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Phil Hellmuth Announces He Won’t Play WSOP Main Event

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The World Series of Poker (WSOP) unveiled its summer schedule on Monday, but on Tuesday, Phil Hellmuth made headlines of his own. The 17-time bracelet winner announced that he will not be competing in the $10,000 Main Event this year.

Hellmuth, who won the Main Event in 1989 at just 24 years old—becoming the youngest champion at the time—cited the tournament’s grueling structure as his reason for stepping away. Now 60, he believes the event has turned into an “endurance contest” that favors younger players.

“I truly believe that 80% of players want changes made to the World Series of Poker Main Event,” Hellmuth wrote on Twitter. “Twelve-hour days, or longer, for six to seven days in a row is brutal and disproportionately affects older players.”

The 2024 Main Event, won by 38-year-old Jonathan Tamayo, lasted 15 days, including four starting flights, two Day 2 sessions, and a day off before the final table.

A Test of Stamina

Having played every Main Event since 1988, Hellmuth explained his decision in a video, calling the schedule “too tough.”

“People at home say, ‘Phil, you can play seven days in a row.’ Yeah? Try it. Try playing from noon until midnight every day for a week,” he said.

He pointed out that some days stretch past 2 or 3 a.m., making the schedule even more exhausting.

“I think that really hurts older players disproportionately,” he said. “A lot of great players have told me they busted out simply because they were too tired—whether with 100 left, 50 left, or even 30 left. It’s turned into an endurance test, not a measure of skill.”

Hellmuth still calls the Main Event his “favorite tournament in the world” but acknowledges that it has become too demanding for him.

“I don’t want to miss it, but I know I can’t do it. I’m 60. Honestly, I don’t think I could have done it at 50.”

He advocates for scheduled rest days, arguing that the tournament shouldn’t be about “who gets too tired and spews their chips.”

“I hope that in 2026, some changes are made to bring back more skill and less endurance,” he said.

A Changing Game

Hellmuth’s last Main Event cash came in 2009, when he finished 436th. He also narrowly missed cashing in the World Series of Poker Paradise Main Event this year, busting on the money bubble.

No player in their 60s has won the Main Event since 61-year-old Noel Furlong claimed the title in 1999, when the field was just 393 players. In modern times, the oldest champions include 55-year-old Hossein Ensan (2019) and 45-year-old Damian Salas (2020).

Mixed Reactions from the Poker Community

Hellmuth’s stance sparked debate. Some agreed with him, including poker ambassador Jen Shahade, who noted the demanding schedule is especially tough on pregnant players and those with disabilities.

Others, however, argued that adding days off would only make the event longer, making travel logistics harder.

“The Main Event structure is great,” said 888poker ambassador Ian Simpson. “What we really need is for them to stop increasing the rake and other travel expenses.”

Many doubted whether Hellmuth could resist playing. Kevin Martin likened it to Michael Jordan skipping the NBA Finals.

Skipping the event would also mean no over-the-top entrances from Hellmuth, who in past years has arrived dressed as a racecar driver, Roman emperor, war general, ringmaster, Gandalf, Poseidon, and even Darth Vader.

Television writer and poker player Matt Salsberg was skeptical. “No chance you skip the Main. Your FOMO will kick in by Day 2 when you can still late-reg and play three levels,” he joked. “And if you survive a day and a half, you’re in the money. Adrenaline kicks in, plus you can nap during dinner breaks and get massages. Man up!”

Three-time bracelet winner David Baker echoed the sentiment. “I miss the 72-hour sessions at Commerce, when we’d laugh at people quitting after two straight days. Now, if you don’t get your gym, tan, mani/pedi, and 12 hours of beauty sleep, you can’t play?”

Perhaps if Hellmuth doesn’t enter, his son Phillip will. The two recently played high-roller events at the PokerGO studio, and Hellmuth says his son is developing into a strong player.

Meanwhile, Hellmuth continues making headlines—most recently by signing a deal as an online poker ambassador for Rush Street Interactive.

Junxian Du Triumphs in 2025 GUKPT Manchester Main Event for £84,700

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The 2025 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) Manchester festival concluded with a thrilling £1,250 Main Event, where Junxian Du outlasted a competitive field of 437 entrants to claim his first recorded live tournament victory and a career-best payday of £84,700.

Du’s Breakthrough Victory in a Stacked Field

With a total prize pool of £455,160, only 56 players secured a payout. Notable names making deep runs included Timothy Chung, Antoine Labat, Robert Douras, David Gee, and former WSOP Main Event finalist Antoine Saout, who narrowly missed the final table in 11th place.

The official final table was set when Vanessa Kade exited in 10th place. The 2021 Sunday Million 15th Anniversary champion was in contention to become the first female GUKPT Main Event winner but fell short when her ace-eight lost to Andrew Bak’s queen-nine suited.

Final Table Results and Key Hands

The final table saw several dramatic eliminations:

  • 9th Place – Jake Stone (£7,250): His pocket eights couldn’t hold against Andrew “Stato_1” Hulme’s pocket kings.
  • 8th Place – Jewel Miah (£10,420): Lost a crucial all-in with pocket sevens against Du’s ace-five, with an ace hitting the river.
  • 7th Place – Brendan McManus (£13,580): Fell to David Ledden, whose trip nines crushed McManus’ jack-ten.
  • 6th Place – Andrew Bak (£18,610): His ace-ten couldn’t outdraw Ravi Sheth’s ace-jack.
  • 5th Place – Andreas Olympios (£25,180): The former WPT500 champ ran pocket fours into Sheth’s ace-deuce and lost when an ace landed on the flop.
  • 4th Place – Andrew Hulme (£33,810): His pocket kings were cracked by Du’s ace-eight, which improved to a ten-high straight.
  • 3rd Place – David Ledden (£45,910): Lost a flip with pocket eights against Du’s king-queen when Du made Broadway.

Du Secures Title with a Dramatic Heads-Up Win

The heads-up battle between Junxian Du and Ravi Sheth was short but intense. Sheth moved all-in with ace-ten, only to see Du call with king-queen. A queen on the turn sealed Sheth’s fate, and Du was crowned the 2025 GUKPT Manchester champion, pocketing £84,700 for his incredible run.

This landmark victory not only marks Du’s first live tournament cash but also establishes him as a rising force in the UK poker scene.

Jessie Bryant Grabs His First WSOP Circuit Main Event Title In Tunica

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Jessie Bryant has officially made his mark on the poker world, capturing his first-ever World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event title at the Horseshoe Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi, on February 3, 2025. The poker pro from Conway, Arkansas, bested a field of 487 entries to claim the $144,962 top prize along with his sixth WSOP Circuit gold ring.

Bryant, who has been a consistent contender on the Circuit, was thrilled to finally add a Main Event victory to his resume. “I’ve been grinding for a long time, and this one means a lot to me,” he said after his victory.

Final Table Results

Place Player Hometown Prize
1 Jessie Bryant Conway, AR $144,962
2 Dylan Lemery Ooltewah, TN $96,983
3 Donald Voyles Glen, MS $66,100
4 Mark Kehrees Alexander, AR $46,043
5 Mickey Munlin Pontotoc, MS $32,762
6 William McBrayer Tuscaloosa, AL $23,825
7 Antonio Torpoco Memphis, TN $17,716
8 Justin Grider Stevenson, AL $13,476
9 David Cook Madison, AL $10,493

Bryant’s Road to Victory

The final table featured a mix of seasoned Circuit grinders and rising stars. Bryant entered the final day near the top of the chip counts but still had to navigate through tough competition. The heads-up battle against Dylan Lemery of Ooltewah, Tennessee, proved to be the toughest challenge of the night.

Lemery fought hard, putting Bryant to the test on several occasions. “Dylan played an amazing game. He really made me work for it,” Bryant admitted. However, in the final hand, Bryant’s pocket tens held strong against Lemery’s ace-jack, sealing his long-awaited title.

What’s Next for Bryant?

With this victory, Bryant not only takes home a six-figure prize but also earns a seat in the 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions, where he will compete against other Circuit winners for an even bigger title.

“I’ll definitely be playing more events and taking some shots in bigger tournaments,” Bryant said. “This win gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.”

As the WSOP Circuit continues across the country, Bryant’s victory in Tunica will be remembered as a hard-fought and well-deserved triumph.

Cody Stanford Wins Three WSOP Circuit Rings In Five Days

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Make it a hat trick for Cody Stanford.

In the wee hours of Monday, Feb. 3, the Tupelo, MS resident captured his third World Series of Poker Circuit gold ring in a five-day span at the 2025 WSOPC Horseshoe Tunica festival to bring his career total to seven. Stanford is just the 49th player in WSOPC history to have earned as many titles on the tour.

Stanford’s spree in his home state of Mississippi began even earlier this year, though. Even before the WSOPC ring rush got underway, Stanford took down the $1 million guaranteed $500 buy-in event at the Beau Rivage Heater series for $181,487 on Jan. 8. He backed that up with a third-place showing in the festival’s $1,200 main event to add another $168,923 less than a week later.

Stanford then headed to Tunica for the latest WSOPC stop. He managed two cashes at the venue before taking down event no. 9, a $400,000 no-limit hold’em event with a $25,000 guarantee. He beat out a field of 160 entries in that tournament to secure the hardware and $13,075.

The following event was a $1,100 pot-limit Omaha tournament. The $50,000 guarantee for this PLO contest was nearly tripled thanks to a 149-entry turnout. Stanford reportedly fired 12 bullets in the tournament, but eventually left with a $36,423 payout and another ring after coming out on top.

The third ring of the series for Stanford saw him best a field of 228 entries in event no. 17, another $400 no-limit hold’em affair. He earned $17,262 as the champion, along with 154 Card Player Player of the Year points. With four total titles this year, and five final-table finishes, Stanford has claimed the top spot in the 2025 POY rankings presented by Global Poker. He now sits at 1,887 total points, and has a 159-point lead over second-ranked Spencer Champlin.

Stanford has cashed for more than $417,000 across his five final tables this year. As a result, he now has more than $1.7 million in lifetime earnings under his belt.

Final Table Results:

Place Player Earnings POY Points
1 Cody Stanford $17,262 154
2 Jordan Russell $11,242 128
3 Trace Henderson $7,533 102
4 Jacob Foley $5,201 77
5 Tomas Teran $3,703 64

Norwegian High Roller Wins Huge Albanian PLO Event

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The pot-limit Omaha action was intense in Tirana, Albania, as the 2025 PLO Grand Slam, hosted by Diamond Poker Series, took center stage at Arena Casino Tirana from January 23-31. With a massive €5 million in guaranteed prize money, the festival featured two marquee events promising seven-figure payouts. The first, a €5,000 buy-in with a €1 million guarantee, was won by Tom Vogelsang. The highlight of the series, however, was the €10,000 championship event with a €2 million guarantee.

The championship drew 191 entries but fell just short of meeting its guarantee. After tournament fees, a total of $1,957,456 was distributed among the top 23 finishers. In the end, Norway’s Tom-Aksel Bedell emerged victorious, claiming the top prize of $455,520—his largest recorded tournament cash. This win pushed Bedell’s career earnings past $4 million. Notably, he earned his entry into the event through a special giveaway in the €5,000 ‘Opener’ for the player who fired the most bullets.

Bedell’s victory also earned him 840 Card Player Player of the Year (POY) points, placing him within reach of the top 30 in the 2025 POY race, presented by Global Poker.

This was the second edition of the PLO Grand Slam, following the inaugural event in late 2023, which featured €3 million in total guarantees. The Arena Casino Tirana is quickly establishing itself as a key hub for high-stakes poker in Albania.

Several notable players made deep runs, including bracelet winners Joni Jouhkimainen (22nd), Max Kruse (20th), Elie Nakache (18th), Dario Alioto (15th), and Ismael Bojang (14th).

Daniel Tordjman knocked out two-time bracelet winner Oleksii Kovalchuk (5th – $134,680) to claim a significant chip lead in the late stages. He then eliminated €5,000 event champion Tom Vogelsang (4th – $167,960), holding 72% of the chips as the tournament entered three-handed play.

However, the shorter stacks fought back, and Bedell seized the lead after winning a massive pot with kings full of sevens against Tordjman. From there, Tordjman struggled and was eventually all-in with 9♣7♥6♠5♦ against Bedell’s Q♥Q♣9♥4♥. The board ran out 8♠8♣7♦8♥Q♦, giving Bedell queens full for the win and sending Tordjman to the rail in third place with $205,400.

This set up a heads-up battle against 2024 WSOP Paradise $100,000 PLO champion Lautaro Guerra. Despite an early double-up, Guerra, facing a significant chip deficit, moved all-in with Q♥J♦9♥5♦ against Bedell’s A♣Q♠Q♣3♣. The final board—A♦8♠4♥5♣7♦—sealed Bedell’s victory, while Guerra secured a $307,840 payday, bringing his career earnings close to $5.3 million.

 

Kristen Foxen Defends Title In Final PokerGO Tour Kickoff Event

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Kristen Foxen already sits atop one of the most prestigious leaderboards in poker, with her five World Series of Poker bracelet wins being the most of any female player. The 38-year-old is now also on the verge of becoming the highest-earning female poker player ever.

The Canadian poker pro took down the $10,000 buy-in finale of the 2025 PokerGO Tour Kickoff series on Saturday, Jan. 25 for a $197,625 payday, bringing her lifetime tournament haul to $10,676,511. As a result, she now sits just $222,516 behind current women’s money list leader Vanessa Selbst ($10,899,027).

This was her second consecutive victory in this event, having also won the finale of last year’s PGT Kickoff Series as well, that time beating Daniel Negreanu heads-up for $165,000.

Foxen overcame a field of 93 entries in this no-limit hold’em event to secure her 14th recorded title and her 248th lifetime cash. This victory also came with 540 Card Player Player of the Year points.

It was her second final-table finish of the new year, with a runner-up showing in the $10,000 finale of the PGT Last Chance festival a couple of weeks earlier for $187,550 and 550 points. With 1,090 total points, Foxen is now ranked 10th in the 2025 POY standings presented by Global Poker.

Foxen cashed in three of the five PGT Kickoff events on this year’s schedule, accumulating a total of 525 PGT points along the way. As a result, she surged into first place on the tour’s season-long leaderboard.

The 93-entry turnout for this event built a $930,000 prize pool, with the top 14 finishers receiving a share. By the end of day 1 action on Friday, just seven players remained in contention.

Foxen held the chip lead when day 2 got underway inside the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas. Two-time bracelet winner Joao Simao scored the first knockout of the day, eliminating event no. 3 runner-up Neil Warren in seventh place ($37,200).

Nick Seward was the next to fall, with his A-J suited running into the A-K of Foxen. Neither player connected with the eight-high runout and Foxen’s superior high cards earned her the pot. Seward was awarded $46,500 for his sixth-place showing.

Foxen pulled even further ahead during early five-handed action, only to take a hit via a big three-way all-in. 2021 Wynn Millions champion Andrew Moreno’s last chips went in with AClub SuitKSpade Suit racing against Foxen’s 3Heart Suit3Club Suit and leading Simao’s AHeart Suit9Heart Suit. The board came down 7Heart Suit7Diamond Suit4Club Suit4Diamond Suit9Spade Suit to see Simao river nines up for the win. Moreno was eliminated in fifth place ($65,100) while Simao doubled up to move into second on the leaderboard behind Foxen, who was still out in front despite taking a hit in the hand.

Reigning PGT Player of the Year and recent PGT Championship winner Jeremy Ausmus bowed out in fourth place ($83,700). He lost the majority of his stack in a clash with Foxen, risking all but one 25,000 from his stack with a three-bet holding A-4 suited. Foxen called with A-J and made a queen-high straight on the end after it checked through on the flop and turn. Ausmus folded to her river bet and was left with a fraction of a small blind. He was automatically all-in from the small blind on the following hand and Foxen, who was in the big blind, made queens up to end Ausmus’ latest deep run. The six-time bracelet winner now has more than $24.7 million in career earnings to his name.

Bracelet winner and reigning European Poker Tour Barcelona champion Stephen Song got the last of his stack in with a cold four-bet shove from the big blind holding AClub SuitKHeart Suit. He was looked up by Simao, who had three-bet from the small blind with 5Spade Suit5Heart Suit. Song flopped a gutshot straight draw to go along with his overcards, but blanks on the turn and river resulted in a third-place finish for the $111,600. He now has nearly $9.2 million in total cashes.

The final two players ended up making a deal that evenly split the remaining prize money, resulting in $197,625 payouts for both Simao and Foxen. They then played out the tournament to determine who would secure the trophy and the ranking points that came with it.

The final hand of the tournament began with Foxen limping from the button for 200,000 with 9Club Suit7Spade Suit. Simao raised to 700,000 from the big blind with ASpade Suit10Heart Suit and Foxen made the call. The flop came down 7Heart Suit4Spade Suit3Heart Suit and Simao checked. Foxen fired 550,000 with top pair, only to be met with a check-raise to 1,700,000 from her Brazilian opponent. Foxen called and the 8Club Suit rolled off on the turn. Both players checked and the 8Heart Suit completed the board. Simao moved all-in for 4,025,000, sending Foxen into the tank. She eventually made the call to lock up the title with her eights and sevens with a nine kicker. Simao grew his career earnings to nearly $8.2 million after collecting his negotiated payout.

Here is a look at the payouts and rankings points awarded at the final table:

Place Player Earnings POY Points PGT Points
1 Kristen Foxen $197,625 540 484
2 Joao Simao $197,625 450 307
3 Stephen Song $111,600 360 223
4 Jeremy Ausmus $83,700 270 167
5 Andrew Moreno $65,100 225 130
6 Nicholas Seward $46,500 180 93
7 Neil Warren $37,200 135 74

Nick Schulman Wins First PokerGO Tour Event Held In 2025

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Nick Schulman ended 2024 on a high note, taking down the $5,000 turbo bounty event at the World Series of Poker Paradise for his sixth career bracelet.

The 40-year-old poker pro also started his 2025 off with a bang by emerging victorious in the first PokerGO Tour event held in the new year.

Schulman overcame a field of 111 total entries in the kickoff event of the PGT Last Chance series. He earned $283,050 as the last player standing in the $10,100 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament. He now has nearly $22.1 million in career earnings after this triumph inside the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas.

Schulman also earned 283 PGT points, enough to move him to ninth in that high-stakes-centric points race, which means that he has all but assured himself a spot in the forthcoming PGT Championship which will run next week.

The final day began with seven remaining and Schulman in the lead. The first knockout arose from a classic preflop race, with bracelet winner Aram Zobian (7th – $44,400) holding pocket fives against the K-Q suited of two-time bracelet winner Joao Simao, which ended up making king-high straight to narrow the field to six contenders.

The next big clash saw Schulman attempt to use a key straight blocker to bluff Simao. Unfortunately for Schulman, Simao had made the straight himself on the end and quickly called Shulman’s shove to double into a sizable lead.

Nick Schulman ended 2024 on a high note, taking down the $5,000 turbo bounty event at the World Series of Poker Paradise for his sixth career bracelet.

The 40-year-old poker pro also started his 2025 off with a bang by emerging victorious in the first PokerGO Tour event held in the new year.

Schulman overcame a field of 111 total entries in the kickoff event of the PGT Last Chance series. He earned $283,050 as the last player standing in the $10,100 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament. He now has nearly $22.1 million in career earnings after this triumph inside the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas.

This victory came with 600 Card Player Player of the Year points, which gives Schulman the early lead in the 2025 POY standings presented by Global Poker.

Schulman also earned 283 PGT points, enough to move him to ninth in that high-stakes-centric points race, which means that he has all but assured himself a spot in the forthcoming PGT Championship which will run next week.

The final day began with seven remaining and Schulman in the lead. The first knockout arose from a classic preflop race, with bracelet winner Aram Zobian (7th – $44,400) holding pocket fives against the K-Q suited of two-time bracelet winner Joao Simao, which ended up making king-high straight to narrow the field to six contenders.

The next big clash saw Schulman attempt to use a key straight blocker to bluff Simao. Unfortunately for Schulman, Simao had made the straight himself on the end and quickly called Shulman’s shove to double into a sizable lead.

Victoria Livschitz got her last chips in with AHeart Suit3Diamond Suit leading the KDiamond Suit5Diamond Suit of Simao, but a KSpade Suit5Heart Suit4Spade Suit4Club SuitKClub Suit runout gave Simao kings full and the knockout. Livschitz cashed for $127,650. This score saw her surpass $2.2 million in recorded live earnings.

Heads-up play began with Simao holding 9,800,000 to the 4,075,000 of Schulman. The gap had expanded slightly in the early going before Schulman found a double up with A-K holding against K-9 to nearly even the playing field.

As the stack depth decreased, the swings increased. Simao retook the lead and held it for a while, but it was Schulman who was out in front with better than a 3:1 advantage when the final hand arose. Simao shoved from the button for nine big blinds with JHeart Suit2Spade Suit and Schulman called with JSpade Suit7Spade Suit out of the big blind. The board came down KClub Suit6Spade Suit6Heart Suit5Spade Suit7Club Suit and Schulman made sevens and sixes to win the pot and the title.

Simao earned $177,600 as the runner-up. He is approaching $8 million in career earnings thanks to this latest deep run, which marked his 182nd recorded cash.

Francis Anderson Wins Final Multi-Flight Poker Tournament of 2024

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Francis Anderson claimed the final multi-flight tournament title of 2024, just hours before the new year. The bracelet winner from Wappinger Falls, New York, emerged victorious in a 515-entry field at the 2024 Venetian New Year’s Extravaganza $250,000 Guaranteed $800 No-Limit Hold’em UltimateStack event. His impressive performance earned him $61,551 in the early hours of Dec. 31.

This marks Anderson’s sixth recorded tournament victory. Earlier this year, he secured his first World Series of Poker bracelet by winning the $800 Independence Day Celebration Event, taking home a career-best $501,040. Known for excelling in holiday-themed tournaments, Anderson might be a strong contender if a Valentine’s Day tag-team event rolls around next year.

With this win, Anderson’s lifetime tournament earnings now exceed $3.6 million.

The tournament paid out the top 66 finishers, with the prize pool swelling to $355,350. The final stages featured stiff competition, including 2024 Mid-States Poker Tour Venetian Poker Bowl champion Terry Fleischer (8th), Aaron Massey (6th), and bracelet winner Ryan Laplante (4th). Laplante, who recently placed second in the $1,600 mystery bounty during the WPT World Championship for $185,500, now approaches $4 million in career earnings after his second final-table finish of the month.

In the heads-up showdown, Anderson faced Lokesh Garg, who began with a 3:2 chip advantage. Anderson seized control after making a flush against Garg’s jack-high straight. The final hand unfolded on a board of A♣ Q♠ 9♥ 9♣ J♣. Garg’s 10♥ 8♣ formed a straight, but it wasn’t enough to beat Anderson’s full house with J♠ 9♠. Garg finished as the runner-up, earning $44,245.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:

Place Player Earnings POY Points
1 Francis Anderson $61,551 420
2 Lokesh Garg $44,245 350
4 Ryan Laplante $23,785 280
5 James Agate $17,790 210

WATCH: Kristen Foxen vs. Andrew Robl in Epic $500,000 Poker Showdown

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The latest episode of PokerGO’s No Gamble No Future delivered an electrifying climax as Kristen Foxen and Andrew Robl faced off in a dramatic $500,000 showdown. The final hand of the night was a high-stakes clash that left viewers on the edge of their seats and cemented Foxen’s incredible run in 2023.

The Setup

The action unfolded with blinds set at $500/$1,000 and a $1,000 big blind ante, with Mike Volfson straddling for $2,000. Andrew Robl, holding A♣10♣ and a massive stack of $270,000, raised to $6,000—without even looking at his cards. Kristen Foxen, sitting on $247,000, peeked at A♥K♣ and responded decisively with a three-bet to $18,000.

The rest of the table folded, leaving Foxen and Robl to duel it out. Robl finally looked at his cards, assessed the situation, and asked for a count of Foxen’s remaining stack. Knowing the stakes, Robl moved all-in, and Foxen quickly called, building a jaw-dropping $497,500 pot.

The Odds

Heading into the showdown, Foxen held the advantage with a 68% chance to win, according to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator. Robl’s odds stood at 27%, while a chop was just a slim 5% possibility. Sean Perry, who was poised to claim a $200,000 bonus for the biggest profit over the three-episode stretch, now found himself watching helplessly, hoping for a rare chop to save his lead.

The Drama Unfolds

As the cards hit the felt, the tension soared.

  • Flop: J♦7♥2♣ — Foxen’s lead increased to 80%, leaving Robl in a precarious position.
  • Turn: 6♥ — The chance of a chop vanished, and Robl was down to just three outs.
  • River: 5♥ — The final card sealed Foxen’s victory, delivering her the massive pot and the coveted $200,000 profit bonus.

Robl, gracious in defeat, quipped, “Just for the record, I wanted to gamble,” after seeing how far behind he was in the hand.

A Stellar Year for Foxen

Kristen Foxen’s win in this hand is just the latest highlight in an extraordinary year.

  • WSOP Main Event: She finished 13th this summer, earning $600,000.
  • Fifth Bracelet: In October, she claimed her fifth WSOP bracelet in an online event, adding $356,412 to her impressive winnings.
  • Hall of Fame Recognition: Foxen was recently inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, cementing her legacy in the poker world.

Final Standings

The session ended with mixed fortunes for the players:

  • Kristen Foxen: Secured the biggest profit, earning the $200,000 bonus and the title of “Cash of the Titans.”
  • Sean Perry: Finished with a respectable $240,000 profit, despite missing the bonus.
  • Mike Volfson: The only other profitable player, ending $65,000 ahead.

Andrew Robl’s daring gamble fell short this time, but it added to the high-stakes drama that makes No Gamble No Future a must-watch series.

Watch the Hand

Relive the thrilling moment as Kristen Foxen triumphs in one of the most exciting poker showdowns of the year. Watch the full hand below!

Travis Egbert Wins WPT World Championship High Roller

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Travis Egbert entered 2024 with just under $263,000 in recorded tournament earnings. However, the Northern California native has taken the poker world by storm this year, amassing nearly $1.3 million in winnings, capturing four titles, and making eight final table appearances.

Egbert’s stellar year culminated on December 19 with his largest career victory yet: triumphing over a field of 111 entries in the 2024 World Poker Tour World Championship Alpha8 $25,800 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller. Held at Wynn Las Vegas, Egbert secured a career-high payout of $684,684 for his impressive performance.

Egbert’s Player of the Year Standings Boost

The victory also added 840 Card Player Player of the Year points, bringing Egbert’s total to 3,290 points. This moved him to 86th place in the Global Poker Player of the Year rankings.

A Year of Firsts

This marked Egbert’s first recorded cash in a high roller event with a buy-in of $25,000 or more. It was also his first win outside of Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento, where he claimed three World Series of Poker Circuit rings in 2024. His victories at Thunder Valley included the $1,700 buy-in Main Event in October, which earned him $214,565.

The High Roller: Star-Studded Field

The Alpha8 event generated a $2,775,000 prize pool, paid out among the top 13 finishers. Notable players who made deep runs included:

  • Alexandros Kolonias (13th), 2019 WSOP Europe Main Event Champion
  • Brian Rast (10th), six-time WSOP bracelet winner
  • Shannon Shorr (9th), two-time WSOP bracelet winner
  • Igor Kurganov (8th), WSOP bracelet winner
  • Sean Winter (7th), high-stakes regular

Key Final Table Highlights

Egbert built momentum during the final stages, including a pivotal hand where his sixes full of sevens catapulted him into the chip lead. He further consolidated his position with trip nines, leaving Noel Rodriguez short-stacked. Rodriguez exited in third place, earning $354,488, when his A-8 failed to hold against Naj Ajez’s J-9 suited.

In heads-up play, Egbert and Ajez agreed to an ICM deal, locking in $600,000 each, with $84,684 and the trophy left to play for.

The deciding hand saw Egbert pick up pocket aces and steadily build the pot on a Q♣ J♦ 6♥ 5♥ A♣ board. Ajez ultimately called Egbert’s all-in river shove, only to see Egbert’s rivered set of aces. Ajez was eliminated in second place, taking home $600,000.

Egbert’s Stellar 2024: A Year to Remember

With four titles, a career-best score, and a breakout year, Travis Egbert has firmly established himself as a player to watch in the poker world.

$25,800 WPT Alpha 8 Final Table Results

Place Player Prize
1 Travis Egbert $684,684*
2 Naj Ajez $600,000*
3 Noel Rodriguez $345,488
4 Sam Soverel $253,219
5 Brock Wilson $190,781

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