WSOP 2025: Poker Legend Seed Misses Fifth Bracelet, Zerjav Claims Second Title This Year

Blaz Zerjav Seals Second Bracelet of the Summer After Dramatic Heads-Up Battle with Huck Seed
 

Slovenia’s Blaz Zerjav is living every poker pro’s dream this summer. After triumphing in Event #22: 25.000$ No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed High Roller, he’s added another marquee title in Event #69: 1.500$ Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better. Zerjav pocketed 153.487$ and secured his second WSOP 2025 bracelet.

The final table was all about experience versus ambition. Facing Zerjav was Huck Seed, the 1996 Main Event winner, battling for his long-awaited fifth bracelet. Seed held a commanding 7:1 chip lead at one point in the heads-up duel, but Zerjav’s well-timed all-in swung the momentum. From there, the tide turned and Zerjav never looked back.

“It’s unbelievable. I never even dreamed of this,” an emotional Zerjav said following his win. He added that winning in two such different formats made this run all the more meaningful: “The tournaments were poles apart – different players, formats, and styles. But both are very special to me.”

Poker Players Championship Down to Final Table
 

The spotlight at WSOP 2025 is firmly on Event #66: 50.000$ Poker Players Championship, regarded as one of the toughest and most prestigious tournaments of the entire series. The best in the world took their seats, but after four grueling days, only a handful remain. Notable names like Phil Hellmuth, Benny Glaser, and last year’s champion Daniel Negreanu have already hit the rail.

Just 7 players are still in contention for the coveted title out of an original field of 107. Leading the way is Michael Mizrachi, a six-time bracelet winner who’s already conquered this event three times and now aimes for possible record-breaking fourth PPC title. His challengers include two-time bracelet winner Bryn Kenney, Day 3 chip leader Andrew Yeh, and Portugal’s Joao Vieira, who claimed his own fourth bracelet just two weeks ago by winning the 100.000$ High Roller.

The Poker Players Championship showcases nine different poker variants, making it one of the game’s ultimate tests. The winner not only earns a gold bracelet but also poker’s ultimate bragging rights.

Lonny Weitzel Dominates Super Seniors and Wins First Bracelet
 

Another inspiring story played out in Event #64: 1.000$ Super Seniors No-Limit Hold’em, drawing a massive 3.338 entries from players aged 60 and up. The trophy and a first-ever WSOP bracelet went to American Lonny Weitzel, who collected a career-best 356.494$ for the win. The decisive hand saw Weitzel hit a set of eights against Damir Stefanic’s pocket queens, and that sealed the deal.

Afterward, Weitzel said this victory was about more than just the money, his sights were set on the prestige of winning a bracelet: “For me, this was a personal goal. The money wasn’t as important as being part of a world-class event like this and winning it.”

He credited his wife, Bonnie Weitzel, herself a WSOP Circuit ring winner, for giving him strength when he was behind: “Her support and calmness really grounded me when things weren’t going well,” he said. Her presence, he added, helped him regroup and fight his way back to the title.

Sources: WSOP, PokerNews, Wikipedia