The 2025 WSOP Main Event Has Begun… But Who Survived Day 1a?
The 56th annual World Series of Poker kicked off in Las Vegas yesterday, and from 923 entries, just 634 players survived Day 1a to progress with chips. After the WSOP legend Billy Baxter opened the show with the official ‘Shuffle Up and Deal’, Day 1a saw former champions perish or profit from the opening day’s play. Some big names survived as former world champions such as Chris Moneymaker and Joe Cada left the action after painful exits.
Victor Vo the Day 1a Chip Leader
After the opening day of action in the 56th annual WSOP Main Event, otherwise known as the $10,000-entry World Championship, 923 players bought in for five figures and only 634 of them made it to Day 2. The WSOP legend Billy Baxter was introduced the players by Jack Effel, as the seven-time bracelet winner Baxter, 85, declared “Shuffle Up and Deal” with the minimum of fuss.
The most famous freezeout poker tournament in the world saw Victor Vo make it all the way to the end of Day 1a with the chip lead as he bagged up 352,000 chips, over five times the starting stack of 60,000 chips. Others such as American Justin Yaker (348,000), Belgian player Miguel Coussement (320,200) and Greek player Nikolos Lampropoulos (235,900) all bagged up big stacks. Roman Hrabec (162,500), Michael Noori (155,300) and Pedro Garagnani (144,500) also made the cut with double their starting stacks.
Also making it to Day 2 was a man with a very famous name. Phil Hellmuth was busy making it to 13th place in another event so couldn’t play Day 1a but that didn’t stop Phil Hellmuth making the chip counts with 87,200 – Hellmuth’s son Phill that is. The father-son Hellmuth relationship has been one of the most fun to follow throughout the 56th annual WSOP and so it proved once again. The 17-time WSOP bracelet winner took time out to praise his son’s progress and will doubtless take on all comers in an attempt to make Day 2 alongside his son.
Busted Pros on Day 1a
“[I] wasn’t good enough to fold.”
From the highs to the lows. With just 634 still in seats at the close of play, 289 players lost their stacks on the opening day and perhaps none more painfully than the 2003 world champion Chris Moneymaker. After an early exit, he posted a hand-history on X to explain how his day had gone from an exciting dream to the end of all hope.
“My WSOP Main [Event] dream is gone. Call 600 with JQ. Flop JJ6 call 500 bet. Ch ch turn. River Q. He has QQ. Wasn’t good enough to fold.”
An impossible fold for Moneymaker, but the poker ‘boomer’ wasn’t the only legend to leave the action. Moneymaker’s fellow former world champion, the 2009 Main Event winner Joe Cada went home, as did poker professional and coach Faraz Jaka, female tournament crusher Angela Jordison, legendary cash game player Jean Robert-Bellande and the Portuguese bracelet winner Joao Vieira.
The Hendon Mob legend Barny Boatman, Michael ‘Texas Mike’ Moncek, Main Event finalist Andy Black, seven-time WSOP event winner Billy Baxter, high roller extraordinaire Chris Brewer, PokerStake’s Stephen Song and the former WPT Player of the Year and Weeds writer Matt Salsberg all busted too on a day where big names and reputations counted for nothing.
Kabrhel Wins Mini-Main Then Bags Big
The Mini Main Event winner Martin Kabrhel also bagged a big stack, holding 168,700 at the close of Day 1a. As you might expect following his victory in the $1,000-entry Mini Main Event for over $840,000, Kabrhel’s table was moved to feature very quickly after the dinner break.
After some of his usual antics – belittling players, constant chatter during hands, the same stock catchphrases on showdown – Kabrhel then had a problem with coverage remaining on his table past one level, which he called the floor to discuss. After some back and forth, the Czech player got his way, and the table were moved back to the Paris ballroom.
With plenty more Day 1 flights to go until the Main Event reaches its fulfilment, the record of last year’s attendance of 10,112 may yet be surpassed. Last year, just 915 players showed up for Day 1a, eight fewer than in 2025. Tomorrow’s Day 1b is going to be huge and we may or may not see an appearance from Phil Hellmuth… the former world champion version, that is.
| WSOP 2025 Event #81 $10,000 Main Event World Championship Day 1a: | |||
| Rank | Player | Country | Chips |
| 1st | Victor Vo | United States | 352,000 |
| 2nd | Justin Yaker | United States | 348,000 |
| 3rd | Miguel Coussement | Belgium | 320,200 |
| 4th | Marc Spitaleri | United States | 309,500 |
| 5th | Jeremy Dan | United States | 282,000 |
| 6th | Stanislav Zegal | Germany | 256,400 |
| 7th | Benjamin Gold | United States | 249,300 |
| 8th | Wenzhi Fei | China | 246,300 |
| 9th | Chad Power | United States | 243,900 |
| 10th | Yamamoto Toshiyuki | Japan | 243,200 |