Biggest WPT Pots of 2025 (So Far)

Taiwan’s Nut Flush vs Dead Draw (46M pot)

The WPT® Prime Taiwan Championship ended in stunning fashion as Hyundong Lee and Ci Hong Ho clashed in a pot worth nearly 46 million chips,  one of the biggest of the 2025 season so far.

Action began with Lee raising on the button and Ho calling from the big blind. On a 6♥-4♠-3♠ flop, Ho led for 1.5M before Lee raised to 4.2M. Ho immediately shoved his last 22.8M chips with J♦5♦ for a gutshot straight draw, only to be snap-called by Lee holding K♠10♠ for the nut flush draw.

The A♠ on the turn locked it up, leaving Ho drawing dead and sealing Lee’s victory. The TWD 6,375,000 (~$212,005) top prize and a coveted seat to the WPT® World Championship went to Lee, his career-best live cash and second major win in Taipei City this year.

This pot was decisive, and it showcased the brutal reality of tournament poker: one player chasing a draw, the other holding the nuts in waiting. For Lee, it was a defining hand for his WPT® journey.

Hyundong Lee (right) and Ci Hong Ho in a tense heads-up moment during the WPT® prime Taiwan final table.

Seminole Hard Rock Showdown – 58M in Play

The 2025 WPT® Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown ended in a massive heads-up clash between Art Peacock and Mihai Niste, with nearly 58 million chips on the line.

Niste first doubled up when his K♥8♥ outdrew Peacock’s A♣J♥, briefly flipping the momentum. But Peacock steadied, grinding his way back into the lead with relentless pressure.

The final all-in came shortly after. Niste shoved his remaining stack, Peacock snap-called, and the board ran clean to seal the title. With that pot, Peacock locked up $776,000, a $10,400 WPT® World Championship seat, and his name on the Mike Sexton WPT® Champions Cup.

From a field of 1,755 players, Peacock’s triumph was decided in one of the year’s defining pots,  a swing that ultimately decided the result of the tournament. 

Mihai Niste all smiles at the WPT® Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown.

Cambodia’s 36M Monster Clash

The WPT® Prime Cambodia Championship produced one of the biggest Asian pots of 2025 when Khorshad Sagor and Alexander Puchalski collided for nearly 36 million chips at the final table. 

It proved to be a tournament swinging confrontation between the two. 

With blinds at 400K/800K, Sagor moved all in for 17.6M holding J♠J♥ and Puchalski snap-called with 10♥10♣. The board ran out A♠–A♥–Q♦–9♣–2♦, keeping Sagor’s jacks in front and securing the massive double.

As a result, Sagor surged to 36M (45 BB), while Puchalski dropped to 23.3M (29 BB).

Though Puchalski ultimately recovered to take the title, this was the biggest single pot of the final and a defining swing in Phnom Penh.

Dealer manages action at the WPT® Cambodia poker table as Khorshad Sagor (right) and Alexander Puchalski compete for the championship trophy.

Venetian Las Vegas Finals – 22M & 23M Title Pots

The WPT® Venetian Las Vegas Championship was decided in back-to-back heavyweight clashes between Nico Betbese and Francis Cruz, each worth over 20 million chips.

The first turning point came when Cruz opened and Betbese defended. 

On an A♦ J♥ 2♥ Q♥ Q♣ runout, Cruz shoved the river with queens and jacks, only for Betbese to snap-call with a flush holding 6♥3♥. The 23M chip pot flipped the heads-up battle and gave Betbese control of the match.

Moments later, the championship hand played out. 

Cruz moved all-in for his last 11.4M with K♦Q♠, but Betbese had him crushed with 9♠9♦. The board ran out A♠ 5♣ 3♦ 9♣ 8♣, giving Betbese a set of nines and his ticket to $706,960, a $10,400 WPT® World Championship seat, and his name engraved on the Mike Sexton WPT® Champions Cup. 

Two consecutive all-ins, both north of 20 million chips, cemented one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2025 season.

Nico Betbese (left) and Francis Cruz locked in a heads-up at the Venetian Las Vegas Championship final table.

Gold Coast’s Set Over Top Pair (~18M)

Three-handed at WPT® Prime Gold Coast, the tournament turned on a single river card in a pot worth around 18 million chips. 

In the 114th hand, Patrick Yazbeck and eventual champion Joshua McSwiney went to war preflop, with Yazbeck three-betting from the big blind and McSwiney four-bet shoving on the button. 

Yazbeck snap-called with 6♥6♠, while McSwiney tabled A♠K♦.

The board came 2♥-9♣-9♥-A♦-6♦. The ace on the turn vaulted McSwiney into the lead, but the six on the river delivered Yazbeck a set and the double-up, swinging the momentum of the match.

Despite the setback, McSwiney rallied to capture the title, winning AU$283,336 (~US$177,680) and a $10,400 WPT® World Championship seat. Yazbeck secured AU$250,000 (~US$156,775) after a heads-up deal. 

Patrick Yazbeck deep in thought during the WPT® Prime Gold Coast.

More To Come

The WPT® season isn’t done yet. 

With Bay 101, Japan, and the World Championship still ahead, and online qualifiers running now on WPT® Global, even bigger pots are sure to come.