GGPOKER

Day 18 of the 2025 World Series of Poker delivered everything poker fans could ask for: emotional bracelet victories, million-dollar paydays, and a star-studded final table that has the poker world buzzing. Three events concluded with new champions crowned, while several tournaments set the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of action.

Three New Champions, Three Different Stories

Joao Vieira Claims Fourth Bracelet in $100K High Roller Drama

The biggest story of the day belonged to Portugal’s Joao Vieira, who captured his fourth WSOP bracelet and a massive $2,649,158 payday in Event #38: $100,000 High Roller. The victory came after a roller-coaster heads-up battle against Aram Oganyan that epitomized high-stakes poker at its finest.

The tension was palpable during the final showdown, with both players essentially flipping for millions every few minutes in what became a true test of nerves. The heads-up match featured multiple lead changes, with both players experiencing the extreme highs and lows that make tournament poker so captivating.

Vieira demonstrated remarkable composure throughout the final table, defeating a world-class field that included Phil Ivey (9th – $247,130), Isaac Haxton (4th – $857,253), and Ben Heath (5th – $625,491). The victory pushes Vieira’s tournament earnings past $22.8 million and solidifies his position among poker’s elite, having now earned over $8.7 million in 2025 alone.

The Portuguese pro showed his championship mettle in the decisive moments, weathering a series of brutal beats including losing to both a two-outer and three-outer late in heads-up play. Vieira demonstrated remarkable mental fortitude throughout the ordeal, maintaining his focus despite the dramatic swings of fortune.

Philip Sternheimer’s Dream Finally Realized

In Event #36: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Philip Sternheimer achieved what had eluded him for 13 years – his first WSOP bracelet. The emotional victory, worth $763,087, came after defeating Bruno Furth in heads-up play that resumed from the previous day.

Sternheimer’s perseverance finally paid off, coming just days after a third-place finish in another event. The Englishman has been taking poker more seriously than ever over the past couple of years, and that dedication clearly showed in his composed performance under pressure.

Andrey Zhigalov Rides to H.O.R.S.E. Glory

Event #39: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. concluded with Andrey Zhigalov capturing his second career bracelet and the $197,923 top prize. Starting the final day with 18 players remaining, Zhigalov navigated the mixed-game format expertly to claim victory in the prestigious tournament.

Viktor Blom Headlines Star-Studded Limit Hold’em Final Table

Perhaps the most anticipated storyline heading into Day 19 is the ridiculously stacked final table of Event #41: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship. Sweden’s Viktor Blom, better known as online legend “Isildur1,” leads the final nine players with 1,875,000 chips as he seeks his first WSOP bracelet.

The final table reads like a who’s who of poker royalty, featuring 19 combined bracelets among the nine players. Daniel Negreanu (420,000 chips) continues his hot summer, adding another final table to his growing list of 2025 accomplishments. The Canadian legend already has four cashes this series, including a runner-up finish and a seventh-place showing.

Standing between Blom and poker immortality are Ryan Bambrick (1,465,000), Ian Johns (810,000), Anthony Zinno (790,000), Pedro Neves (510,000), David Lieberman (475,000), and Scott Bohlman (165,000). Only Blom and Max Hoffman (575,000) are seeking their first WSOP gold.

The $282,455 first-place prize awaits the champion, but more importantly, this represents Blom’s best chance yet to add live tournament hardware to his legendary online resume.

Monster Stack Continues to Grow

Event #37: $1,500 Monster Stack lived up to its name on Day 1c, attracting another 2,681 entries and bringing the total field size to massive proportions. Christopher Leach emerged as the overall chip leader with 965,000 chips (322 big blinds), positioning himself perfectly for the upcoming Day 2.

Notable players advancing from this flight include Martin Zamani (310,500), Bin Weng (285,500), and Jason Wheeler (230,000). With Day 1d scheduled to kick off Saturday morning, the field is expected to swell even further, potentially creating one of the largest tournaments of the entire series.

Veterans Shine in Seniors High Roller

The $5,000 Seniors High Roller saw its field whittled down to 47 players on Day 2, with Ramana Epparla (2,625,000) leading the charge into Day 3. David “ODB” Baker, a three-time bracelet winner, sits in eighth position with 1,380,000 chips and represents excellent value for fantasy players.

The tournament features several accomplished veterans including Theo Jorgensen (2,245,000), Mike “The Mouth” Matusow (735,000), and Matt Glantz (230,000), all looking to add to their bracelet collections.

New Events Ready to Launch

Several tournaments are primed for exciting action on Day 19. John Riordan leads the 102 remaining players in Event #42: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha with 1,293,000 chips, seeking his third WSOP bracelet. The field includes multiple bracelet winners Benny Chen (1,161,000), Robert Cowen (1,155,000), and Mike Leah (859,000).

The first Razz tournament of the series, Event #43: $1,500 Razz, saw tournament director Matt Savage flip roles and bag the second-largest stack (324,000) behind leader Tom McCormick (343,000). Phil Hellmuth, seeking his 18th bracelet, remains in contention with 63,000 chips.

Looking Ahead

Day 19 promises to be another thrilling chapter in the 2025 WSOP story. The only new event starting is Event #44: $10,000 Big O Championship, where defending champion John Fauver will look to repeat his 2024 success.

With million-dollar dreams on the line and bracelet glory within reach for many of poker’s biggest names, the weekend ahead is shaping up to be one for the ages. Viktor Blom’s quest for his first bracelet headlines the action, but with so many storylines converging, Day 19 could produce some of the most memorable moments of the entire series.

The 2025 WSOP continues to deliver world-class action, emotional victories, and the kind of high-stakes drama that makes this the most prestigious poker tournament series in the world.