Canada’s Kevin Li earned his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet after topping a 485-entry field in the 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions. The 23-year-old Calgary native walked away with $200,000 after a dominating performance at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, California.
Li qualified for the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions by winning a $600 NLH/PLO event on the WSOP International Circuit at Deerfoot Inn & Casino last August.
What is the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions?
This exclusive World Series of Poker freeroll ran from May 15-17, offering a $1,000,000 prize pool. The field was made up of players who captured a WSOP gold bracelet or WSOP Circuit gold ring during the past year. From 1,169 eligible champions, roughly 490 players participated.
Final Table Recap: Li Climbs from Eighth to First
Li began the final table of the World Series of Poker TOC in eighth chip position. He steadily built momentum after a series of eliminations, including:
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Scott Stewart (9th – $16,100), who lost a key flip against Shawn Rice
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Kevin Lemmer (8th – $21,000)
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Yang Xu (7th – $28,000)
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Maxwell Young (6th – $37,000)
Li found a critical double-up against Karapet Galstyan (5th – $50,000) and then eliminated 2023 WPT World Champion Daniel Sepiol (4th – $70,000) after flopping broadway with A♣ J♥.
Kevin Li Dominates the Final Stretch of the WSOP TOC
After sending Donald Ciaglo (3rd – $100,000) to the rail with pocket aces, Li faced off against Shawn Rice for the bracelet. In the final hand, Li’s K♠ Q♥ held up against K♦ 4♠, sealing the win.
Final Table Results – 2025 World Series of Poker TOC
| Place | Player | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Li | $200,000 |
| 2 | Shawn Rice | $140,000 |
| 3 | Donald Ciaglo | $100,000 |
| 4 | Daniel Sepiol | $70,000 |
| 5 | Karapet Galstyan | $50,000 |
| 6 | Maxwell Young | $37,000 |
| 7 | Yang Xu | $28,000 |
| 8 | Kevin Lemmer | $21,000 |
| 9 | Scott Stewart | $16,100 |
Watch Final Table Highlights:
https://youtu.be/nvWEsOS4ysc
