September is about to bring the busiest month of the year for online poker. The World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) returns to PokerStars on September 7 and will run through October 1, 2025. Across nearly a month of action, the schedule packs in 123 events and 378 tournaments, with more than $65 million guaranteed.

WCOOP 2025 won’t quite match last year’s record-setting edition, when players walked away with over $95 million in prize money, but the prestige remains the same.

Now in its 24th year, WCOOP has become the arena where pros measure themselves against their peers, where the occasional dreamer can turn a satellite ticket into six figures, and everything in between.

The Schedule & Key Formats

Over three weeks, PokerStars will run 123 events and 378 tournaments, almost all of them offered at Low, Medium, and High buy-ins, meaning players can start at $5.50 and work their way up, while the top end of the schedule features nosebleed stakes, such as the $25,000 High Roller.

The heart of the series is still no-limit hold’em, but WCOOP has always catered for mixed games. The 2025 schedule includes Pot-Limit Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, HORSE, 8-Game, Badugi, and Fixed Limit 2-7 Triple Draw.

The series also brings back its 11 Championship events, each designed to crown the best in a specific format. A few to circle: the $1,050 HORSE Championship on September 10, the $5,200 NLHE 6-Max Championship on September 14, the $1,050 PLO8 Championship on September 15, and the $1,050 Razz Championship on September 17. Toward the end of the series, players will see the $2,100 8-Game Championship (Sept 22), the $1,050 Badugi Championship (Sept 25), and the $215 Women’s NLHE Championship (Sept 27). Everything then funnels into the NLHE and PLO Main Events on September 28.

Main Event Sunday – The Big Stage

Everything in WCOOP builds toward September 28, when the Main Events get underway. Naturally, it’s the biggest day of the series and the one every player circles.

On the no-limit hold’em side, there are three buy-in levels: the $109 Main Event with $2 million guaranteed, the $1,050 Main Event with $3 million guaranteed, and the $10,300 High Main Event with $4 million guaranteed. Pot-limit Omaha has its own trio of championships: the $109 PLO Main Event ($150K Gtd), the $1,050 PLO Main Event ($400K Gtd), and the $10,300 PLO Main Event ($500K Gtd).

The history of WCOOP main event finales is packed with big names and breakout stories. Last year, Samuel “€urop€an” Vousden took down the $10,300 NLHE Main Event for just over $1 million, one of the largest scores of his career. In the $1,050 Medium Main Event, Brazil’s Iago “stek94” Botelho banked $441,809, while Ukraine’s “777ANTONY777” outlasted more than 25,000 entries in the $109 Main to win $209,747.

Pathways, Promos & Leaderboards

There are plenty of ways to get into WCOOP without paying the full whack. PokerStars is running special WCOOP Spin & Go’s starting from $0.50/$0.75, where players can win tickets worth up to $10,300. On top of that, a $55 Power Path Express satellite on September 7 guarantees more than $200,000 in seats, including entries to the Main Events and Power Path passes worth up to $2,500. Traditional satellites are available daily, plus freerolls and deposit offers will feed players into the festival, too.

The Lucky Dip promotion returns with $500,000 in tickets to be won. Each WCOOP tournament entry gives a random score between 1 and 1,000,000, but only your highest score counts toward the daily leaderboard. Prizes range from small-seat entries to the biggest buy-ins on the schedule, including $10,300 Main Event tickets.

For anyone putting in serious volume, the WCOOP leaderboards are the perfect grind. Split into Low, Medium, High, and Overall, they carry $100,000 in cash prizes. The breakdown is $25K for the overall winner, $15K for the High leaderboard, $10K for Medium, and $5K for Low. Last year, “FAL1st” secured the Player of the Series title after amassing nearly 3,000 points and five wins, finishing ahead of big names like Blaz “Scarmak3r” Zerjav and Yuri “theNERDguy” Dzivielevski.

When Game of Gold first aired back in late 2023, it caught a lot of people off guard, likely because poker fans were used to watching highlight reels, final tables, and endless streams with minimal editing, but this was different. It had structure, stakes, characters, and enough reality-TV drama to make it appeal to the masses, not only us poker fanatics.

But nearly two years later, that buzz has fizzled out, and now Daniel Negreanu’s latest comments make it pretty clear — Season 2 might not be happening after all.

Negreanu, GGPoker’s longtime global ambassador and one of the show’s most visible stars, was asked during a recent AMA on Reddit whether a second season was in the works. And his response wasn’t exactly reassuring.

“Unfortunately, I don’t see it happening — but who knows, that could change. I thought it was great stuff.”

Coming from anyone else, that might be brushed off as speculation. But DNegs is as close to the core of GGPoker as it gets, and if he’s not optimistic, it’s hard to believe things are moving behind the scenes.

A Show That Could Change Poker Forever

It’s a shame, because Game of Gold really did deliver. The format brought together 16 players, split into teams, competing in all sorts of poker variations with eliminations, strategic shifts, and emotional meltdowns along the way. Players earned gold coins through team and solo challenges, and in the final episode, every coin turned into chips in a high-stakes, winner-take-all sit & go. Maria Ho, PokerGO Play ambassador and poker legend, took home the $456,000 top prize — but the real win was how much the show resonated with the public.

The series racked up millions of views on YouTube, the feedback from fans was overwhelmingly positive, and the show even snagged a GPI Award of Merit for how it shook up televised poker content. The first episode pulled in nearly half a million views within six weeks, and the finale still held strong with over 320,000 — impressive numbers for poker content.

At the time, it looked like a no-brainer to bring it back. GGPoker’s own Creative Director, Spunky Hwang, told Pokerfuse that Season 2 was already in motion. “We are very happy to hear that the community is enjoying the content as much as we enjoyed filming it,” he said. He also hinted that the follow-up would be “a lot more intense” and filled with “more uncertainties.” But nothing came from it.

Negreanu’s Words Are Certainly Concerning

After hearing Kid Poker’s take on the new Game of Gold series, it stings a little extra considering GG confirmed Season 2 at the end of the reunion show in early 2024. Fans were expecting teasers, cast leaks, maybe even a premiere window, but all they’ve gotten is radio silence — and now this.

That said, Negreanu didn’t completely shut the door. He did leave a little wiggle room with “who knows, that could change.” But it doesn’t sound like someone waiting on a green light, does it?

A Big Swing That Might Stay on the Shelf

Part of what’s made this delay so frustrating is that Game of Gold proved poker shows could, easily, still work – only if done right, that is. The show had something for everyone: casual fans could latch onto personalities, more advanced players appreciated the mind games and pressure-cooker setups, and it all felt so natural.

Which makes you wonder: why hasn’t GGPoker, the biggest online poker site, pushed harder to get Season 2 out the door? One theory floating around is that the production cost was too high. The show was clearly a major investment — professionally shot, edited, and staged. And while viewership was strong, it’s possible that internally, the ROI didn’t line up the way they hoped.

A Return Isn’t Off the Table, But It’s Unlikely

Negreanu’s AMA answer doesn’t officially kill the possibility of a second season. But it does change the temperature. Fans who were holding out for a surprise drop or an anniversary release might need to temper expectations.

It wouldn’t be the first time a poker show with promise didn’t get the runway it deserved. And if Game of Gold really does go down as a one-season wonder, it will at least, with a bit of luck, inspire other production companies to follow suit, as there’s no denying the potential of a show like it.

We’ll see if GGPoker decides to revisit that bet. For now, it sounds like they’re folding.

Dan “Jungleman” Cates just pulled off one of the wildest days in poker history — dropping the single biggest televised pot ever played, but still walking away with a cool $15 million in profit.

The high-stakes marathon went down Tuesday at the Onyx Super High Roller Series in Cyprus, where Cates squared off against Finnish esports entrepreneur Ossi Ketola, better known as “Monarch.” Over six nosebleed-stakes heads-up matches with buy-ins ranging from $1 million to $6 million apiece, the two smashed records, swung through brutal coolers, and left thousands of stunned viewers glued to the live stream.

Breaking Records at the Onyx Club

It’s crazy to say, but the opening €1 million matches were, practically, the warm-up. Cates won the first, Ketola struck back in the second, and then the real fireworks began with $3 million on the table each — where Ketola found himself on the good end of two brutal coolers.

First, Ketola opened to $100,000 on the button with K-K and Cates flatted with 7-7. The flop came K-Q-Q, giving Ketola a full house and leaving Cates in rough shape. Ketola bet $75,000 and Cates called. The turn 7 put Cates into an even deeper trap with a smaller full house. With $350,000 in the middle, Ketola fired $150,000, Cates raised it to $400,000, and Ketola called. The river brought another queen, and Cates shoved for $825,000 — nearly everything he had left. Ketola called and tabled the winner to drag a $2.8 million pot.

The very next hand it happened again. Cates raised with Q-8, Ketola defended with Q-J, and the flop came queen-high. Cates hit two pair by the turn and bet big, but Ketola had turned the better two pair. Another seven-figure swing and suddenly Ketola was in charge. Cates shook his head, muttered “I’m angry,” and walked away from the table for a minute.

The blinds went up to $25,000/$50,000 for the €5 million duels, and Cates steadied himself. In Match 4 he snapped off a $750,000 river bluff from Ketola with nothing but king-high, winning a $2 million pot. He went on to win that match, then backed it up by dominating Match 5 as well, catching value in smaller pots and pushing Ketola down to crumbs before closing it out.

By the time they reached Match 6, the buy-ins had climbed to $6 million with $30,000/$60,000 blinds — the round that produced the biggest televised poker pot ever. Cates opened with A8, Ketola three-bet to $450,000 with AJ, and Cates called. The flop came 752, giving Cates a flush draw and Ketola top pair. Cates bet $400,000, Ketola called. The turn 4 made Cates continue with a bet of $700,000, Ketola called again. By the river, $5.2 million sat in the middle when the 9 fell. Ketola then check-jammed his $2.53 million, making the pot $7.7 million — the largest ever shown on stream. Jungleman thought it over while chewing on a breadstick, then folded.

Even after losing that monster, the Jungleman pulled up his socks and later called Ketola’s $1.4 million river bet holding Q-Q on a, not so great, board for pocket queens, beating Ketola’s K-K for a $4.8 million swing. You could say that hand broke Monarch’s last resistance.

The session went on for nearly 12 hours. And unexpectedly, the final hand wasn’t anything spectacular – Ketola shoved with Q3, Cates called with A8, and Jungle’s ace-high held to mark the end of the biggest streamed heads-up battle in history.

Results and Aftermath

Across the six heads-up matches, nearly $28 million hit the table. The two opened with $1 million buy-ins and split the first two matches. Ketola pulled ahead in the $3 million round, but Cates came storming back. He won the next three, including the $6 million finale that produced the biggest televised pot ever seen.

When it was all over, Cates had taken four of the six matches and finished with about $15 million in profit. Ketola, who had already dropped millions in earlier sessions against Kayhan Mokri, left Cyprus down roughly the same amount over two days.

Match Results

• Match 1 – $1,000,000 buy-in – Winner: Jungleman
• Match 2 – $1,000,000 buy-in – Winner: Ossi Ketola
• Match 3 – $3,000,000 buy-in – Winner: Ossi Ketola
• Match 4 – $5,000,000 buy-in – Winner: Jungleman
• Match 5 – $5,000,000 buy-in – Winner: Jungleman
• Match 6 – $6,000,000 buy-in – Winner: Jungleman

Cates’ $15 million haul was bigger than the first-place prize at this year’s WSOP Main Event, and the matches drew one of the largest online audiences ever for a streamed cash game.

Jennifer Shahade came into the PokerStars Women’s Summer Festival Main Event wearing the ambassador patch and carrying the extra weight that comes with it. Everyone knew who she was, and plenty of players in the £400 buy-in field would’ve loved to be the one to send her home. Instead, she battled through 193 entries at London’s Hippodrome, outlasted a tough final table, and walked away with the trophy and £22,200 cash.

The final table had everything — long stretches of cagey play, sudden momentum swings, and a buzzing rail. Players from across the globe — the UK, Ireland, Japan, France, Brazil, Finland — took their shots, and names like Claire Taylor, Lynne Beaumont, and Akiko Ota all had their turns in the driver’s seat. But it was Shahade who closed it out, sealing the win with a rivered straight heads-up against Taylor.

Swingy Battle at the Final Table

When play kicked off at the final table, all eyes were on Morgane Fevrier. She’d bagged the chip lead overnight, but it took exactly one hand for that to crumble — Shahade doubled through her straight away, and suddenly the narrative flipped and it was anyone’s game.

Shahade looked comfortable for a while, stacking chips as the last PokerStars ambassador in the field. But poker doesn’t care about your résumé. She was forced to muck trip aces in a brutal spot against Valerie Morris’ flopped straight – a hand that gave Lynne Beaumont a path to the top, and not long after, Claire Taylor and Akiko Ota were trading the lead as well.

It took more than an hour and a half of tense, cagey play before someone finally broke. Shahade did the honors, finding a king with K-Q to bust Saara Benlamine’s A-Q. Not long after, she picked up pocket eights and held against Morris’ sevens to send the Brit to the rail.

Then, in classic final table fashion, Taylor landed a big blow when her kings outgunned Miriam Balen’s queens, while Ota clawed back from a short stack to knock out Fevrier — the same player who’d started the day at the top. Ota’s comeback stalled in fifth place, though, when Shahade picked her off. Tanya Masters followed in fourth, and suddenly the table had thinned to three.

At that point, Beaumont was the one under fire. Short-stacked and running out of room, she shoved her last handful of blinds into Shahade and didn’t survive. Down to heads-up, Shahade carried a big lead into her duel with Taylor — and from there, she never really looked back.

Heads-Up Showdown

Taylor had shown plenty of grit all day, but starting heads-up in a 3:1 hole against a player running hot is a tough ask.

Taylor hung around and picked her spots, but Shahade kept the pressure steady, taking down pots without showdown and forcing Taylor to play from behind. The end came when Shahade moved in with K-4, and Taylor called with pocket sevens. For a moment, it looked like Taylor might double, but the board ran out A 10 5 J Q, giving Shahade a straight on the river and the £22,200 win. Taylor bagged £14,000 for her run.

Holding the trophy afterwards, Shahade put it best: “I ran like a goddess.” And it was hard to argue — from the first double through Fevrier to the final river, the cards lined up when she needed them most.

A Win That Matters for Poker

Having Jennifer Shahade take the title might not have been what the rest of the field wanted, but it’s a result PokerStars will celebrate. Too often, sponsored pros flame out early or make a min-cash, and the optics are forgettable. This time, one of their ambassadors went deep, handled the swings, and walked out the winner on stream with the trophy in her hands.

For the Women’s Summer Festival, it’s a strong headline. The series is still carving out its identity, and a recognizable name holding the banner makes it easier to build momentum into future editions. Shahade has the platform to talk about her win, and she’s already been vocal about treating poker like a mind sport and giving more women the chance to play big moments on stream. A final table like this, capped with a high-profile champion, feeds directly into that message.

Fahredin Mustafov has been grinding the circuit for more than a decade. On Friday, he walked away with the biggest score of his career—and a respected title on the high-stakes calendar.

The Bulgarian pro outlasted a stacked field in the 2025 Onyx Super High Roller Series $25,750 Main Event, held at Merit Poker Cyprus. He bagged $1.3 million for the win after defeating Turkey’s “Kenar” in a heads-up match that lasted exactly one hand.

Final Table Results – Onyx SHRS Main Event

• 1st: Fahredin Mustafov – $1,300,000
• 2nd: Kenar – $820,000
• 3rd: Matthew Wantman – $530,000
• 4th: Aren Bezhanyan – $420,000
• 5th: Viacheslav Buldygin – $315,000
• 6th: Rahul Byrraju – $250,000
• 7th: Artur Martirosian – $200,000
• 8th: Vincent Huang – $155,000
• 9th: Roman Stoika – $121,750

The Path to $1.3M

The $5 million guaranteed prize pool was left in the dust as 227 entries pushed the total to over $5.5 million. Only 34 spots paid, and plenty of big names came close—Hossein Ensan, Mikita Badziakouski, Jesse Lonis, Gregoire Auzoux, and Aliaksei Boika all ran deep but fell short of the final nine.

Mustafov came into the last day second in chips, trailing only “Kenar.” Roman Stoika busted first, losing a preflop race with eights. Vincent Huang followed after his king-jack couldn’t hold. Then Artur Martirosian hit the rail despite scoring a knockout earlier—he ran into an overpair in a cooler and finished seventh.

Mustafov would later find himself in a pot with pocket kings against “Kenar’s” ace-king, and when an ace hit the flop, he made a solid laydown. It didn’t take him long to get his chips back, though: his ten-nine suited beat Buldygin’s ace-six in a blind-versus-blind hand that ended with the Russian’s exit in fifth.

The Turning Point

The key moment came three-handed. Mustafov defended his big blind with six-three of hearts against Matthew Wantman’s button open. The flop came Q-T-2 with two hearts. Wantman had middle set. Mustafov had a flush draw.

The turn brought the 5, and the river bricked. Mustafov checked all the way, then ripped it all in after Wantman bet four million on the river. Wantman tanked, nearly out of time banks, and eventually folded the set.

Soon after, Mustafov finished off Wantman when his six-five suited made a straight to beat pocket nines, which left “Kenar” with a massive deficit heading into heads-up play.

One hand later, it was over. “Kenar” shoved ace-six. Mustafov called with ace-jack. The board ran out Q73108, and just like that, Mustafov had locked up the biggest title of his life.

“My Big Win”

Mustafov celebrated with his wife, child, and close friends Boris Kolev and Miroslav after the win:

“My wife and my kids helped me a lot, and I’m very happy.”

He praised the venue and staff as well, saying:

“Staff is amazing, media is amazing, guys, viewers is amazing. The floormen, everything is amazing.”

And he didn’t hesitate to recommend the experience:

“If you don’t come to Merit, you have to come, believe me.”

Career Year, Career Moment

The Bulgarian is clearly having the sun run of his life this year—Fahredin made two WSOP final tables in the summer, including a $470K finish in the $50K High Roller and another in the $3K PLO Six-Max. He also added another final table at the Wynn Summer Classic.

According to The Hendon Mob, this $1.3 million score pushes him to third on Bulgaria’s all-time money list. It’s also his sixth final table of 2025, and his second seven-figure payday.

Before you go: we did some digging to find the best poker sites for trustability, guarantees, and soft player pools.

The European Poker Tour will return to Paris in 2026, with PokerStars confirming the festival will take place from February 18 to March 1 at Le Palais des Congrès. The comeback follows the cancellation of the 2025 edition, which was called off due to changes in French licensing requirements that created uncertainty for the event. PokerStars has confirmed those challenges have been resolved.

2026 EPT Paris Schedule and Events

The 2026 schedule includes the €5,300 no-limit hold’em Main Event from February 23 to March 1, along with the PokerStars Open Main Event, a women’s event, and multiple high roller tournaments. Le Palais des Congrès has been chosen again for its accessibility and capacity to host the large fields EPT Paris has seen in past years.

EPT Paris History and Past Champions

EPT Paris was first held in 2023 and drew 1,606 entries in its Main Event, creating a €7,708,800 prize pool. Romanian player Razvan Belea, who qualified online through a $530 PokerStars satellite and competed under the screen name “RazvyQQ,” won the title and €1,170,000. At the time of his victory, he had approximately $1.25 million in online multi-table tournament winnings, and he became the first Romanian to win an EPT Main Event.

In 2024, the festival moved to a new venue and saw 1,747 players enter the Main Event, building an €8,385,600 prize pool. British professional Barny Boatman, a founding member of the Hendon Mob with two WSOP bracelets, won the event and earned €1,287,800, which was his career-best live score. His win was followed by a sponsorship deal with PokerStars that lasted about one year. On July 22, 2025, he announced his departure from the PokerStars Team Pro roster. Across the 2024 festival, more than 16,000 total entries were recorded.

Why 2025 EPT Paris Was Canceled

The 2025 EPT Paris had been scheduled for February 12 to 23, but was canceled weeks before its start due to the updated licensing requirements. Cédric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events at PokerStars, stated that Paris is valued for its atmosphere, central location, and appeal away from the poker tables. Clément Martin Saint Léon, Executive Vice President of Gaming at the Barrière Group, described EPT Paris as the largest tournament in France and the second largest in Europe after Barcelona.

PokerStars LIVE 2026 Tour Stops

The 2026 PokerStars LIVE season begins with the PokerStars Open Campione in Italy from January 23 to February 1. The 2025 PSO Campione Main Event had 2,423 entries, including re-entries, which more than doubled the €1 million guarantee. Romania’s Adrian State won and received €363,000 from the €2,326,080 prize pool.

After EPT Paris, the next confirmed stop will be the Irish Open from March 26 to April 6. The 2025 Irish Open attracted 4,562 entries, producing a €4,447,950 prize pool against a €2.5 million guarantee. Simon Wilson won the Main Event and earned €600,000.

EPT Monte Carlo follows from April 30 to May 10, 2026. In 2025, it had 1,194 entries in its Main Event and a €5,795,750 prize pool, with Aleksandr Shevliakov winning €1,000,000.

The early-year schedule will then close with the PokerStars Open Namur in Belgium from May 27 to June 7. The 2025 Main Event featured 1,572 players and a €1,493,400 prize pool. Jean-Vincent Lehut won the title and €238,000.

Confirmed 2026 PokerStars LIVE Schedule

The confirmed 2026 PokerStars LIVE stops so far are:

• PokerStars Open Campione: January 23 – February 1
• EPT Paris: February 18 – March 1
• Irish Open: March 26 – April 6
• EPT Monte Carlo: April 30 – May 10
• PokerStars Open Namur: May 27 – June 7

PokerStars has stated that more events will be announced later.

Sweden’s Jenny Westerlund won the €1,500 Main Event at the 2025 WSOP Circuit stop in Tallinn, held at OlyBet’s Olympic Park Casino. The event attracted a record 888 entries, the largest WSOP Circuit Main Event field to date. For her victory, Westerlund received €200,200, which is by far the biggest cash prize of her career, as well as a €5,000 Ticket to Paradise package, granting entry to the upcoming WSOP Paradise festival in The Bahamas this December. Additionally, she earned the WSOP Circuit ring, a symbol of achievement on the tour.

Final Day Performance and International Final Table

Westerlund entered the final day second in chips among the nine finalists, who came from different countries, including Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Finland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic. Throughout the day, she played an aggressive style, focusing on pressuring the middle and short stacks.

Westerlund’s Previous Poker History

Before this win, Westerlund’s largest live cash was $42,451 for fourth place at the Nordic Masters of Poker in Stockholm in 2014. Her total live earnings before Tallinn were just under €77,000, earned mostly in mid-level tournaments across Tallinn and Slovakia, where she also won local Ladies tournaments.

While her live achievements have vaulted her into the spotlight, Westerlund’s online poker career has been relatively low-key. According to her profile on CardPlayer, she has a handful of recorded online cashes totaling about $11,199. She finished 16th in the €1,100 No-Limit Hold’em event at the 2024 WPT Prime Slovakia, earning $7,778, and also secured 43rd place in the €1,100 No-Limit Hold’em event at the 2024 Autumn Kings of Tallinn for $3,027.

Dramatic Conclusion of the Main Event

The tournament ended dramatically during the very first hand of three-handed play. All three poker players—Westerlund, Krzysztof Chmielowski from Poland, and Estonia’s Igor Pihela Sr.—went all in preflop. Westerlund held A J, Chmielowski had Q Q, and Pihela Sr. held A 6. The flop was 2 9 3, which initially favored Chmielowski but also gave Westerlund a flush draw. The turn was the A, which gave Westerlund top pair and the lead. The river was the 5, which ended the hand and tournament, eliminating both opponents and awarding Westerlund the title.

Final Table Results and Prize Distribution

The full final table payouts were as follows:

• 1st: Jenny Westerlund (Sweden) – €200,200 + €5,000 Ticket to Paradise
• 2nd: Krzysztof Chmielowski (Poland) – €128,500
• 3rd: Igor Pihela Sr. (Estonia) – €90,200
• 4th: Martin Surovec (Czech Republic) – €62,500
• 5th: Elias Vääräniemi (Finland) – €46,000
• 6th: David Vinaya (Norway) – €33,100
• 7th: Jari-Pekka Juhola (Finland) – €25,060
• 8th: Stephen Groom (United Kingdom) – €19,500
• 9th: Karolis Kutkauskas (Lithuania) – €14,200

Westerlund’s Reaction and Future Plans

In a post-tournament interview on the OlyBet stream, Westerlund expressed that she was still trying to grasp the reality of her win and believed it might take several days to fully realize the significance of the prize money. She said that winning the WSOP Circuit ring was the most important achievement for her, more so than the monetary prize. She also explained her strategy during the final day was to leverage her large chip stack to pressure opponents. Westerlund stated she was not nervous coming into the final day. Her plans to celebrate included a meal with friends, followed by attending the OlyBet Players’ Party.

Other Event Winners and Next WSOP Circuit Stop

The Tallinn stop featured 12 ring winners from seven different countries across various events, including:

• €350 Mini Main Event winner Simon Hesserud Persson (Sweden), prize €45,700
• €555 PLO winner Andria Gogelidze (Georgia), prize €27,100
• €5,000 NLH winner David Vinaya (Norway), prize €94,280

After Tallinn, the WSOP Circuit moved to Bratislava, Slovakia, with the next series running from August 1 to August 12 at Card Casino, where additional ring events were scheduled.

Gilbert Arenas, a former NBA All-Star, was arrested on July 30, 2025, after federal prosecutors accused him of organizing unlawful high-stakes poker games at a luxury property he owns in Encino, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. The charges stem from a federal indictment that includes three counts: conspiracy to run an illegal gambling operation, engaging in such an operation, and providing false information to investigators.

According to the indictment released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Arenas, 43, is alleged to have arranged for the Encino residence to be used for poker events between September 2021 and July 2022. He reportedly instructed Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, to manage preparations for these events, including organizing the venue and collecting payments from individuals hosting the games.

Luxury Poker Games Featured Security and Custom Branding

Details from the indictment describe the poker events as elaborate affairs, featuring armed guards, professional chefs, and valet services. Custom poker tables adorned with Arenas’ name and the phrase “Arenas Poker Club” were set up at the property. A photograph of one such table was included as part of the evidence presented by federal prosecutors.

Text exchanges between Arenas and Kats reportedly show that the two discussed poker-related plans, including staffing, payments, and incidents involving intoxicated guests. Prosecutors allege these messages demonstrate Arenas’s direct knowledge of and involvement in the games.

Illegal “Rake” Makes Private Games Criminal Under State Law

While private poker gatherings are not automatically illegal in California, the games in question are accused of crossing the legal threshold due to the collection of a “rake”—a fee taken from each pot, either as a percentage or a fixed amount. Under California law, charging such a fee constitutes an illegal gambling business.

Authorities say the games primarily involved Pot-Limit Omaha, a variant of poker, and that four other individuals—Evgenni Tourevski (48), Allan Austria (52), Yarin Cohen (27), and Ievgen Krachun (43)—were responsible for organizing these sessions and collecting rakes from participants. Krachun is also accused of managing the distribution of chips and maintaining records of player wins and losses.

Companionship Services and Immigration Fraud Allegations

Another defendant, 49-year-old Yevgeni Gershman, has been labeled by prosecutors as a suspected organized crime affiliate from Israel. He is accused of recruiting women to attend the poker games, where they reportedly served drinks, gave massages, and provided company to players. According to prosecutors, the women were required to pay a portion of their earnings as a fee.

In addition to gambling-related offenses, Gershman faces three separate charges involving immigration fraud. Authorities claim he entered a fraudulent marriage with Valintina Cojocari to obtain legal permanent status in the United States. Both individuals are charged with submitting false information on immigration applications.

Arenas Pleads Not Guilty and Is Released on Bond

Arenas appeared in federal court in Los Angeles shortly after his arrest. He entered a plea of not guilty and was released after posting a $50,000 bond. His trial is scheduled to begin on September 23, 2025. If convicted of all charges, he could receive up to five years in prison for each count, for a total maximum sentence of 15 years.

Following his court appearance, Arenas posted a video to Instagram showing himself dancing, alongside a caption stating that he had only rented out the house and was not involved in the events described. Prosecutors, however, argue that Arenas knowingly provided the equipment and space for a poker event held on July 19, 2022. During a raid the next morning, investigators from the Department of Homeland Security reportedly found and seized cash stored in the main bedroom. Arenas later filed a petition to recover the funds and denied knowledge of any gambling activity.

Arenas’ Documented Poker Involvement Before Arrest

Gilbert Arenas’ connection to poker predates the current case. In 2014, he played in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event in the Bahamas, a $10,300 buy-in tournament featuring a $10 million guaranteed prize pool. Arenas competed on Day 1A but was eliminated early by poker pro Dylan Hortin. His participation caught attention due to his background in professional sports and his apparent ease at the table.

Years later, Arenas appeared in a Pot-Limit Omaha game streamed live on Hustler Casino Live, where blinds were set at $100/$200/$200. The appearances undoubtedly brought him some visibility within the poker community, where a number of celebrities have shown increasing interest in high-stakes games.

Previous Legal History Involving Card Games

This is not the first time Arenas has faced legal consequences related to cards. In 2009, during his time with the Washington Wizards, he was involved in a locker room confrontation with teammate Javaris Crittenton over a gambling-related dispute. The situation escalated when Arenas brought unloaded firearms into the team facility. He was later convicted of a felony weapons charge and suspended for the rest of the 2009–10 NBA season.

Career in the NBA and Media Presence Post-Retirement

Arenas began his NBA career with the Golden State Warriors and later played for the Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic, and Memphis Grizzlies over 11 seasons. He was named an NBA All-Star three times and wore the jersey number “0,” which earned him the nickname “Agent Zero.” In recent years, he launched a podcast titled Gil’s Arena, where he and former players discuss topics related to basketball.

The federal case against Arenas and his co-defendants remains ongoing. Court documents state that no attorneys for the other defendants were listed at the time the indictment was unsealed.

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship will return for the first time in over a decade, with new episodes premiering exclusively on Peacock in the fall of 2025. The event is presented by PokerStars and produced by PokerGO. Following the Peacock debut, the tournament will become available to stream on both PokerGO and PokerStars at a later date.

This is the first edition of the tournament since 2013. It will also be the first to take place under PokerGO’s ownership, after the company acquired the rights and archived content from NBC Sports earlier this year.

Format and Buy-In

The tournament will maintain its signature single-elimination, bracket-style format. A total of 64 players will compete in one-on-one matches, with the field narrowing through elimination rounds until two finalists remain. The final match will be played as a best-of-three series. The buy-in for the 2025 edition is $25,000.

Confirmed Participants

The list of confirmed players as of the official announcement includes professional poker players, celebrities, and content creators. Names announced to date include:

• Michael Mizrachi – 2025 WSOP Main Event Champion
• Jason Koon – High-stakes poker professional
• Liv Boeree – Poker pro, scientist, and television presenter
• Chris Moneymaker – 2003 WSOP Main Event Champion
• Erik Seidel – Poker Hall of Famer
• Doug Polk – Three-time WSOP bracelet winner and poker content creator
• Phil Galfond – Online legend and founder of Run It Once
• Shaun Deeb – WSOP Player of the Year and multiple bracelet winner
• Bryce Hall – Social media influencer and entrepreneur
• Richard Seymour – Former NFL Pro Bowler and accomplished poker player
• Nick Wright – Sports analyst and commentator
• T.J. Lavin – BMX athlete and host of MTV’s The Challenge
• Rob Riggle – Actor, comedian, and former Marine
• Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano – Reality TV star and Survivor champion

More celebrity participants are expected to be announced.

History of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship originally aired on NBC, beginning in 2005. It ran annually until 2011, returned for one season in 2013, and then went on hiatus until the current revival. The show featured one-on-one poker matches and drew top professionals as well as well-known personalities.

• The 2005 champion was Phil Hellmuth, who defeated Chris Ferguson in the final.
• In 2006, Ted Forrest won the tournament, with Chris Ferguson again finishing as runner-up.
• Paul Wasicka won the 2007 edition, beating Chad Brown.
• Chris Ferguson claimed the title in 2008, after previously finishing second in both 2005 and 2006.
• Huck Seed won in 2009, defeating Vanessa Rousso.
• Annie Duke won the 2010 tournament, defeating Erik Seidel.
• Erik Seidel returned in 2011 to win the title, defeating Chris Moneymaker.
• The 2012 event did not take place.
• In 2013, Mike Matusow won the championship, beating Phil Hellmuth in the final and earning $750,000. Hellmuth received $300,000 for his runner-up finish.

Throughout the show’s history, the tournament took place in Las Vegas. The 2005 season was held at Golden Nugget, and later seasons were hosted at Caesars Palace. Commentary for the NBC broadcasts was provided by Matt Vasgersian and Ali Nejad. Nejad is now affiliated with PokerGO.

Statements from Organizers

Mori Eskandani, President of PokerGO, stated that the National Heads-Up Poker Championship helped define the golden era of televised poker. He said PokerGO is proud to partner with PokerStars to bring the show back and share it with a new generation of fans.

Francine Watson, Associate Director of Content & Creative Services at PokerStars, described the return of the show as an exciting way to reignite interest in poker. She sees the event’s ability to appeal to both poker enthusiasts and broader audiences through its combination of celebrities and professional players.

PokerGO and PokerStars

PokerGO produces more than 100 days of live poker content annually and operates a video-on-demand library of poker events. PokerStars, one of the world’s most popular online poker sites, has dealt over 200 billion hands. The company is owned by Flutter Entertainment plc (LSE: FLTR; NYSE: FLUT).

On July 23, 2025, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) officially recognized poker as a sport. The decision was made during a SAT board meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, which was also attended by Tourism and Sports Minister Surawong Thienthong, SAT Governor Kongsak Yodmanee, and several other senior officials.

SAT described poker strictly as a “mind sport” and not a gambling activity. The agency cited poker’s widespread international appeal and its reliance on mental calculation, psychological insight, and strategic thinking—factors that, according to the agency, firmly position poker within the framework of legitimate competitive sports.

SAT Links Poker to Tourism Growth and Sports Talent Development

SAT expects the recognition to support Thailand’s sports tourism sector and contribute to economic growth. The decision coincides with the World Poker Tour (WPT) Prime Thailand event, scheduled for July 30 to August 5, 2025, just one week after the SAT officially designated poker as a sport. The tournament is the first major opportunity to apply poker’s new status, with hundreds of players and spectators expected to attend during the week-long schedule.

In preparation for this, in May 2025, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports partnered with WPT to organize Thailand’s first professional poker dealer training. The five-day program in Bangkok trained 100 individuals in technical dealing, dispute resolution, and tournament operations. Graduates are eligible to join the WPT dealer talent pool, supporting events in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

The training was conducted under the Mind Sports Talent Development Programme, a government-supported initiative designed to build infrastructure for poker and other skill-based games.

Entertainment Complex Bill and Public Opinion on Gambling

In early 2025, the Thai cabinet approved a draft bill for entertainment complexes, which included casino operations. The bill aimed to attract at least 100 billion baht in investment and increase tourism arrivals by up to 10%.

The draft included requirements for Thai nationals to pay a 5,000-baht entry fee and hold a minimum of 50 million baht in bank deposits for six months. The bill was withdrawn in early July 2025. The withdrawal followed the suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the Bhumjaithai Party’s departure from the coalition government.

A national poll conducted earlier in 2025 showed that 69% of Thai citizens opposed online gambling. Additionally, 59% opposed both casinos and integrated resorts.

Poker Recognition Maintains Legal Limits Under Playing Cards Act

Although poker is now officially recognized as a sport, gambling laws remain in effect. The Playing Cards Act of 1943, still active, restricts the ownership and importation of playing cards. Individuals are prohibited from possessing more than 120 playing cards unless those cards are registered with the Excise Department. The law was originally introduced during wartime to prevent idleness and remains part of Thailand’s current legal framework.

In 2016, 32 elderly members of the Pattaya Bridge Club were detained by authorities on suspicion of illegal gambling. Though no charges were filed, the event highlighted the legal ambiguity around card games, including those recognized as mind sports globally. Bridge, while played competitively in Thailand, has not yet received official sport status from the Thai government.

American Football Also Gains Sport Status

At the same SAT board meeting, American football was also granted official sporting status. The sport has been recognized by SportAccord and the International Olympic Committee. It is one of five new disciplines selected for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Thailand’s men’s national flag football team currently ranks fifth globally. The team won a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Beach Games held in Phuket.