Table Of Contents Alexander Puchalski may currently be almost 13,000 kilometers from his Ontario home, but the Canadian isn’t lonely because he has plenty of Benjamins to keep him company. Why? Because Puchalski won the WPT Prime Cambodia Main Event for a career-best score worth $233,680. Puchalski’s six-figure prize includes a $10,400 seat in the 2025 edition of the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. WPT Prime Cambodia attracted 1,483 players to the tables, with 186 of those starters seeing a return on their investments.

Table Of Contents Poker is a game of skill, strategy, and mental endurance—but for women, it often comes with an extra set of challenges. With over 1.3 million in live earnings, two WSOP Circuit rings, and several WSOP Circuit final tables, Jessica Vierling has consistently proven she belongs at any table she sits at and in any event she plays. In this piece, she shares her personal experiences at the tables, the moments that shaped her journey, and her thoughts on the game’s future.

Table Of Contents Fire up the lobby for the completed PokerNews Online Championship Event #11 at 888poker, and you’ll see a familiar name at the top of the payout list. 888poker Stream Team member Aaron “aabarone68” Barone came out on top in the $33 buy-in, $10,000 guaranteed Daily Gems Marathon Special, taking home $1,868. The tournament attracted 322 entrants, including 72 re-entries, resulting in a small overlay on the $10,000 guarantee.

Chamath Palihapitiya floated the idea of starting a unique high-limit poker tournament circuit that would prohibit players from wearing facemasks or using recreational drugs. The billionaire entrepreneur who is close friends with Phil Hellmuth tweeted out some general details about his proposed poker tour. He asked his followers to share their thoughts on what would certainly become an intriguing venture. Does Poker Need Such a Tour? Palihapitiya, founder and CEO of Social Capital, was an early Facebook executive.

Table Of Contents It has been a rapid-fire news week for the World Series Of Poker over the last seven days, and that’s only going to continue in the near future. Several big headlines dropped in quick succession. First, Maurice Hawkins won his 17th WSOP Circuit ring, putting him one behind Ari Engel for the all-time top spot. Then the schedule for this summer’s WSOP dropped. And that was almost immediately followed by Phil Hellmuth almost threatening to boycott the Main Event over how long the days will be.

Table Of Contents All-time bracelet leader Phil Hellmuth shocked the poker world Tuesday when he announced he will not be playing in the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event due to its demanding structure. “It’s turned into an endurance test,” Hellmuth, who has played in every Main Event since 1988, said in a video posted late Monday night on X. “I don’t think the WSOP Main Event is measuring skill.

Table Of Contents The third annual Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) Awards took place in Las Vegas and had some heavy hitters in attendance. Eleven-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Phil Ivey headlined the Feb. 12 ceremony at Via Brasil Steakhouse in Las Vegas alongside a few family members. Ivey, widely regarded as one of the greatest poker players of all time, attended the ceremony with his sister, Cheyanne Ivey, the founder of the Las Vegas-based consulting firm Ivey Solutions, a new presenting sponsor of the CSOP.

Table Of Contents The World Poker Tour (WPT) and artist Daniel Arsham have collaborated on an exclusive, limited-edition poker set, with only 100 pieces available worldwide. The two have previously collaborated in 2023, with all WPT Season XXI winner’s trophies designed by Arsham. With only a few poker sets left, PokerNews spoke with both Arsham and WPT CEO Adam Pliska about this fusion of poker and art, which offers a unique collectable for enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Table Of Contents The PokerStars Bounty Builder Series wrapped up on February 17 with the crowning of the festival’s Main Event champions. In a stroke of coincidence, players hailing from Argentina triumphed in both the $109 and $1,050 buy-in Main Events. Between them, “Sucess005” and “EVOllOVE” took home $226,894. The $1,050 edition of the Bounty Builder Series Main Event drew in 988 entrants, resulting in a minor overlay on the $1 million guarantee.

Table Of Contents Monday was already a huge day for poker with the release of the highly anticipated 2025 World Series of Poker schedule. But just hours after the WSOP dropped its full itinerary, Phil Hellmuth stunned the poker world with a major announcement. The all-time bracelet leader and 1989 World Champion announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he would not be playing this summer’s WSOP Main Event—citing the gruelling length of the tournament and the toll it takes on older players.

Table Of Contents 888poker is one of the oldest online poker sites, meaning thousands of players already have an account. Mexico’s “El_hombre” didn’t have an 888poker account, but decided to change that fact three days ago. Perhaps the lure of the PokerNews Online Championship (PNOC) was strong enough to have them sign up for an account? One of “El_hombre”’s first tasks as an 888poker player was to enter the $109 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed PNOC Opening Event PKO.

Table Of Contents The 2025 Champions Club Winter Poker Open $1,500 Main Event has finally come to its dramatic conclusion as Ryan Freeman hoists the trophy after defeating Dora Coyle heads-up. Along with the trophy and the title, Freeman takes home $181,000 while Coyle is awarded the runner-up prize of $161,000. This tournament was one for the books here in Houston as 849 players took their shot in the seven starting flights.

Table Of Contents Michael “Texas Mike” Moncek didn’t win PokerGO Cup Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em. But he took third place in the 100-entrant tournament, continuing his dominance the past week against a series full of top pros. The Texas Longhorns fanatic doesn’t like to be referred to as a “pro,” but he’s performing at an elite level against some of the best tournament players in the world despite battling heart conditions.

Table Of Contents The schedule is out for the first ever World Series of Poker (WSOP) under GGPoker’s ownership, and it will feature a 56-year record for most live gold bracelet events. Poker players from all over the world will flock to Las Vegas from May 27 to compete in a portion (or all) of the 100 bracelet event schedule. It all kicks off with the $1,000 Mystery Millions, offering a $1,000,000 mystery bounty prize, and wraps up with the WSOP Main Event final table on July 16.

Table Of Contents The last time the World Series of Poker Circuit was held in the WSOP room at the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, it was October 2019. Two months later the first case of COVID was identified in Wuhan and a few months after that, the U.S. was locking down and masking up while poker went on hiatus. More than five years on, the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Baltimore is back for the first time since the start of the current pandemic.

Table Of Contents The Asian Poker Tour (APT) Manila Classic is over and once again the tour has broken several records. It seems the APT sets new records for attendances and prize pools at every stop, and Manila continued that impressive trend. By the time the last champion lifted their trophy aloft, APT Manila Classic had seen 1,268 unique players purchase 8,406 buy-ins and create prize pools worth a combined PHP 350,124,235 (approx.

Table Of Contents The PokerStars Sunday Million is one of online poker’s iconic weekly tournaments. It is the Sunday major that every poker player dreams of winning, not only because of the huge top prize but also because of the kudos that come with taking down the industry’s most famous weekly event. Several special edition Sunday Millions have run over the years. Players have battled it out in progressive knockout and mystery bounty versions, and who can forget the gargantuan anniversary editions?

Table Of Contents The 2025 edition of the PokerNews Online Championship (PNOC) exploded into action at 888poker on February 16, with the first five events of a bustling 43-event schedule taking place. Four of those events crowned their champions, with Brazil’s “WHATaDREAM” getting off to a perfect start, taking down the $35,000 Opening Event Mystery Bounty for $4,235. The $35,000 Opening Event Mystery Bounty was the third PNOC event to shuffle up and deal on the opening night of the festival.

The poker world received sad news over the weekend when it was announced that actor Kevyn Major Howard (January 27, 1956 – February 14, 2025) passed away on February 14. Howard died in Las Vegas after being hospitalized for several weeks with a respiratory illness. “It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my dear friend and supporter of many years of Ante for Autism, Kevyn Major Howard,” poker player Karina Jett, pictured above with Howard, shared on social media.

A hand on the stone-bubble of the PHP 150,000 (USD $2,600) High Roller at the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Manila Classic took quite the dramatic turn after the flop. The single-day no-limit hold’em side event on Feb. 13, which attracted 85 players, had a PHP 11 million prize pool (USD $190,000 approximately). Kunal Patni won it for just over $50,000, his second victory and fourth cash of the series. He defeated Nopparut Piyatassakorn heads-up for the title.

Ali Imsirovic, the high-stakes crusher who admitted to some cheating allegations against him, entered Saturday’s Day 1 flight in the $1,500 Champions Club Winter Poker Open Main Event. But he was quickly tossed from the event by the tournament director and banned from the Texas poker club. The Bosnian poker star was on top of the poker world just three years ago. He won three Global Poker Awards in 2021, including GPI Player of the Year after dominating the high roller circuit.

While negative headlines often dominate the poker news cycle – such as Charlie Carrelcalling out a scammer and SCOTUS lawyer Tom Goldstein getting in trouble for failing to pay poker taxes – it is important to remember that the game can be used for good. Perhaps the greatest example of that is the untold millions raised via charity poker tournaments. There are high-profile charity tournaments like those hosted by the Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) and Jack Binion in Las Vegas, but all across the world there are events of all sizes for different causes.

Table Of Contents A new era for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) begins in May, and everyone can start planning a trip to Las Vegas on Monday when the 2025 WSOP schedule is released. In anticipation for one of the most exciting days on the poker calendar, we have some predictions for what to expect from the first ever WSOP under GGPoker’s ownership. Caesars Entertainment sold the series to NSUS Group Inc.

Table Of Contents Former Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Player of the Year Kyna England is two steps closer to joining the MSPT Hall of Fame after back-to-back deep runs in MSPT Main Events in Milwaukee and Las Vegas. England finished 16th in the MSPT 100 Grand Stack Festival $1,110 Main Event at Potawatomi Casino Hotel for $14,898 on Jan. 31 before finishing tenth in the MSPT Venetian $1,600 event for $19,250 a week later.

Table Of Contents Are you planning to hit the online poker tables over the weekend but are racking your brains wondering where to invest your hard-earned bankroll? Fear not, because PokerNews is here with the Weekend Preview, highlighting a few multi-table tournaments that should get you tingling with excitement. The opening day of the 2025 PokerNews Online Championships (PNOC) at 888poker should be your first port of call. This is the PNOC’s third edition, and we’re determined to make it the biggest, best, and richest yet.

Table Of Contents True to Texas fashion, it was another action-packed day at Champions Club in Houston as the $1,100 PLO Championship came to a close. When the dust settled, local crusher Vladyslav Shovkovyi emerged victorious—not only securing the win but also cashing in PLO for the first time. Shovkovyi capped off his night with a heads-up victory over runner-up Nan Liu, hitting his wrap draw to overcome Liu’s pair and flush draw.

Table Of Contents No, you weren’t experiencing deja vu on Thursday at the PokerGO Cup when Michael “Texas Mike” Moncek and Joey Weissman battled heads-up for the title in Event #2: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em. The same two players finished first and second place on Wednesday in Event #1: $5,100 No-Limit Hold’em, with Moncek taking it down. This time around, it was Weissman coming out victorious for $295,000. Weissman, Moncek Play Heads-Up Poker Again The final table in the second event of the series at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas was similar but different than the opener.

Celebrities in poker are nothing new. Gabe Kaplan and Chill Willis were a couple of celebrities involved in the early days of the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas used to hold celebrity charity events that included Dionne Warwick and Mr. T. During the “Poker Boom” of the mid-2000s, an influx of celebrities ventured into the game including Jason Alexander, Kevin Pollak, and Jennifer Tilly, all of who dabble to this day.

A federal judge ordered the release of Tom Goldstein from custody in Maryland after the prominent attorney was arrested this week for allegedly violating his bail. Goldstein was arrested Monday after investigators said they discovered undisclosed cryptocurrency wallets that sent and received millions in transactions this past week. Goldstein, a top Supreme Court of the United States and founder of the popular SCOTUSblog, denied ownership of the wallets and said the government “made a mistake.

Table Of Contents The wait is almost over! In just a few weeks, Sevilla will once again open its doors to the CNP 2025 (Circuito Nacional de Poker), bringing together some star-named poker players, well-structured tournaments, and an atmosphere like no other. From February 24 to March 2, the Casino Admiral will be the heart of the action, where poker meets passion in one of Spain’s most vibrant cities. This marks the 13th season of the CNP, and this year, thanks to its merger with Winamax, the event promises even more excitement, surprises, and top-tier competition.

Table Of Contents Get ready for an action-packed poker experience at the SunBet Poker Tour in Pretoria, South Africa, happening at Time Square Casino from February 26 to March 9, 2025. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better, with 12 days of fun-filled competition and a variety of events to suit all players. Whether you’re an experienced player or just starting out, there’s something on the schedule for you.

Table Of Contents A heart condition won’t get in the way of Michael “Texas Mike” Moncek, who won another poker tournament on Wednesday. The poker player who isn’t actually a Texan but did attend the University of Texas took down the first PokerGO Cup event of the series, a $5,100 No-Limit Hold’em affair. Beating out 177 entrants inside the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas paid the Illinois native $185,850. High-Stakes Poker Crushers at the Final Table Day 1 concluded on Tuesday with Moncek holding a sizable chip lead over the six other remaining players.

Table Of Contents The World Series of Poker Circuit went big for the WSOP Circuit Pompano Beach, paying out $3,692,700 in prizes at the festival over the last two weeks. Thousands of players escaped the Florida sun by piling into the poker room of Harrah’s Pompano Beach Casino between the festival’s start on January 30 and the last hand dealt this Monday. The festival also saw a polarizing player, Maurice Hawkins, earn his 17th ring.

Table Of Contents Prominent poker professional and content creator Charlie Carrel has publicly accused British Poker Series (BPS) director Shaun Johnston of owing him $60,000. Carrel took to social media to share his claims, stating that Johnston failed to pay back funds related to winnings from an unregulated online poker game. The Allegations Carrel explained in an interview with PokerNews that Johnston was acting as an agent in an unregulated online poker club where Carrel was involved.

The RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) announced a collaboration with ClubWPT Gold that will give players a chance to win an RGPS ring while playing online this spring. The Mission RunGood x ClubWPT Gold Online Series will take place Feb. 23-May 24, featuring eight ring events that will coincide with various RGPS stops around the US. The events will take place on ClubWPT Gold, a sweepstakes model platform that can be played on mobile devices.

Table Of Contents PokerStars is bringing a touch of Ireland’s legendary Irish Open straight to your screens with the launch of Irish Open Online! It’s the perfect opportunity to gear up for the upcoming live festival and claim a coveted Irish Open title from the comfort of your own home. With more than $800,000 guaranteed across 17 exciting events, players are in for a treat. A Packed Schedule for All Players The Irish Open Online kicks off on February 17, and the action promises something for everyone.