WSOP 2025 Day 12 Recap: Two Winners Crowned; Rheem, Matusow, Friedman Head to Final Day of Action in $10K Seven Stud

Two more winners were crowned on the 11th day of action on Saturday at the World Series of Poker. That included Blaz Zerjav securing his first bracelet in the $25,000 6-Handed High Roller and Aloisio Dourado grabbing his first piece of series hardware in the $1,500 Badugi.

Several big names also return for the final table in the Seven Card Stud Championship, including Chino Rheem, Mike Matusow, and Adam Friedman.

Blaz Zerjav Takes Down $25K High Roller

Slovenia’s Blaz Zerjav came out on top in Event #22: $25,000 6-Handed High Roller, denying Chris Moorman bracelet No. 3. The tough final table also included Jared Bleznick, Landon Tice, and Paulius Vaitiekunas, but Zerjav came out on top for his first bracelet after entering the final day of play 11th out of 15 returning players. Moorman also had a distinct chip advantage when heads-up play began, but the longtime online player was able to overcome that.

"We're going to have some good wine tonight," Zerjav said afterward. "It was always a dream for me to win a bracelet, and now I can say a dream come true."

Event #22: $25,000 6-Handed High Roller Final Table Results

 Aloisio Dourado Grabs Badugi Title

After three days of intense Badugi action, Brazil’s Aloisio Dourado (pictured above) came out on top in Event #23: $1,500 Badugi for his first bracelet and $138,114. He topped a field of 534 players for the largest event in history featuring this poker format, creating a $708,885 prize pool. The win came after Aloisio finished runner-up to Shaun Deeb in 2023 in a $1,5000 mixed game event for $122,910 and took 53rd in the Main Event in 2024 for $200,000.

“It means a lot to me,” Dourado said of the win. “I’m feeling very fortunate to be here, to be able to play and to be able to fly from Brazil three years in a row, trying to win a bracelet. I came second to Shaun Deeb two years ago in the eight-game mix, and was ready to come here and do it again. I made the final table and this time I was able to close it out and win it, so I’m very happy.”

Event #23: $1,500 Badugi Final Table Results

Big Names Set for Seven Stud Championship: Rheem, Matusow, Friedman, Eskandani

A deep final table returns to action in Event #25: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship. Chin Rheem returns as chip leader with 1,351,000 and is seeking to add a debut bracelet to his ncie record of poker wins.

A host of other big name pros also return for the final day of play and unofficial final table, including: five-time bracelet winner Adam Friedman (1,038,000); four-time bracelet winner Mike Matusow (999,000); three-time bracelet winner Dan Heimiller (996,000); Paul Volpe (684,000); Nick Guagenti (435,000); and Hall of Famer Mori Eskandani. The tournament drew 100 players for a $951,000 prize pool.

Event #25: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship Chip Counts

Final 13 Return in $1,500 Bomb Pot

Several bracelet winners advanced to the final day of action in Event #24: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot with China’s Xixiang Luo leading with 5,630,000 chips. Xixiang won two bracelets in 2024 and is now looking to add a third. Samuel Stranak sits just behind him with 5,570,000. Bracelets winners Ian Matakis (3,470,000), Robert Nehorayan (2,235,000), Bjorn Verbakel (1,845,000) Danny Wong (1,375,000) are also among those returning.

Event #24: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot Chip Counts

Cherish Andrews, David Peters Bring Back Big Stacks in $25K High Roller

The first day of action wrapped up in Event #26: $25,000 High Roller 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em with Bulgaria’s Fahredin Mustafov topping the leaderboard with 1,360,000 followed by American Cherish Andrews (1,140,000). Others among the chip leaders include: David Peters (1,137,000); Joey Weissman (1,107,000); Alex Foxen (958,000); Punnat Punsri (850,000); Seth Davies (739,000); Frank Funaro (640,000); Jared Bleznick (530,000); Stephen Chidwick (516,000); Bin Weng (500,000); John Juanda (453,000); Kristen Foxen (441,000); and Joe McKeehen (432,000).

So far, the action attracted 300 entries for a prize pool of more than $3 million. That is expected to increase substantially as entries are allowed through the first level of Day 2. Look for coverage of this event on Sunday on PokerGO.

Event #26: $25,000 High Roller 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Chip Counts

Big O Sees Justin Liberto Among Early Leaders

The first day of five-card Omaha action saw Michael Rodgers sitting as chip leader, with bracelet winners Justin Liberto, Filippos Stavrakis, and James Chen also finishing in the top 10. Event #27: $1,500 Big O saw a field of 1,499 entries for a $2 million prize pool with 207 players returning for Day 2.

A few others remaining with decent chip stack included: bracelet winner Adrian Buckley (421,000); bracelet winner Michael Noori (372,000); three-time bracelet winner Scott Clements (324,000); and two-time bracelet winner Ari Engel (299,000).

Event #27: $1,500 Big O Chip Counts

Colossus Closes Out Starting Flights WIth Huge Field, Shaun Deeb Among Top 10

Event #19: $500 Colossus saw the final starting flight on Saturday with 5,933 entries with 847 advancing to Day 2. Stephanie Alderman led with 1,602,000 chips and others among the top 10 included: two-time bracelet winner Arash Ghaneian (second in chips with 1,466,000); six-time bracelet winner Shaun Deeb (fourth, with 1,422,000); bracelet winner David Jackson (1,286,000); Jeremy Becker (1,207,000); Yuliyan Kolev (1,130,000); Eddie Sabat (1,025,000); Lily Kiletto (841,000); and Roberto Romanello (598,000).
Day 1D brought in the biggest player pool of any of the four starting flights. In total, this year’s Colossus produced 16,301 entries across all starting flights with 2,326 moving on to Day 2 on Sunday.

Event #19: $500 Colossus Chip Stacks Chip Counts Day 1D