Event #76: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet
Day 3 Completed
2025 World Series of Poker
Event #76: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2025 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$2,500
Prize Pool
$1,019,050
Entries
458
Level
29
Limits
0 / 0
Ante
0
Entries
11
Players Left
1
Level 29
No-Limit Hold’em: 50,000/100,000, 150,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
All eyes were on Event #76: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) on Tuesday as Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu chased his eighth bracelet, requiring the tournament to move to the feature table for an emergency stream. Negreanu, who was at his fifth final table of the summer, came short as he finished in fourth place before Florida's Aaron Kupin defeated heads-up opponent Marco Johnson to win $206,982 and his first bracelet.
Kupin, a longtime grinder who had his first WSOP cash in 2018, entered as the Day 3 chip leader and described "relief" after closing out the event.
"When you have the lead the whole day, you’re kind of already imagining winning," Kupin told PokerNews in a winner's interview. "I’m in the car, I’m already thinking about what I’m going to say in the interview. And then when you get heads-up with a big lead, you almost feel like you have more to lose than you do gain.”
“I’ve been coming to the World Series for a lot of years now and trying to win one of these. So it’s really great to try and achieve that goal.”
The Mixed Big Bet event, a rotation of nine no-limit and pot-limit Hold'em, Omaha and draw variants, drew 458 runners for a prize pool of $1,019,050. The six-handed final table also featured 2006 WSOP Player of the Year and four-time bracelet winner Jeff Madsen and first-time bracelet hopefuls Bariscan Betil and Ofir Mor.
Final Table Results
| Seat | Player | Hometown | Prize (In USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Kupin | United States | $206,982 |
| 2 | Marco Johnson | United States | $134,345 |
| 3 | Ofir Mor | United States | $89,289 |
| 4 | Daniel Negreanu | Canada | $60,792 |
| 5 | Jeff Madsen | United States | $42,426 |
| 6 | Bariscan Betil | United States | $30,369 |
Defeating a Familiar Opponent
It wasn't until after the tournament ended that Johnson, a two-time bracelet winner, learned he had battled with Kupin before in the online streets.
“Marco and I have played a lot online together at the lower stakes a few years ago … when I was trying to learn all these crazy games that are pretty obscure," Kupin said. "A lot of people don’t play them. We’ve actually played a lot of heads-up together. He didn’t know that because we played under usernames, so he never knew who I was.”
But Kupin said he didn't rely on that experience against "Crazy Marco" from years prior in his heads-up match. Not that it would help him in some of the variants that presented themselves at the final table.
“Some of my experience with a couple of those games is only playing this tournament and then occasionally in a Dealer’s Choice, somebody calls them," he said. "The Pot-Limit Triple and the Five Card Draw High, I’ve never played them outside this tournament. So [I'm] just relying on my poker knowledge and fundamentals and principles to try to navigate those games.”
Kupin's favorite game? “I really enjoy draw games. I used to play open-face Chinese poker all the time.”
Day 3 Action
There were 11 players who returned for Day 3 as they took their seats at the two outer feature tables. With the betting limits high, it didn't take long for Hiroyuki Noda to bow out in 11th place at the hands of Negreanu during a round of Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo.
At the other table, Event #48: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha winner Christopher Vitch fell in 10th place while playing No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw as his nine-eight couldn't beat out the seven-six of Kupin.
The subsequent eliminations of 2021 Main Event final tablist Hye Park (9th - $16,835) and Steve Billirakis (8th - $16,835) got Negreanu to the unofficial final table, while Robert Mclaughlin's seventh-place elimination not long after made it official.
Bariscan Betil went out in sixth place as he took a brutal beat in a full house over full house PLO hand against the eventual champion as the five remaining players moved to the outer feature table for cards-down streamed coverage.
2006 Player of the Year Jeff Madsen fell in fifth as he lost a flip with pocket fours against the ace-seven of Johnson. Madsen was consoled as he left by a supportive rail that cheered every time Madsen took in a pot at the final table.
Next came Negreanu's time, who was rapping, nicknaming and vlogging throughout the final table. "Three-six-nine, damn she fine, hoping she can sock it to me one more time PLO, PLO," Negreanu improvised at one point.
After doubling up Ofir Mor, Negreanu collided with Kupin in a PLO pot where Negreanu raised the flop only for Kupin to lead jam on the turn. "No gamble, no future," Negreanu said as he called with a major draw that included a wrap and flush draw.
Sadly for Negreanu's fans, a brick river card confirmed his elimination in fourth place for $60,792.
Negreanu has now had four official final appearances this year, meaning he is closing in on the record seven final tables made by Phil Hellmuth in 2021 and Jeremy Ausmus in 2024.
Mor fell shortly after Negreanu to make way for a brief heads-up battle after the dinner break. Kupin entered with a sizable lead and gradually chipped away at Johnson before a final Single Draw confrontation where Johnson's nine-eight-seven couldn't beat the nine-eight-six of Kupin.
Kupin's rail included his fiancée (whom he is marrying in February 2026) and a group of close poker friends he's "been through the trenches" with for years, including fellow bracelet winner Dominick Sarle. As they posed for bracelet photos, the group joked that they should've brought Kupin's cat to help the picture go viral.
“We live in Miami, we took him on the plane over here," Kupin said. "So he’s back at the house chilling. I guess he’ll have to wait for the next one.”
That wraps up PokerNews' coverage of the $2,500 Big Bet Mix event. Keep an eye on other events as Negreanu continues looking for that elusive eighth bracelet.
Level 29
No-Limit Hold’em: 50,000/100,000, 150,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
Aaron Kupin has won his first WSOP bracelet in Event #76: $2,500 Big Bet Mix. He collects a career best score of $206,982.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for a full recap of today's action.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Kupin | United States | $206,982 |
| 2 | Marco Johnson | United States | $134,345 |
| 3 | Ofir Mor | United States | $89,289 |
| 4 | Daniel Negreanu | Canada | $60,792 |
| 5 | Jeff Madsen | United States | $42,426 |
| 6 | Bariscan Betil | United States | $30,369 |
Level 29
No-Limit Hold’em: 50,000/100,000, 150,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw
Aaron Kupin called on the button and in the big blind, Marco Johnson checked his option.
Both players drew two and Marco Johnson bet 820,000. Kupin thought for a few seconds before opting to move all in for 940,000 effective and Johnson began to shake his head. He looked back at his hand and put in his final 120,000 and the cards were tabled.
Marco Johnson: 9x8x7x4x3x 
Aaron Kupin: 9x8x6x5x3x
Johnson held nine-eight-seven, which was no good against Kupin's nine-eight-six and Kupin's rail erupted into cheers. The two competitors shook hands as Johnson finished the tournament in second place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
16,030,000
1,400,000
|
1,400,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 29
No-Limit Hold’em: 50,000/100,000, 150,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
No-Limit Hold'em
Aaron Kupin completed on the button and Marco Johnson checked his option in the big blind.
Johnson checked on the flop of 4♣6♠Q♥ and Kupin checked back. Johnson checked again on the 4♦ turn and Kupin bet 210,000. Johnson check-jammed and Kupin folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,630,000
35,000
|
35,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,400,000
35,000
|
35,000 |
|
|
||
Level 29
No-Limit Hold’em: 50,000/100,000, 150,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
Big O
Aaron Kupin called on the button and in the big blind, Marco Johnson raised to 300,000 which Kupin called.
Both players checked the Q♣K♣5♦ flop to the turn 2♥ where Johnson bet 650,000 and Kupin called.
Johnson checked the river 9♠ and Kupin bet 1,000,000 which sent Johnson into the tank. After a couple of minutes of thought he called.
Kupin tabled K♦J♦7♠5♣4♦ for kings and fives, which was good for the pot to see Kupin widen the gap.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,665,000
1,950,000
|
1,950,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,365,000
1,950,000
|
1,950,000 |
|
|
||
Level 29
No-Limit Hold’em: 50,000/100,000, 150,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
Pot-Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
Marco Johnson raised to 250,000 on the button and Aaron Kupin called in the big blind. Both players drew two.
Kupin checked after the first draw and Johnson bet 550,000. Kupin called and drew one as Johnson also drew one. Both players then checked after the second draw. Kupin stood pat and Johnson drew one.
Both players checked again after the final draw and Kupin showed a ten with 10x5x4x3x2x to win the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,715,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,315,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
||
Level 29
No-Limit Hold’em: 50,000/100,000, 150,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
Pot-Limit Omaha
Aaron Kupin raised in the big blind to 300,000 after Marco Johnson called on the button and Johnson called the raise.
On the flop of 9♥7♣3♣, Kupin lead out for 325,000 and Johnson called.
The turn 3♦ saw Kupin size up to 450,000 and Johnson folded his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,715,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,315,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
|
||
Level 29
No-Limit Hold’em: 50,000/100,000, 150,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
Aaron Kupin raised to 300,000 on the button and in the big blind, Marco Johnson called.
The flop rolled out A♠Q♥2♠ and Johnson check-called a bet of 280,000 from Kupin.
On the turn 2♦, Johnson checked a seond time over to Kupin, then folded after Kupin put together a bet of 620,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,215,000
715,000
|
715,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,815,000
715,000
|
715,000 |
|
|
||
Level 29
No-Limit Hold’em: 50,000/100,000, 150,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 60,000/120,000, 180,000 Ante
No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw
Marco Johnson raised to 300,000 on the button and Aaron Kupin defended his big blind. Both players drew one.
Kupin checked after the draw and Johnson bet 650,000. Kupin folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,500,000
335,000
|
335,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,530,000
335,000
|
335,000 |
|
|
||
