World Series of Poker 2025: Players to Watch in Las Vegas

WSOP 2025 Players to Watch: What You’ll Learn

• Top Players Making Headlines: The article highlights accomplished WSOP players like Shaun Deeb, Alex Foxen, and Kristen Foxen, showcasing their recent achievements and why they are players to watch in the upcoming World Series of Poker.

• Potential Breakthrough Stars: Learn about rising stars such as Xuan Liu, who recently made history in high-stakes tournaments, indicating a current hot streak that could continue during the WSOP.

• Online Poker Scene: Discover the significance of online platforms in the WSOP with 30 online bracelet events this summer, expanding opportunities for players in various states to compete for prestigious titles.

• Emerging Online Champions: Get insights into notable online players like Corey Paggeot, Ari Engel, and Daniel Buzgon, who have impressive records in online poker championships and could dominate upcoming virtual tournaments.

• Women’s Impact in Poker: The article emphasizes the accomplishments of female players such as Kristen Foxen and Xuan Liu, highlighting their influence and potential to reshape the dynamics of competitive poker in 2025.

The World Series of Poker gets underway on Tuesday in Las Vegas at the Horseshoe and Paris casinos. The series runs from May 27 to July 16 with millions of dollars on the line and 100 gold bracelets on the line as well as another 30 up for grabs online. The action will be streamed live throughout the summer on PokerGO.

Winning a bracelet is the ultimate pinnacle of success and those bracelets have become one of the most sought-after trophies in poker. What are a few names to watch out for this summer when the cards get in the air? Keep reading for a few players who will be looking to make some waves.

Big Movers to Watch in the 2025 WSOP

Some players get in the action all summer as they hunt for bracelets. Here are just a few of the big names who may find the winner’s circle this summer.

Daniel Negreanu

This member of the Poker Hall of Fame snapped a 13-year bracelet drought in 2024 by winning the $50,000 Poker Players Championship for his seventh piece of hardware and $1.2 million. Now that he’s broken that, could more big runs be in the works this year?

Negreanu already has two wins this year on the PokerGO Tour and will be looking to get back on the horse. Look for Negreanu to put in plenty of volume and fans can follow his action via his popular YouTube vlogs.

Phil Hellmuth

The 17-time bracelet winner made news earlier this year by saying that he would not be playing the $10,000 Main Event because of so many long days required. Perhaps that means even more focus in other tournaments? Hellmuth leads the pack in total bracelets and last won in 2023.

While Phil Hellmuth doesn’t play as many events these days, he shines at the WSOP and has been a model of consistency in winning bracelets. Since 2012, the “Poker Brat” hasn’t gone more than three years between wins. As a new BetRivers Poker ambassador, Hellmuth may be looking to make a splash for his new sponsor.

Scott Seiver

This poker pro originally from New York had a massive year in 2024, winning three bracelets to earn the WSOP player of the year title. Now with seven bracelets, Seiver is one of the best in the game, one of the best trash talkers, and has six bracelets since 2018. Look for another big year in Las Vegas.

Jeremy Ausmus

He’s been a dominating force on the PokerGO Tour and won five of his six bracelets between 2021 and 2023. Last year didn’t bring gold, but he did record a runner-up in the $100,000 High Roller for $1.9 million.

Ausmus also scored a third, two fourths, a sixth, two sevenths, and a ninth in other tournaments last summer. He’s also a threat to win an online bracelet (more on that below) and collected one of those in 2023. The Las-Vegas-based poker star may find the winner’s circle again this year.

Adrian Mateos

This Spanish pro was the Card Player magazine player of the year in 2024 after a massive year and is always a threat to take down a major tournament. Mateos has $54 million in live tournament winnings, including four WSOP bracelets.

Darren Elias

Unlike most on this list, this player doesn’t have a bracelet yet. But he also has plenty of other hardware as the World Poker Tour leader with four titles. Elias has had a few close calls recently, and perhaps this is the breakthrough year in the series to add even more to his trophy case.

David Coleman

This player ditched a career in finance for tournament poker and has risen from New Jersey online grinder to high-stakes live pro. He had a huge 2024 that included finishing second in the Card Player player of the year rankings and is seeking his first WSOP win.

Alex Foxen

This poker pro cashed in for his first bracelet in 2022 and added two in 2024. One of those came in a $500 online event for $20,064 and then he vastly eclipsed that at the WSOP Paradise in December in the Bahamas with a win in the $100,000 Triton Main Event for $3.9 million.

Kristen Foxen

Viewers of the WSOP Main Event saw Kristen Foxen make her own WSOP news. She made a huge run to finish 13th for $600,000. She already has two wins on the PokerGO Tour this year. She leads the pack among female bracelet winners with five, two of those coming in live play and three online.

Brock Wilson

Another high roller with some huge wins in 2024, including a $25,000 WPT Alpha8 at the Wynn for $571,400 followed by a victory in a $2,200 tournament at the property just days later for $626,429. He is looking for his first WSOP bracelet.

Erik Seidel

This poker “old schooler” has adjusted well to the modern game and continues to put up huge finishes, including grabbing his 10th bracelet in 2023 to tie him at 10 with Johnny Chan,and Doyle Brunson. That puts him just one behind Phil Ivey.

Image Credit: Poker Go

Xuan Liu

This Canadian poker pro made history in May by becoming the first female player to ever win a tournament on the high-stakes Triton Poker. She topped a field of 155 entries in the Triton Montenegro WPT Global Slam $25,000 no-limit Hold’em event for a $860,000 payday. She’s also played a lot more live-streamed cash games over the last year or so and seems to be on a hot streak.

Online Warriors

Beyond the events on the live felt, there are also 30 online bracelet events this summer, allowing players in Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania to compete against each other for the first time.

The WSOP has also added an online player of the year award as well. Beyond some of the names mentioned above, here are a few players who may find themselves at some virtual final tables in the coming weeks.

● Corey Paggeot – This Michigan player has been tough online and has won five WSOP Circuit online championship rings since 2022.

● Ari Engel – He has four bracelets and 17 WSOP Circuit rings. One bracelet and seven championship rings came online.

● Daniel Buzgon – This New Jersey grinder has nine WSOP Circuit championship rings, including seven of those coming online with numerous other runner-up and top finishes.

Title Image Credit: Poker Go