The Biggest Poker Winners of October 2025 | WPT Global Recap

Gilles Simon – $736,327 | WCOOP $10,300 Main Event

Dutch-born online crusher Gilles Simon (known online as “TaxationIsTheft”) captured the 2025 WCOOP $10,300 NLHE Main Event, outlasting one of the toughest fields in online poker to earn US $736,327.

Now based in Vienna, Simon became the first player in history to win both an EPT Main Event and a WCOOP Main Event, having previously taken down EPT Cyprus 2023 for over $1 million. 

Simon’s dual EPT–WCOOP record puts him in elite company, a feat even online crushers like Fedor Holz and Sami Kelopuro haven’t replicated.

His latest victory cements his status as one of Europe’s most complete players, equally dangerous online or live. Simon’s win also marked the third Dutch victory in a six-figure online major this season, reinforcing the Netherlands’ continued dominance in Europe’s online poker landscape.

Gilles Simon stays composed at the table during another deep run in a high-stakes European poker event.

Daniel Pidun – €1,140,000 | WSOP Europe Main Event

German veteran Daniel Pidun made a stunning return to poker’s biggest stage, winning the 2025 WSOP Europe €10,350 Main Event for €1,140,000.

Twelve years after claiming the 2013 EPT Berlin Main Event, Pidun found himself back in the spotlight, this time with a WSOP bracelet. His calm, methodical style carried him through a 659-entry field before sealing victory with pocket aces against jacks in a dramatic final hand.

Pidun’s methodical, almost surgical approach is vintage German poker, patient, technically sound, and built on exploiting timing tells in live environments. Remarkably, Pidun plays poker just once a year, focusing most of his time on a mobile parts company he runs with his brother Thomer, also a WSOP bracelet winner. 

Pidun’s triumph makes it five German winners of WSOP-branded European events since 2018, a statistic that underscores the country’s technical depth and coaching culture.

Daniel Pidun celebrates his WSOPE Main Event victory, capturing another major title on the European poker circuit.

Tomasz Brzezinski – €631,632 | EPT Malta Main Event

Poland’s Tomasz Brzezinski achieved a career-defining milestone by winning the 2025 PokerStars EPT Malta Main Event, outlasting a record 898-entry field to secure €631,632 after a heads-up deal.

Just weeks earlier, Brzezinski had finished fourth at EPT Barcelona, and his back-to-back Main Event final tables made him only the 11th player in EPT history to achieve the feat. 

Currently based in Malta, where he works in the sports-betting industry, Brzezinski describes himself as a recreational player, but his deep runs and composure under pressure tell a different story. We noted Brzezinski’s near-flawless short-stack discipline, as he tends to fold marginal spots where most players would gamble, then striking with precision once the blinds escalate.

He’s got all the characteristics of a true professional. In short, Brzezinski’s back-to-back final tables reflect how much stronger the Polish poker scene has become since PokerStars reintroduced EPT stops in Eastern Europe.

Tomasz Brzezinski keeps his cool under pressure as he builds another commanding stack in live competition.

Harvey Castro – $225,020 | WPT Prime Lodge Championship (Texas)

The Lone Star State produced a breakout moment this month as Harvey Castro, just 23 years old, captured his first WPT title at the 2025 WPT Prime Lodge Championship in Austin, Texas.

Castro topped a record 1,648 entries across six starting flights in Austin to claim $225,020 and a seat to the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. His run featured fearless play and calm execution, culminating in a title-clinching hand where his pocket nines made a full house against J♦10♣.

Earlier in the year, Castro finished runner-up at WPT Rolling Thunder for $193,600, making this victory a true coming-of-age moment for one of America’s brightest young prospects. 

As a result, Castro’s win is part of a growing wave of young American players cutting their teeth in mid-stakes WPT Prime events before transitioning to high-roller circuits.

Harvey Castro continues his breakout year on the live felt, showcasing confidence and precision in key moments.

Noel Murphy – €42,340 | IPO Dublin Main Event (Powered by WPT Global)

Dublin local Noel Murphy was crowned the 2025 IPO Dublin Main Event Champion, taking home €42,340 and the prestigious IPO title in a field packed with international talent.

Hosted at the Bonnington Hotel in Dublin and powered by WPT Global, the festival drew players from across Europe, creating one of the most electric atmospheres on the Irish poker calendar. 

Murphy overcame a tough final table that included Mark Muldoon (runner-up – €35,000), Keith Smith, C.C., and Vilius Kadelskas, sealing victory after a heads-up battle that showcased precision and poise. 

With this win, Murphy joins a storied list of IPO champions, and highlights WPT Global’s expanding footprint in live European poker. This result in the Irish capital also reinforced what many of us already knew, Ireland’s local fields can produce world-class performances when given an international stage.

Killian Farrell’s rise in the European poker scene continues with strong performances across major events.

Summary

From WPT Global to PokerStars and WSOP Europe, October 2025 delivered a showcase of world-class poker talent and record-breaking performances. Check out our recap of the year to date from last month and explore upcoming events.

Established pros and new champions alike reminded fans why the game still captivates audiences across every platform, live, online, and everywhere in between.

To qualify for tournaments, access exclusive offers, and stay up to date with the latest in poker, look no further than WPT Global. 

All figures verified via PokerNews, CardPlayer, WPT Global and official tour reporting as of October 2025.