Mizrachi Leads Main Event as Deeb Claims Seventh Bracelet
WSOP Day 38 Recap
Day 38 of the 2025 World Series of Poker delivered the kind of high-stakes drama that makes Las Vegas the poker capital of the world. With the Main Event reaching fever pitch and major championships reaching their climax, the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas buzzed with the energy of poker’s biggest stage.
The Grinder’s Main Event Surge
Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi continued his remarkable summer run, topping the Day 1b chip counts in the $10,000 Main Event World Championship with an impressive 297,000 chips. The four-time Poker Players Championship winner, who captured his seventh bracelet earlier this summer in the $50,000 PPC, looks primed for another deep Main Event run fifteen years after his fifth-place finish in 2010.
Day 1b attracted 1,096 entrants, with 799 players surviving the five two-hour levels to advance to Day 2abc. Mizrachi’s nearest challengers were Dakota Baggett with 270,400 chips and Raoul Kanme sitting on 270,000, but The Grinder’s chip lead puts him in strong position as the tournament moves forward.
The field showcased poker’s elite talent, with several former Main Event champions testing their mettle. Max Neugebauer, who won the 2023 WSOP Europe Main Event, bagged 193,300 chips to lead the former champions. Johnny Chan’s quest for a second Main Event bracelet ended early, but fellow legends Qui Nguyen, Greg Merson, and the polarizing Phil Hellmuth all punched their tickets to Day 2.
Hellmuth’s arrival became a story unto itself. The 17-time bracelet winner, who originally threatened to boycott the 2025 Main Event over structure concerns, made his traditional fashionably late entrance approximately five hours after play began. This year’s production featured a 1980s hair band rockstar theme, complete with glam metal styling and a “Highway to Hellmuth” procession through the Horseshoe hallways. Accompanied by models, his son Phillip Hellmuth III, and Dan “Jungleman” Cates on guitars, Hellmuth rocked out to AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” en route to his feature table seat.
The spectacle divided the poker community, with some appreciating the theatrical commitment while others found it cringeworthy. David “ODB” Baker led the critics, calling the entrance “awful” and “cringe,” though even detractors acknowledged that Hellmuth’s antics bring valuable attention to the Main Event.
Other notable names advancing include Daniel Negreanu (122,500), Yuri Dzivielevski (161,300), Mike Matusow (158,200), and Jason Mercier (78,700). With Day 1c set to be the busiest flight yet, the Main Event field continues tracking 15.6% ahead of last year’s pace.
Deeb Dominates High Roller Action
The day’s biggest story came from Event #79, where Shaun Deeb captured his seventh WSOP bracelet and seized the Player of the Year lead with a commanding victory in the $100,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller. The New York pro earned $2,957,229 after defeating Isaac Haxton in heads-up play, more than doubling his previous largest live tournament cash.
The final table featured an all-star cast that included Phil Ivey (5th place, $715,614), Alex Foxen (6th place, $539,917), and Arthur Morris (3rd place, $1,368,994). Haxton entered the final day as chip leader, but Deeb’s resilience shone through as he repeatedly battled back from short-stack situations.
The decisive heads-up battle saw Deeb overcome an early chip disadvantage to seize control. The final hand played out on a jack-high board where both players held overpairs, but Deeb’s spade kicker proved golden when he rivered a flush to seal the victory. His rail erupted in celebration as he claimed the massive first-place prize from the 121-entry field.
This victory catapults Deeb into the Player of the Year lead, surpassing previous frontrunners Benny Glaser and Martin Kabrhel. The 2018 POY winner remains laser-focused on claiming his second title, even considering skipping the Main Event due to its unfavorable scoring structure. With unofficial tallies showing Deeb at 3,461.98 points compared to Glaser’s 3,310.48, the race promises to remain tight throughout the summer’s final weeks.
Pan Captures Third Bracelet
While high-stakes action dominated headlines, Qinghai Pan quietly added another impressive victory to his resume. The accomplished player captured his third WSOP bracelet in Event #77: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, earning $411,051 for his efforts.
Pan’s victory represents a significant milestone, as he previously won two online events before claiming his first live bracelet in this prestigious mixed-game championship. His triumph underscores the depth of talent in the WSOP’s higher buy-in events and adds another storyline to an already compelling summer.
Tournament Action Across the Board
Beyond the marquee events, several tournaments reached crucial stages. The $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship narrowed to its final six players, with Daniel Schill leading the charge at 41,000,000 chips. The eventual winner will claim $302,165 and a distinctive 24-carat gold commemorative coin alongside their bracelet.
The $800 Summer Celebration saw another massive Day 1b field of 4,024 players, with Canadian Darrin Oremba (2,475,000) claiming the overnight chip lead. The combined field of 7,078 players from both starting flights will play down to a champion, with 361 survivors returning for Day 2.
In the $10,000 Eight Game Championship, Thomas Taylor leads the final 13 players into the decisive third day. With 1,800,000 chips, Taylor stands just 12 eliminations away from his first bracelet and the $422,421 first-place prize.
Looking Ahead
Day 39 promises even more excitement, with Main Event Day 1c expected to attract the largest field yet. The timing coincides with July 4th celebrations, though early indicators suggest strong participation as the tournament continues trending well ahead of 2024’s pace.
Multiple events will crown champions, including the PokerNews Deepstack Championship’s final six and the Eight Game Championship’s climactic finish. The Summer Celebration will also play to completion, while the $2,500 Freezeout continues its progression toward a final table.
As the 2025 WSOP enters its final stretch, the stories continue multiplying. From Mizrachi’s Main Event charge to Deeb’s Player of the Year surge, the summer’s biggest moments are still being written in the desert heat of Las Vegas.
