A Massive Field is Expected For the $600 Ultra Stack
Welcome back to PokerNews, the official media partner of the 2025 World Series of Poker, where we’re bringing you full coverage of every WSOP bracelet event live from Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
We're expecting thousands of entries today with Event #85: $600 Ultra Stack No-Limit Hold’em, a popular mid-summer fixture returning to the schedule for a third consecutive year.
Flights A and B get underway at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 6, and Monday, July 7, respectively. Each player is allowed two re-entries per flight, with late registration open through Level 12 (approximately 6:15 p.m.).
Day 1s will play 22 levels, featuring 30-minute levels, 20-minute breaks every four levels, and a 75-minute break following Level 12. Surviving players from both flights will merge for Day 2 on Tuesday, July 8 at 1 p.m. and play either 17 levels or down to five players (whichever comes first). Day 3 resumes on Wednesday, July 9, to crown 2025's champion.
PokerNews traditional coverage of this event begins on Day 2.
We saw a fairy tale story in last year’s Ultra Stack as Germany’s Carsten Heidemann topped a massive field of 6,628 entries to win his first WSOP bracelet and a career-best $343,010.
Heidemann, a recreational player, had traveled to Las Vegas to fulfill his dream of playing the Main Event. After his tournament ended on Day 1, he decided to enter the $600 Ultra Stack.
Speaking to PokerNews, Heidemann said, “It is the dream of every poker player to win a bracelet, it’s the WSOP; I am so happy, it’s so amazing. Yeah, I am crying now.”
"I have to sleep now and think about it. Tomorrow evening, I am flying back to Germany, and then I will calm down and realize what really happened here today."
| Year | Entries | Winner | Country | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6,628 | Carsten Heidemann | Germany | $343,010 |
| 2023 | 7,207 | Joseph Roh | United States | $401,250 |
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