The 2025 World Series of Poker $5,000 pot-limit Omaha event made headlines when it drew a larger field (757 entries) than the overlapping no-limit hold’em event at the same price point (693 entries) during the first week of action at the series. The impressive turnout for the first PLO bracelet of the year resulted in a prize pool of $3,573,040, with $620,696 earmarked for the winner.
The hardware and that hefty sum were ultimately awarded to Caleb Furth, who became a two-time bracelet winner thanks to this victory. The Las Vegas resident now has nearly $2 million in recorded tournament earnings, with most of his success coming in PLO events. His first bracelet was won in the 2024 WSOP $1,500 PLO eight-or-better event for $265,361. That had been his largest payday up until he secured this win to kick off his 2025 series.
Furth’s triumph in this event was made all the more special given that he was down to a single chip at one point late on day 2, with 100,000 to play and the big blind set at 80,000. He managed to spin that back up to 18 big blinds by the time play was halted that night.
Day 3 began with 11 remaining and the oft-controversial three-time bracelet winner Martin Kabrhel tied with Greece’s Roussos Koliakoudakis for the chip lead. The Czech poker pro had the clock called on him so frequently down the stretch of this event that floor staff lowered his time to act to just 10 seconds.
Martin Kabrhel
By the time the official final table was set, Germany’s Fabian Riebau-Schmithals had claimed the lead and seemed primed to run away with it. He held more than a third of the total chips in play when the last nine combined onto a single table. Furth was in fourth chip position at that point. He scored the first knockout, picking up pocket aces against the pocket kings of Koliakoudakis to send him packing in ninth place ($47,213). Furth’s side cards (a four and a deuce) actually ended up being the ones that played, as they connected with the flop to make a six-high straight.
Kabrhel eliminated Lawrence Brandt (8th – $61,179), while Riebau-Schmithals ended the run of his fellow German, Jeremy Trojand (7th – $80,673). California’s Noel Rodriguez wound up as Furth’s second victim at the final table, with his A♦K♦K♠8♣ being outrun by Q♣Q♥10♦4♣. Furth made a flush on the turn to send Rodriguez to the rail with $108,221.
Furth continued to pick up steam, making kings up to win the final chips of a short-stacked Mark Aridgides (5th – $147,647). The next knockout saw flush-over-flush, with Riebau-Schmithals’ flopped queen-high diamonds besting the lower flush of Matthew Cosentino (4th – $204,808).
Kabrhel was the short stack when three-handed play began. He committed the last of his stack preflop, raising from the button and then calling all-in for a handful of big blinds when Furth three-bet enough to put him at risk. Kabrhel held A♦K♦3♦2♠ against Q♥J♥7♦5♠. The 10♠10♦7♠8♥4♠ runout sent Kabrhel packing in third place ($288,775). He now has more than $13.6 million in lifetime earnings after this latest deep run.
The stacks were fairly close when heads-up play began between Furth and Riebau-Schmithals. The German hopped out to an early lead after taking down a hefty pot without showdown on a paired board. Furth managed to bounce back a bit, then won a big one with flopped trip deuces against the pocket aces of Riebau-Schmithals. Furth got all-in on the turn and held to double into the lead. He stretched his advantage further from there.
The final hand began with a limp for 300,000 from the button for Furth, who held 8♠6♥6♣4♥. Riebau-Schmithals checked his option with A♠9♣6♠2♦. The flop came down 8♣5♠3♦ and Riebau-Schmithals check-called with a couple of gutshot straight draws. The 2♠ saw Riebau-Schmithals check again. Furth bet 1,200,000 with his six-high straight and Riebau-Schmithals check-raised to 5,400,000. Furth moved all-in and was quickly called. The J♣ completed the board and Riebau-Schmithals was eliminated as the runner-up. The $413,762 he secured was by far his largest live tournament score yet.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize Money | POY Points |
| 1 | Caleb Furth | $620,696 | 1824 |
| 2 | Fabian Riebau-Schmithals | $413,762 | 1520 |
| 3 | Martin Kabrhel | $288,775 | 1216 |
| 4 | Matthew Cosentino | $204,808 | 912 |
| 5 | Mark Aridgides | $147,647 | 760 |
| 6 | Noel Rodriguez | $108,221 | 608 |
| 7 | Jeremy Trojand | $80,673 | 456 |
| 8 | Lawrence Brandt | $61,179 | 304 |
| 9 | Roussos Koliakoudakis | $47,213 | 152 |
Photo credit: PokerGO / Enrique Malfavon.
