In most poker tournaments, even if plenty of players profit, there is only one true winner.
That was not the case in the 2025 World Series of Poker $500 SALUTE To Warriors, though. While Joey Couden emerged victorious from the field of 3,937 entries to secure his second gold bracelet and the top prize of $187,937, there was another clear winner in this event: veterans groups like the United Service Organizations and other charitable organizations who are set to receive over $155,000 raised from this tournament.
These funds were compiled thanks to $40 from each buy-in being set aside. WSOP Vice President Jack Effel was on hand at the start and finish of this event, bearing a giant check for Couden, who now has more than $3.2 million in career earnings to his name.
What an exciting conclusion in Event 45: $500 SALUTE to Warriors as Joe Couden was the last player standing and takes home his 2nd gold bracelet! @JackEffel was on hand to award Joe the check and get the rail fired up for the celebration!#WSOP2025 pic.twitter.com/OCTd0Bio4Z
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 18, 2025
Couden first broke through at the series in 2018, winning a $1,500 pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better title for $244,370. The Ohio native overcame a stacked final table full of multi-time bracelet winners in that event, but was the most accomplished player down the stretch in his latest title run at the series.
The huge turnout for this event built a final prize pool of 1,614,170. Among the 591 players to make the money were notables like two-time bracelet winner Barry Shulman (225th), high-stakes regular Victoria Livschitz (215th), two-time bracelet winner Tony Ma (172nd), Vinny Pahuja (166th), and bracelet winner Safiya Umerova (128th).
From 32 Hopefuls To A Single Champion
The third and final day saw 32 players return to Horseshoe Las Vegas to play down to a winner. Couden was out in front when the day began. He remained in the lead by the time the field had dwindled to 10. Couden stayed out of the way for the eliminations of Samuel Choae (10th – $14,063), Luciano Melo (9th – $17,901), and Tim Caziarc (8th – $22,998), but was still situated at the top of the chip counts.
Couden then came from behind with A♣10♣ besting the A♦K♦ of Roger Hendrin to narrow the field to six. Hendron earned $29,818 as the seventh-place finisher after losing to the fours full of tens made by Couden.
Brandon Sowers (6th – $39,015) and Alexander Savchenko (5th – $51,511) also fell at Couden’s hands, with the latter running A-J suited into pocket aces. Couden’s surge continued when his J-9 bested the K-2 of short stack Yu Hsiang Huang (4th – $68,619).
A classic preflop race spelled the end of Ofer Saha’s run, with his pocket deuces losing out to A-5 for Couden. An ace-high runout sent Saha packing with $92,221 for his efforts.
Couden held a gigantic lead going into heads-up play with Richard Buckingham. The chips soon went in with Buckingham’s 3♠3♥ flipping against Q♥J♠. The board came down Q♠J♦2♠8♥7♦ and Couden made queens up to earn the pot and the title. Buckingham walked away with $125,034 as the runner-up.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points |
| 1 | Joseph Couden | $187,937 | 660 |
| 2 | Richard Buckingham | $125,034 | 550 |
| 3 | Ofer Saha | $92,221 | 440 |
| 4 | Yu Hsiang Huang | $68,619 | 330 |
| 5 | Aleksandr Savchenko | $51,511 | 275 |
| 6 | Brandon Sowers | $39,015 | 220 |
| 7 | Roger Hendren | $29,818 | 165 |
| 8 | Tim Caziarc | $22,998 | 110 |
| 9 | Luciano Melo | $17,901 | 55 |
Photo credit: WSOP / Luther Redd.
