2025 World Series of Poker

Day: 3
Event Info

2025 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
qq66
Prize
$306,791
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$2,076,210
Entries
1,564
Level Info
Level
32
Blinds
120,000 / 250,000
Ante
250,000
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
11
Players Left
1

Event #54: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha

Day 3 Completed

Matt Vengrin Breaks the Chain to Win a Bracelet

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Matt Vengrin
Matt Vengrin

As Day 3 of Event #54: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed at the 2025 World Series of Poker got underway at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, 11 players across two tables were in the running to come away with a whopping top prize of $306,791, and a World Series of Poker Bracelet to go alongside it. Only eight of those made the official final table, and after a slow start, players started dropping like flies. One man didn’t drop, however, as Matt Vengrin was the last player standing, having outlasted a field of 1,564, including Bryce Yockey, who he defeated heads-up.

This victory takes Vengrin’s career live earnings to well over $2,000,000, as well as cementing himself a new career-high score, eclipsing his previous $167,973 win back in the 2008 World Series.

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1Matt VengrinUnited States$306,791
2Bryce YockeyUnited States$204,425
3Punnat PunsriThailand$146,266
4Qiaonan LiuChina$105,947
5Jacob SniderUnited States$77,703
6Matthew BeckNew Zealand$57,711
7Antti MarttinenFinland$43,413
8Tomer DanielIsrael$33,082
9Jason StockfishUnited States$25,541

Vengrin has been battling for a bracelet since his first WSOP cash all the way back in 2007, and finally has one to his name following three previous second-place finishes.

Final Day Action

Jason Lang and Giuseppe Pantaleo both made the final day, but couldn’t hang on to make the unofficial final table, as they busted in 11th and 10th respectively. Pantaleo lost out to a rivered flush to send the remaining nine to the event’s first and only feature table.

It took an hour for the official final table to be sorted, as Jason Stockfish bowed out in ninth after his stack had dwindled down and down. It would be yet another hour to get down to seven, with Vengrin recording his second elimination of the day to send Tomer Daniel home.

Table shortstack Antti Marttinen was next to head home, as Yockey came from behind on the flop to send him packing, just one place shy of a career-high score.

Yet another 60 minutes of intense battling took place before the final five were confirmed, but from that point on an onslaught ensued, as eliminations were coming thick and fast. Yockey and Vengrin were almost already in a heads-up battle of their own, as they kept one-upping each other by taking turns in busting out rivals.

Yockey’s pair of eights held against the deuces of Matthew Beck, as Beck headed home with his best ever live score. Yockey’s counterpart then did the same to Jacob Snider, whose kings couldn’t crack Vengrin’s aces.

The podium was confirmed as Yockey got it in good against Qiaonan Liu, and unnecessarily improved on the river to fully lock up the pot. Just missing out on heads-up for a second time this series was Punnat Punsri, who is still on the hunt for his and Thailand’s first bracelet at the WSOP.

Punnat Punsri
Punnat Punsri

Journey to the Final Table

Vengrin has become somewhat of a specialist in mixed games, as he “gave up on Hold’em about ten years ago” and has dedicated himself to them ever since. Despite his biggest live cash before today coming in Hold’em, his three WSOP second-place finishes have all come outside of the game’s most common format.

The first came back in 2015, in the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E event, before placing runner up in 2020’s $400 PLOSSUS, and doing the same in the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or better in 2022.

It wasn’t an easy ride to victory, as plenty of PLO crushers were in the mix, and had their eyes on what is now Vengrin’s. Bruno Furth and Igor Zektser are two players who already have Omaha bracelets to their names this summer, but Zekster fell at the first hurdle, and Furth was unable to make it to Day 3. Last year’s champion Dylan Weisman failed in his defense attempt, and Main Event Champion Joe Cada also crumbled early, departing after just a number of hours.

Winner’s Reaction

Matt Vengrin
Matt Vengrin

Speaking with PokerNews Vengrin had nothing but the utmost respect for his heads-up opponent. “He’s definitely better than me at the game,” he remarked humbly, and that fact made it “truly special” to win the event against such a top player.

He recalled one of the final hands of the tournament, in which both he and Yockey rivered a full house, and Yockey was facing a potentially bracelet-deciding decision as Vengrin was all in. Vengrin revealed that his opponent ended up “making a really big fold,” adding that “a lot of people would’ve called there, and he didn't. It’s really impressive to me.”

Bryce Yockey
Bryce Yockey

Despite the respect he clearly had for his adversary, Vengrin had a one-track mind and was aiming to win no matter what. “I didn’t care who was in front of me, I just wanted to win my first bracelet.” He threw any and all respect out the window until the job was done, with his competitive side “wanting to face” a competent opponent, whom he got the better of through his flopped set in the winning hand.

In his past runner up finishes, he lost out to a real pro each time, in Daniel Idema, Yuri Martins, and Amnon Filippi, meaning defeating a two-time bracelet winner was all the sweeter.

After three gruelling days of competition, Vengrin’s main plan of celebration is rest. “Time is slipping away from me right now,” he said when asked about his plans. “I’ll just be so happy to go home and rest.” It’s a rest well earned, as with the tough structure of this tournament, he’s spent more time at the table than away from it in the past few days.

Moving forward, Vengrin plans to participate in the upcoming 9-game event, as well as some additional mixed game events that will take place before the end of the series. After an extended wait for the first bracelet, hopefully momentum can carry him to a second without having to wait for another summer.

That’s a wrap on PokerNews live coverage of this event, however the action is not stopping going forward, so make sure to stay tuned as the World Series of Poker’s official reporting partner keeps you up to date with all of the action.

Tags: Amnon FilippiAntti MarttinenBruno FurthBryce YockeyDaniel IdemaDylan WeismanGiuseppe PantaleoIgor ZektserJacob SniderJason LangJason StockfishJoe CadaMatt VengrinMatthew BeckPunnat PunsriQiaonan LiuTomer DanielYuri Martins

Bryce Yockey Eliminated in 2nd Place ($204,425)

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Bryce Yockey
Bryce Yockey

Bryce Yockey called from the button and Matt Vengrin checked from the big blind.

Vengrin knuckled the action over to Yockey on the 1065 flop, and Yockey bet 350,000. Vengrin immediately check-raised to 1,000,000, which Yockey called.

The 10 appeared on the turn and Vengrin checked. Yockey bet 1,000,000 and Vengrin called.

Vengrin checked for the last time on the A river. After a few moments, Yockey jammed for 3,350,000, and Vengrin quickly called.

Bryce Yockey: K1082 All in
Matt Vengrin: QQ66

Yockey had trip tens, but Vengrin had a boat with tens full of sixes. Yockey was eliminated, and Vengrin won the tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Matt Vengrin us
Matt Vengrin
39,100,000
5,500,000
5,500,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Bryce Yockey us
Bryce Yockey
Busted
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Bryce YockeyMatt Vengrin

Vengrin Jams River to Win Huge Pot

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Matt Vengrin
Matt Vengrin

Matt Vengrin limped on the button, and Bryce Yockey raised to 750,000 in the big blind. Vengrin tossed in the call.

The flop came J76 and Yockey checked. Vengrin bet 1,000,000 and Yockey called.

Both players checked on the 9 river. Then the J river saw fireworks. Yockey checked, and Vengrin bet pot, which was 3,700,000. Yockey responded with a pot-sized raise, to 14,500,000. Vengrin instantly moved all in, and Yockey was agonized. He eventually threw his hand in the muck, and Vengrin regained a commanding chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Matt Vengrin us
Matt Vengrin
33,600,000
11,800,000
11,800,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Bryce Yockey us
Bryce Yockey
5,500,000
11,800,000
11,800,000
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Bryce YockeyMatt Vengrin

Player Who Coolered Matusow at 2005 Main Event Final Table Runs Deep in WSOP Seniors

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Scott Lazar
Scott Lazar

Twenty years ago, Scott Lazar doubled up eventual champion Joe Hachem and coolered Mike Matusow at one of the most entertaining and memorable World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final tables ever.

Two decades later, the 2005 sixth-place finisher in poker's most prestigious event ran deep in another WSOP event. This one, Event #48: $1,000 Senior's No-Limit Hold'em Championship, a tournament that attracted 7,575 entrants. Lazar, who spoke to PokerNews on a Day 3 break, busted in 31st place for $21,950, his second-largest tournament cash since his televised $1.5 million score.

Read the Full Interview Here

Tags: Scott Lazar

Vengrin Back to Winning Ways

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Bryce Yockey made it 750,000 from the button and Matt Vengrin defended the big blind.

Vengrin checked the J32 flop and Yockey bet 500,000. Vengrin raised to 2,500,000, which Yockey called.

Vengrin bet the pot for 6,750,000 on the 8 river and Yockey tossed his cards into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Matt Vengrin us
Matt Vengrin
21,800,000
3,200,000
3,200,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Bryce Yockey us
Bryce Yockey
17,300,000
3,200,000
3,200,000
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Bryce YockeyMatt Vengrin

Yockey Takes the Chip Lead

Level 32 : Blinds 120,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Bryce Yockey
Bryce Yockey

Matt Vengrin called from the button and Bryce Yockey raised to 750,000 from the big blind. Vengrin snap-called.

Yockey bet 500,000 on the KKQ flop and was met by a raise to 1,500,000 from Vengrin. Yockey called.

Yockey check-called a bet of 2,600,000 from Vengrin on the 4 turn.

Both players checked the 4 river and Yockey took down the pot with AAAQ for a pair of aces.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Bryce Yockey us
Bryce Yockey
20,500,000
6,000,000
6,000,000
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of Matt Vengrin us
Matt Vengrin
18,600,000
6,000,000
6,000,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Bryce YockeyMatt Vengrin

Level: 32

Blinds: 120,000/250,000

Ante: 250,000