Jason Daly surged across the finish line in the 2025 World Series of Poker $2,500 mixed Omaha eight-or-better and stud eight-or-better event, scooping the final four knockouts after chopping up the sixth-place finisher. Among those to fall during Daly’s final push to the title was all-time bracelet leader Phil Hellmuth, who ultimately fell just a couple of spots shy of capturing a record-extending 18th WSOP bracelet.
Just a few minutes after eliminating Hellmuth in third place, Daly closed out the victory to earn his second career bracelet and the top prize of $244,674. This was the second-largest score for the 41-year-old Texas City, Texas resident, trailing only the $290,864 he earned for a runner-up showing in the $3,000 main event at the 2023 Lodge Championship Series. Daly’s first bracelet was won in 2023 in the $3,000 limit hold’em six-max event. That triumph came with the hardware and $165,250. Daly now has more than $1.6 million in lifetime earnings after adding in this win.
“The first one is great, but the second one brings a little more validation,” Daly told PokerNews live reporters after closing out this second bracelet victory. “Especially as the final 27 of this field were sick.”
In addition to the hardware and the money, Daly also earned 1,260 Card Player Player of the Year points as the champion. This was his second POY-qualified score of the year, having also won a $1,100 turbo event at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown for $32,580 in April.
Speeding Down To A Final Table
This event drew a total of 575 entries, building a prize pool of $1,279,375 that was paid out among the top 87 finishers. Big names like bracelet winners Anson Tsang (39th), Jim Collopy (26th), Gus Hansen (24th), Brian Rast (22nd), Gary Benson (19th), Ryan Hughes (18th), Benny Glaser (16th), and Shaun Deeb (12th) all ran deep.
The final day began with 27 contenders remaining. Tobias Hausen was out in front, with mixed-games regular Shirley Rosario and Daly rounding out the top three. Rosario wound up hitting the rail in 16th place, but both Hausen and Daly were still among the leaders when the final table was set.
Hellmuth was out in front, though, when the last nine converged onto a single table.
Just before moving to the final table, we caught up with @phil_hellmuth and got his thoughts leading into this potential record extending FT.
Calm. Collected. Dialed in.
Keep your eyes 👀 on the updates tonight folks!#WSOP2025 pic.twitter.com/ZMOsYSR6NO
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 18, 2025
9 To 5
William Flachsbart (9th – $17,784) was the next to fall, running into a wheel for Kevin Choi. Ruiko Mamiya (8th – $23,036) was busted by Christopher Claassen (7th – $30,439), who in turn was sent packing by Hausen.
Daly’s first knockout at the final table ended up being a split pot during a round of stud eight-or-better, with his pair of aces taking the high while Hellmuth’s 8-7-6-4-2 secured the low half of the pot. Alexander Orlov got his case chips in on third street and wound up with ace high and no low, resulting in a sixth-place finish for $41,013.
Daly was in the lead heading into five-handed action. He was briefly surpassed by Choi, but soon began the rush that saw him bust each and every remaining opponent on his way to victory.
Closing It Out In Style
Daly made the nut flush to eliminate Jon Kyte (5th – $56,327) during a round of Omaha eight-or-better. His next knockout saw his pocket kings make two pair, which was good enough to eliminate Hausen in fourth place ($78,825) after the German’s nut low draw bricked out.
Hellmuth and Choi fell well behind Daly during three-handed play. Daly won three quarters of a sizable pot with the wheel and a seven-high straight against Hellmuth’s wheel and six-high straight, with the 6♠ on the end giving him the high side after Hellmuth already had wheel-plus on the turn with the nut flush redraw to boot.
The final hand for Hellmuth saw his short stack go in preflop with A♣K♠J♣4♣ facing the Q♥10♠5♦2♦ of Daly. The flop came down 9♥3♦2♣ to give Hellmuth the nut low draw, but the J♠ turn and K♥ river gave Daly a king-high straight and the scoop, with no low possible. Hellmuth earned $112,360 for his podium showing. He now has $18.3 million in career earnings at the WSOP, accounting for the majority of his $27.2 million in overall tournament scores.
.@phil_hellmuth falls short of his 18th @WSOP gold bracelet, finishing third in the $2,500 Omaha Hi-Lo/Stud Hi-Lo event for $112,360. pic.twitter.com/4CyDLLxlfc
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 18, 2025
Not long after that, Choi got the last of stack in with A♠A♥9♠5♣ after seeing a J♠8♥5♦ flop and 10♠ turn. Daly held Q♦J♦6♠3♥ for top pair and a gutshot with a live low draw. The 6♥ river gave Daly jacks and sixes for the high and the scoop. Choi settled for $163,085 as the runner-up finisher. This was a new personal best for the Hong Kong resident.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points |
| 1 | Jason Daly | $244,674 | 1260 |
| 2 | Kevin Choi | $163,085 | 1050 |
| 3 | Phil Hellmuth | $112,360 | 840 |
| 4 | Tobias Hausen | $78,825 | 630 |
| 5 | Jon Kyte | $56,327 | 525 |
| 6 | Alexander Orlov | $41,013 | 420 |
| 7 | Christopher Claassen | $30,439 | 315 |
| 8 | Ruiko Mamiya | $23,036 | 210 |
Photo credit: WSOP / Austin Currington.
