Indicted Gambler Wins NAPT Las Vegas Main Event

Gal Yifrach achieved the poker tournament highlight of his career on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The 39-year-old Los Angeles resident took down the 2025 PokerStars North American Poker Tour Las Vegas $5,300 no-limit hold’em main event. He bested a 738-entry field to earn $543,025, a new personal best score. The win bumped the WSOP bracelet winner over the $3 million mark in recorded tournament earnings.

This marquee victory came amidst years-long legal proceedings stemming from a federal indictment alleging his involvement in an illegal gambling business. The two felony charges, for illegal gambling and conspiracy to commit money laundering, were first brought in 2022. He is reportedly facing up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines.

The alleged gambling ring reportedly began operations in 2018, the same year Yifrach took down the $3,000 six-max event at the World Series of Poker for what was then his largest tournament payday of $461,305. He later finished third in a $50,000 event at the 2021 WSOP for another $495,305.

In addition to success on the tournament circuit, Yifrach spent years as a regular on high-stakes cash game live streams in Southern California.

Yifrach came into the final day of this event in the middle of the pack, but navigated his way to heads-up play and mounted a big comeback to secure the title just a few days removed from his birthday.

Setting The Stage

The strong turnout of 738 entries to Resorts World Las Vegas for the NAPT championship event resulted in a $3,579,300 prize pool that easily bested the $3 million guarantee. The top 111 made the money, with six-figure scores for the last seven standing. Abdullah Akbarpoor walked away with $102,200 as the seventh-place finisher after his A-K ran into the pocket aces of Belgian high-stakes crusher Thomas Boivin. Akbarpoor was unable to come from behind and was sent to the rail at the end of day 5.

The sixth and final day began with six players remaining and Boivin well out in front of the rest of the pack. Peter Mugar came in critically short with just seven big blinds and never got anything going. In his final hand, he shoved for his last 260,000 total over a Yifrach 225,000 button open with K♠3♣ from the big blind. Yifrach called with A♠8♥ and held through a 8♦7♦5♥7♥6♦ runout to narrow the field to five. Mugar earned $132,850 for his efforts. The 53-year-old from Boston, MA now has more than $1.3 million in lifetime earnings, with this being his second-largest score to date. His top payday remains the $500,000 that came with a third-place finish in the 2023 Lucky Hearts Poker Open main event at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood.

Michael Berk managed an early double up with pocket aces against the A-K suited of Boivin, but he was ultimately the next to be eliminated. The 30-year-old former Midwestern IT professional, now a Vegas-based poker pro, made his last stand with K♣Q♦, shoving from the small blind for 2,365,000. Boivin called the shove of nearly 20 big blinds with A♣9♣ and held through a jack-high runout. Berk increased his career haul to more than $2.3 million with this deep run.

Ekrem Bozkurt got the last of his short stack in ahead, with A♥K♥ dominating the K♣7♣ of Boivin. The board favored the Belgian, though, with the 8♠7♦4♣8♣5♦ giving him eights and sevens and the knockout. The $224,450 fourth-place prize was a new top score for the Turkish-born resident of Las Vegas. The 50-year-old former restaurant owner surpassed $1.1 million in career cashes with this strong performance.

Shahade Secures Career-Best Score With Podium Showing

Jennifer Shahade

The tournament clock was paused early in three-handed action to allow for negotiations on a possible deal. No agreement was reached, though, and action resumed with the standard payout schedule in place.

Jennifer Shahade, PokerStars Ambassador and two-time US Women’s Chess Championship winner, was the next to fall. The 44-year-old Philadelphia native committed her stack from the button with A♥Q♥. Boivin had picked up another monster preflop holding with K♦K♣ in the big blind. He shoved and Shahade, who had left 50,000 behind after opening to 1,900,000, called all-in. The J♦4♥3♦10♦5♥ kept the kings best to end Shahade’s run in third place.

This podium finish came with $291,800 in prize money for Shahade, the largest score of her career. The author, podcast host, and former Women’s Program Director at the United States Chess Federation now boasts more than $680,000 in poker tournament scores.

Yifrach Battles Back To Secure Victory

With that, Boivin took better than a 4.5:1 chip lead into heads-up play with Yifrach. The early action favored Yifrach, who earned an early double up with a straight flush to narrow the gap considerably. He then picked off a big bluff attempt from Boivin to edge into the outright lead.

Boivin, who recently finished second in the $50,000 super high roller at this stop for $334,700, was able to regain the advantage and pull back out to a 2:1 lead, but Yifrach mounted another comeback to move in front before the two opted to reopen negotiations. They ultimately agreed to set aside 10 percent of the remaining prize pool and the title to play for, evenly chopping the rest of the money that was still up for grabs. That meant both locked up $518,575, while the eventual champion would add another $24,450.

Yifrach won a big pot early with top pair against a river bluff from Boivin. In the final hand of the tournament, Boivin raised to 750,000 on the button with 10♦10♣ and Yifrach three-bet shoved from the big blind with A♦9♦. Boivin called off for 7,675,000 total and the board came down 9♠4♦3♦5♦Q♠ to give Yifrach the nut flush and the title.

Boivin grew his career earnings to more than $14.4 million with this second-place showing for more than half a million dollars. He has made 14 final tables and won two titles in 2025. The 1,520 Card Player Player of the Year points that came with this latest result grew his total to 5,305, which is good for 22nd place in the overall standings presented by CoinPoker. 

Final Table Results

Photo credit: Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd. / Rachel Kay Winter.