WSOP 2025 Day 40 Recap: Gorodinsky Scores Comeback Win; Main Event Sees 5,000 Players

The 40th day of the World Series of Poker saw a packed $10,000 Main Event that saw the largest starting flight so far. Mike Gorodinsky also staged a massive comeback to secure the win in the $10,000 Eight Game Mixed Championship, and Shaun Deeb finished as chip leader in a $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em event with just three players remaining. Here’s a look at Saturday’s action from the Horseshoe and Paris casinos.

Comeback Complete: Mike Gorodinsky Takes Down $10,000 Eight Game Championship for Fifth Career Bracelet

Mike Gorodinsky (pictured above) faced more than a 6-to-1 chip disadvantage when heads-up play began on Saturday in Event #82: $10,000 Eight Game Mixed Championship. However, the poker player from San Diego, California, was able to complete the comeback and win his fifth bracelet. Despite the chip situation and feeling ill over the last few days, Gorodinsky never lost confidence that he could rally against bracelet winner Eric Wasserson.

“This tournament wound up being really deep, so there was always going to be a lot of play still, even with the deficit,” he said. “It's a tournament, all you really have to do is win five to ten hands in a row, which happens quite often in poker, and you're just back in it.”

Gorodinsky picked up $422,421 for the win and Wasserson collected $277,960 for runner-up in an event that saw 195 entries and a $1.8 million prize pool.

Event #82: $10,000 Eight Game Mixed Championship final table results

Main Event Day 1D Brings in 4,997 Players; Registration Remains Open for Sunday’s Day 2

The final starting flight of Event #81: $10,000 Main Event World Championship was certainly the biggest of the four so far, bringing in 4,997 players with 3,778 advancing. This came after the tournament saw 1,678 players on Friday, 1,096 on Thursday, and 923 on Wednesday for a total field of 8,694 so far. Registration also remains open for the first two levels of Sunday’s Day 2.

Riva Arthur, of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, finished the day as chip leader with 401,200. The solid first day came after she won a $1,100 event at the Aria Poker Classic in June for $65,513. Some others moving on to Day 2 include Andrew King (303,000), Nan Li (299,500), Vytautas Semaska (290,600), Nick Pupillo (263,500), Cliff Josephy (254,500), Roberto Romanello (240,900), Greg Mueller (226,500), Eric Afriat (160,100), two-time 2025 bracelet winner Blaz Zerjav (156,800), Esther Taylor (140,000), and PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg (115,000). A few Main Event champions also moved on including defending champion Jonathan Tamayo (103,700), Huck Seed (77,100), Joe McKeehen (64,600), Ryan Riess (17,900).

Event #81: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship Day 1D

Final Four Players Return in $2,500 Freezeout NLHE

Just four players remain in Event #83: $2,500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em with Day 4 playing out on Sunday to crown a winner. Brazil’s Breno Drumond brings a sizable chip lead into the final day with 18,500,000 after also leading Day 3. He’s followed by Preston McEwen with 12,700,000. PokerGO founder Cary Katz is also looking for his first bracelet and has 8,500,000 in an event that saw 1,299 entries build a $2.9 million prize pool. The winner takes home $449,245.

Event #83: $2,500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em final four

Shaun Deeb Returns as CHip Leader in $1,000 NLHE, Seeks Eighth Career Bracelet

Quite a bit is on the line for Shaun Deeb in Event #84: $1,000 No-Limit Holdem when the unplanned third resumes on Sunday. The poke pro is seeking his second bracelet of the summer and eighth overall, and also has a chance to greatly improve his lead in the WSOP player of the year race. Just days ago, he took down the $100,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller for $3 million and can add another $232,498 with a win in this tournament.

Deeb, who was also the Day 2 chip leader, brings back 21,200,000, followed by Zdenek Zizka with 12,500,000. The event produced a field of record 1,873 entries for a $1.6 million prize pool.

Event #84: $1,000 No-Limit Holdem final three