folded.

Omaha Hi-Lo

The game then switched to Omaha Hi-Lo as Tong raised again on the button. Schindler called and they checked to the river on a board of Q♥4♠10♥J♥7♥.

Tong then bet and Schindler called. Tong showed A♦J♦7♣6♦ for jacks and sevens, and Schindler mucked.

Flush Over Straight for Tong

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Limit Hold'em

Kristopher Tong raised on the button, and Maximilian Schindler called in the big blind.

Schindler led out with a bet on the 4♥3♥5♥ flop, and Tong made the call. The 6♥turn was followed by a pair of checks, and the dealer flipped over the 3♦ river.

Schindler bet and Tong called to showdown. Schindler turned over the 2♦ for a straight, but Tong tabled K♥10♣ for a flush to win the pot.

Two for Tong

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Razz

Kristopher Tong: XXXX / QX2X4X6X

Maximilian Schindler: XXXX / 3X9X2XKX - folded on sixth street

Maximilian Schindler called the bring-in to see fourth street, where both players checked. Schindler led out on fifth, producing a call from Tong. Sixth street saw Tong lead out with a bet, taking down the pot as Schindler folded.

Kristopher Tong: XXXX / 5XAX8X

Maximilian Schindler: XXXX / 9X7XJX - folded on fifth street

On the next hand, Tong raised and was called by Schindler. Tong then led out on fourth and fifth streets, with Schindler folding to the second bet to give up the pot.

Brad Ruben Eliminated in 3rd Place
($206,747)

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Seven Card Stud

Brad Ruben: XXXX/5♠6♦7♦A♣ All in
Maximilian Schindler: XXXX/A♦4♦6♥8♦

Brad Ruben limped in and Maximilian Schindler completed. Ruben then raised. "I wasn't expecting a limp-raise," Schindler said as he called.

Ruben bet on fourth and fifth streets as Schindler called. Ruben then bet on sixth, Schindler raised, and Ruben called all in.

Ruben showed 10♠10♣, but he was already drawing dead as Schindler turned over 9♦5♦ for a flush. "Good luck, you both deserve it," Ruben graciously told Schindler and Kristopher Tong on his way to the rail in third place.

Schindler Leaves Ruben Short

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Razz

Maximilian Schindler: JX9XAX / 8X5X5X6X

Brad Ruben: XXXX / 6X2X9XJX / XX

Kristopher Tong: XXXX / 9X8X - folded on fourth street

One hand after betting out Brad Ruben on fifth street, Maximilian Schindler called to see all three players arrive on fourth street. Ruben slid out a bet, with Schindler calling and Kristopher Tong getting out of the way.

Ruben bet again on fifth, with Schindler making the call. Ruben then checked sixth street and called a bet from Schindler.

Ruben quickly checked on seventh before looking at his final card. Schindler checked back and showed his nine-eight. Ruben squeezed his final card, telling Schindler that he paired and slid his hand into the muck.

Schindler Raises Ruben

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Razz

Maximilian Schindler: XXXX / 7XKX8X9X

Brad Ruben: XXXX / 2XQX6XKX - folded on sixth street

Maximilian Schindler's bring in was completed by Brad Ruben. Kristopher Tong folded and Schindler announced a raise. Ruben called, and both players checked through fourth street.

Ruben led out on fifth, with Shindler making the call. Schindler then led out on sixth street, collecting the pot as Ruben tossed his cards into the muck.