WSOP 2025 Day 46 Recap: Huge Names Still Among Chip Leaders in Main Event

The 46th day of play at the World Series of Poker saw some huge names among the 57 players returning in the $10,000 Main Event including Kenny Hallaert, Eric Afriat, and Michael Mizrachi.

The action also saw two players collect bracelets on Friday, including Nguyen Le coming out on top in the $50,000 High Roller and Ferenc Deak winning the $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha. Here’s a look at some of the latest action from the Horseshoe and Pairs casinos

Hallaert, Afriat, Mizrachi Rise to Top in Main Event

After finishing sixth in the Main Event in 2016 for $1.5 million, Belgium’s Kenny Hallaert (pictured above) is once again running deep and returns as chip leader with 36,950,000 after six days of play. Just 57 players remain and the winner takes home a $10 million payout. A key winning hand on Day 6 saw Hallaert pick up pocket aces against opponents with pocket queens and jacks.

"It doesn't feel real," Hallaert told PokerNews after Day 6. "I've been in this position before, obviously made a final table. I've been 64th even before, so I've already topped that result ... getting aces and having two people go all in before you also helps to make it as a chip leader."

Three-time World Poker Tour champion Eric Afriat sits just behind him with 31,200,000. The part-time player and businessman from Quebec, Canada, was chip leader for much of the day. Another familiar name is just behind them – seven-time bracelet winner Michael Mizrachi with 19,925,000. Others still in the mix include Chad Power (18,575,000), Adam Hendrix (16,125,000), Braxton Dunaway (15,725,000), Lautaro Guerra (11,700,000), Chris Dombrowski (7,525,000), 2012 Main Event winner Greg Merson (3,025,000), Nick Pupillo (2,975,000), and Will Kassouf (2,850,000). The tournament drew 9,735 entries, the third-largest field in Main Event history

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

Nguyen Le Shines in Last WSOP High Roller

In Event #88: $50,000 High Roller, Nguyen Le found the winner’s circle for his first bracelet and a $2.7 million payout. That’s quite a run considering the tournament wasn’t initially on the Vietnamese player’s agenda.

“I feel amazing, obviously,” he said. “I didn’t even plan to play this event. A lot of things happened in the past week. I won a tournament last week, coming back from half a big blind, so I had some money, but still not enough bankroll to play this event. I had a look at the numbers on the Vietnamese Hendon Mob chart, and I estimated that if this event has enough registration and I happen to win it, then I might be Vietnamese number one, so I thought, let’s just do it, whatever.”

The high-stakes action attracted 252 entries for a $12.2 million prize pool. France’s Alexandre Reard finished runner-up for $1.8 million and this was the final high roller of the series.

Event #88: $50,000 High Roller final table results

Promise to Son Becomes Reality for PLO Mystery Bounty Winner

Hungary’ Ferenc Deak made a dream come true by taking down Event #86: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha for his first gold bracelet and $329,890.

"I promised my son I would come back with the trophy," he said after the victory.
Despite a field of 5,284 entries, Deak did just that. The tournament produced a $3.1 million prize pool and Brazil’s Paulo Drummond finished runner-up for $219,890.

Event #86: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha final table results

Big Names Remain in $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship

After three days of play in Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship, just 219 players remain with Spain’s Javier Zarco returning as chip leader with 2,180,000. The mid-stakes event saw a field of 3,797 players for a $10.1 million prize pool and the winner takes home $1.2 million.
Others returning include David Jackson (1,680,000), Ehsan Amiri (1,565,000), Alex Foxen (1,490,000), Fausto Valdez (1,450,000), Nick Maimone (1,370,000), Ankit Ahuja (1,200,000), Chino Rheem (1,085,000), Alex Keating (590,000), and Davidi Kitai (545,000).

Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship

Nacho Barbero Among Final 10 in $1,500 PLO

Just 10 players remain in Event #91: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with Lithuania’s Kasparas Klezys leading the pack. Argentina’s Nacho Barbero also lurks in 10th and is seeking his second bracelet. This event saw 1,384 entries for a $1.8 million prize pool and the winner walks away with $280,214.

Event #91: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha

Several Hall of Famers Remain in Poker HOF Bounty

Event #92: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold’em features a unique format with a bounty placed on the head of each member of the Poker Hall of Fame corresponding with the year each player was inducted into the institution. After the first day, Japan’s Soichiro Hayashi returns as chip leader with 630,000 and three bounties already in his pocket.

Wen Lyu, of China, sits in second with 599,000. Several Hall of Famers remain including Tom McEvoy (160,000), Barry Greenstein (121,000), Phil Hellmuth (66,000), and John Juanda (47,000). Others returning for Day 2 include Joao Simao (264,000), Ren Lin (208,000), and Ankush Mandavia (196,000). The event saw 1,115 initial players and only 167 return, with the winner grabbing a payout of $311,349.

Event #92: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold’em

Second Starting Flight Concludes in Lucky 7’s

The second starting flight in Event #90: $777 Lucky 7's brought in 3,890 entries, with just 159 players moving on. Hertsel Levy, of Panama, rose to the top of the Day 1B chip counts with 3,405,000. Others finding a bag included Joe Serock (1,495,000), Chris Hunichen (965,000), Paulina Loeliger (340,000), Loni Hui (1,775,000), Joseph Roh (1,730,000), and Erik Cajelais (119,000). One starting flight remains on Saturday in this event.

Event #90: $777 Lucky 7's Day 1B

Day 1 Concludes in $3,000 T.O.R.S.E.

This is the first year for Event #93: $3,000 T.O.R.S.E. and Robert Rosengarten returns for the second day of action atop the chip stacks with 355,500. The debut tournament found a field of 522 entries with just 159 returning for Saturday’s Day 2. Robert Rosengarten and David Prociak, both of Florida, finished with matching chip stacks for the top spots when action resumes.

Just 159 players return including James Obst (131,000), Adam Owen (228,000), Viktor Blom (208,000), Alex Livingston (150,500), Chad Eveslage (196,000), Josh Arieh (70,000), Mike Matusow (158,000), and Yuri Dzivielevski (238,000).

Event #93: $3,000 T.O.R.S.E.