WSOP 2025: Czech Star Martin Kabrhel Tops the Chip Counts in the Most Expensive Event

Martin Kabrhel Dominates Opening Day in WSOP 2025’s Biggest Buy-In Event
 

The 2025 WSOP’s most exclusive tournament, Event #46: 250,000$ Super High Roller, drew 46 entries on Day 1. Czech phenom Martin Kabrhel bagged the biggest stack, finishing the night as the only player over four million chips and heading into Day 2 as chip leader.

Kabrhel, always a polarizing figure thanks to both his undeniable talent and colorful table presence, was once again at the center of several controversial and raucous moments—including a thunderous “NOOOT LIKE THIIIIIIIS” that rang out across the Paris Ballroom. He also eliminated former champion Alex Foxen along the way, making sure his performance didn’t go unnoticed among fellow pros or the rail.

This Super High Roller still features a powerhouse field, including recent 100K High Roller winner Joao Vieira, Isaac Haxton, Stephen Chidwick, Sean Winter, Daniel Negreanu, Jesse Lonis, and defending champ Santhosh Suvarna.

Kabrhel’s history in this event is complicated. His third-place finish in 2023 for 2,279,038$ was overshadowed by accusations of cheating, with some players calling for a WSOP ban. Nonetheless, he’s once again in control of the leaderboard as the action continues.

David "ODB" Baker Breaks the No-Limit Hex, Earns Fourth Career Bracelet
 

In Event #40: 5,000$ Seniors High Roller, David “ODB” Baker finally captured his first no-limit hold’em WSOP title after four days of intense competition. Outlasting a field of 801 entries, Baker emerged with 646,845$ and his fourth gold bracelet.

Baker is long-respected as a mixed games expert—with titles in 8-Game, Limit Hold’em, and Razz on his resume—but he hadn’t managed to add a win in the tour’s most popular variant until now. He defeated a tough opponent in Chuanshu Chen heads-up to claim this career milestone.

“It’s hard to put into words. I’ve always wanted a No-Limit bracelet. All my bracelets have their own story, but this one is also about the money. I mean, 650 thousand dollars is a lot,” Baker said, tears in his eyes after clinching the win.

Carlos Leiva Registers on a Whim, Ends Up With Gold in PLO
 

Another memorable story unfolded in Event #42: 1,000$ Pot-Limit Omaha, as Argentina’s Carlos Leiva entered “on a whim.” He ended up outlasting a massive field of 1,932 entries to capture his first WSOP bracelet and a career-high payout of 237,852$.

Leiva came into the final day as chip leader and immediately started putting on a clinic. Despite Hooman Nikzad threatening at various points, Leiva maintained patience and composure, keeping mistakes to a minimum. In the end, he closed out a convincing heads-up victory.

“Of course, I feel great. I’m still kind of shocked, honestly. But I’m happy my friends were here supporting me,” Leiva said after his win. This marks the second-biggest score of his career, and he admitted the breakthrough will help relieve the pressure as he tackles new events over the rest of the summer.

Leiva’s victory is yet another reminder that the WSOP writes scripts that always surpass expectations—and that sometimes a spur-of-the-moment decision can lead to poker glory on the game’s most prestigious stage.

Deeb Denied Yet Again
 

Event #43: 1,500$ Razz saw Allan Le take down an emotional win and claim his second WSOP gold bracelet, earning 126,363$ in a field of 472 players.

Le edged out one of the WSOP’s most accomplished players, Shaun Deeb, in an intense heads-up duel. For Deeb, another near miss means the chase for bracelet number seven continues. Just two days earlier, Deeb finished third—a clear sign that he remains determined in his hunt for more gold. For Le, remarkably, this was his very first live Razz event. Afterward, he admitted he enjoys different formats but his real passion is PLO: “It’s my favorite game. I play them all, but that’s my bread and butter. This was my very first live Razz tournament, so I’m still new at it.”

Source: WSOP, PokerNews, X