Day 29 at the 2025 WSOP

Day 29 showcased the perfect blend of breakthrough moments and veteran excellence, with three new champions joining poker’s elite while established legends positioned themselves for potential history-making runs.

Three Breakthrough Champions Celebrate First Bracelet Victories

Sebastiaan de Jonge Conquers Battle of the Ages

The Netherlands’ Sebastiaan de Jonge earned his first WSOP bracelet and $335,390 by taking down Event #59: $1,000 Battle of the Ages. The tournament extended beyond its scheduled conclusion, requiring an additional day of play before de Jonge could secure victory over Argentina’s Ignacio Sagra in their heads-up finale.

Moshe Gavrieli Masters Limit Competition

Event #60: $3,000 Limit Hold’em 6-Handed produced another maiden bracelet winner when Moshe Gavrieli defeated experienced professional Scott Bohlman in the championship match. Bohlman entered the final seeking his third WSOP title, but Gavrieli proved unstoppable during a run that he later described as being aided by favorable cards throughout the tournament.

Craig Savage Conquers Massive Freezeout Field

WSOP Circuit regular Craig Savage achieved his bracelet breakthrough in impressive style, emerging victorious from a field of 5,082 competitors in Event #61: $500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout. The $229,628 first-place prize essentially doubled Savage’s career tournament earnings, representing a career-defining moment for the experienced Circuit grinder.

Mizrachi Making History in the $50K Poker Players Championship

The tournament that every mixed-game specialist dreams of winning got underway with defending champion Daniel Negreanu in the field, but it’s three-time winner Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi who has positioned himself for something truly special. Mizrachi bagged 849,000 chips on Day 1, sitting third overall as he pursues an unprecedented fourth Poker Players Championship title.

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Negreanu expressed his enthusiasm for the event after the opening level, noting that the atmosphere was so enjoyable that players at his table suggested running the tournament year-round with minimal breaks. The defending champion emphasized how this particular event holds special meaning for mixed-game enthusiasts above all others.

Mizrachi’s previous PPC victories came in 2010, 2012, and 2018, and he’s already cashed 10 times at this summer’s WSOP without threatening a final table. The question on everyone’s mind: has he been saving his best for a historic fourth title?

Only Ali Eslami (903,000) and six-time bracelet winner Jeremy Ausmus (886,500) finished Day 1 ahead of Mizrachi among the 68 survivors from the starting field of 88 players.

The tournament attracted several fascinating storylines beyond the familiar faces. Australian Bruno Portaro fulfilled a lifelong dream by earning his way into the $50K event through satellites, first winning a $600 entry to secure a spot in the $5,000 satellite, which he also conquered. Portaro explained that he flew from Australia specifically for this opportunity, having promised his wife he would find a way to compete in this tournament by any means necessary. He successfully advanced with 210,500 chips.

Popular poker vlogger Brad Owen also took his shot at poker’s most prestigious mixed-game event, selling a significant portion of his action to fans and preparing by cashing in the recent 9-Game Mix event. Owen survived Day 1 with 146,500 chips.

The field included poker royalty like Phil Ivey (380,500), Jason Mercier (375,000), Mike Matusow (365,000), and Scott Seiver (228,000). Two-time PPC champion Dan ‘Jungleman’ Cates became the first elimination of the tournament.

Millionaire Maker Reaches Crucial Stage

Josh Reichard has positioned himself perfectly to capture his first WSOP bracelet, leading the final seven players in Event #53: $1,500 Millionaire Maker with a commanding 84,300,000 chip stack. Despite holding 16 WSOP Circuit rings, a bracelet has eluded Reichard throughout his career.

The $1,255,180 top prize awaits the winner, with Jesse Yaginuma (55,700,000) and Jacques Ortega (37,700,000) serving as Reichard’s primary challengers. Notably, none of the final seven players has won a WSOP bracelet, making this a guaranteed breakthrough moment for someone.

Two-time World Poker Tour champion James Carroll rounds out the field with 24,000,000 chips, proving that experience at poker’s highest levels doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing in tournament poker’s most unpredictable moments.

High-Stakes Action Across Multiple Events

$5,000 NLHE 6-Handed Heating Up

Belgium’s Thomas Boivin continues his exceptional summer run, accumulating 2,005,000 chips to hold third position in Event #62: $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed. Boivin has demonstrated remarkable consistency in high-stakes competition this series, having reached the final stages of multiple premium events including a 12th-place showing in the $1,500 variant and deep runs in both the $100,000 and $250,000 High Roller tournaments.

Germany’s Robert Ashelm (2,665,000) leads the 54 remaining players, with Spain’s Samuel Bernabeu (2,160,000) in second position. The field includes dangerous players like Niall Farrell (1,735,000), 2014 Main Event champion Martin Jacobson (505,000), and Anthony Zinno (750,000).

Triple Draw Championship Defense

Reigning champion Aaron Cummings finds himself in the middle of the pack with 1,025,000 chips as Event #63: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw reaches its final day with just 11 players remaining. Japan’s Hideki Nakamura (2,920,000) leads the field, while bracelet winners Andres Korn (1,970,000), Nathan Gamble (1,500,000), and Brandon Shack-Harris (550,000) provide serious competition for Cummings’ title defense.

Super Seniors and Tag Team Action

The $1,000 Super Seniors event attracted a massive field of 3,328 players, with 860 surviving to Day 2. Menahem Asher (280,000) claimed the overnight chip lead by just one big blind over Ronald Hunt (278,000). Veteran Kenna James (212,500) remains in contention for his first bracelet after decades of WSOP participation.

Meanwhile, the $1,000 Tag Team event saw 1,373 teams enter, with French duo Louis Seguin and Hugomanuel Robertblacker (436,000) leading the 276 teams advancing to Day 2.

Looking Ahead to Day 30

Wednesday promises two championship conclusions, with the Limit 2-7 Triple Draw final beginning at 1:00 p.m. local time, followed by the Millionaire Maker finale at 4:00 p.m. The $50K Poker Players Championship continues with Day 2 action, while three new events kick off: the $300 Gladiators of Poker (expected to draw around 20,000 entries), $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em, and $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo.

With Mizrachi chasing history, first-time bracelet winners emerging daily, and massive fields creating life-changing moments, the 2025 WSOP continues delivering the drama that makes it poker’s most important series. Whether it’s a satellite winner living out their dream or a three-time champion pursuing unprecedented success, every table tells a story worth following.