The bubble has yet to burst
Five more levels of action in what’s already the third-largest Main Event in WSOP history produced another wave of drama—big hands, monster pots, and the elimination of several household names. Everyone expected the money bubble to pop by the end of Day 3, but play closed with 1,476 players still in contention, meaning just 15 players will leave empty-handed when the action resumes.
The chip leader heading into Day 4 is 23-year-old Japanese upstart Shotaro Kobayashi, but he’s got none other than WSOPE Main Event champ Max Neugebauer breathing down his neck in second. Today’s race to secure an ITM finish features a star-studded cast: Viktor Blom, Chris Hunichen, Phil Laak, Liv Boeree, and Jason Mercier are all still in the hunt. Among former Main Event champions, just two remain—Greg Merson and Damian Salas will both be back in their seats for Day 4.
No fairy tale ending for the legends
Jonathan Tamayo, last year’s Main Event winner, began his title defense dreaming of another deep run. But it all unraveled in a single pivotal hand. Holding 8 s 8 h, Tamayo found himself all-in preflop after a 4-bet, risking 70 big blinds. Alen Tenorio called him off with A c K c. It was a classic flip—and Tamayo’s hopes for a historic back-to-back Main Event victory were dashed when an ace appeared on the board.
The Main Event journey ended as well for perhaps poker’s best-known superstar, Daniel Negreanu. His tournament fate was sealed in a pre-flop coin flip, Negreanu’s 9 h 9 d went up against an opponent’s A h Q s. Things looked good for Daniel after the flop and turn, but the rivered Q c delivered the final blow.
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🫣@realkidpoker jams at the @WSOP Main Event!
Can his hand hold up? 😥 pic.twitter.com/oAwTzxYUym
It was a savage exit in the WSOP 2025 Main Event for poker pro, media figure, and poker room owner Doug Polk. In a textbook cooler, Polk picked up A s A d and got his money in preflop against K s K d. Polk was well ahead, only for the board to bring the devastating K c and bust him 150 spots shy of the money. Instead of a much-needed double-up with his 40 big blind stack, Polk was forced to tap the table and accept a cruel elimination.
Fortune was equally harsh to WSOP’s all-time bracelet leader Phil Hellmuth, who was on the wrong side of a stone-cold 1-outer. After Michael Zukler opened to 2.2x with Q s Q d and Leon Sturm flatted with 8 s 8 c, Hellmuth shoved 31 big blinds, holding A s K d. After a long tank, Zukler found the call. The 3 s 4 c J d flop gave Hellmuth little hope. The K c on the turn gave him a lead—Zukler now needed the last queen in the deck (as the club was already mucked). Amazingly, the river brought the Q h, sending Poker Brat to the rail in stunning fashion.
Negreanu comes up short of bracelet number eight—again
After busting the Main Event, Negreanu didn’t waste a moment and jumped into the $1,000 WSOP Online 6-max Championship. Out of 916 entrants, he grinded his way to the final table. The dream of a long-awaited eighth bracelet edged closer hand by hand. But for now, it remains out of reach. On a 9 h 5 c 2 d flop, Negreanu shoved with 9 c 8 s, not expecting to get turned over in the showdown by T c T s. The turn brought the miracle 8 h, but the river 2 s counterfeited his hand, giving his opponent two higher pairs. It meant a third-place finish for Daniel, good for 82,440$, and you can catch his full reactions in his latest video blog.
Sources: WSOP, PokerNews, X, YouTube, Poker.org