With the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event now in the books and a new champion crowned, the spotlight turns to the players whose stories unfolded away from the final table. Among them, a tight-knit group of six made their way to Las Vegas, cameras rolling, each chasing a $10,000 dream—and a deep run in poker’s most prestigious tournament.
Opening Flight: All Players Advance, But Not Without Drama
All six players—and one last-minute addition—navigated Day 1 successfully, though the paths couldn’t have been more different.
Vivian Saliba and Nick Eastwood ended the day in solid shape with 104,600 and 102,500 chips, respectively. Aaron Barone quietly built his stack to 106,000 over ten hours at the same table, while Ian Simpson endured a turbulent day before bagging 63,000.
Lucia Navarro closed with 34,000, acknowledging the challenges she faced but staying optimistic. Jack “JaackMaate” Dean experienced the harsh swings of tournament poker—after peaking near 120,000, he ended with 32,600 following a major setback slowplaying aces into a straight. The biggest stack belonged to Sonny Dean, who edged ahead with 106,900.
Off the Felt: A Breather in the Desert (and Beyond)
Before Day 2 resumed, the group took a much-needed break. Eastwood spent his downtime editing vlog footage, while Simpson opted for a haircut and massage.
JaackMaate and Sonny took a spontaneous road trip into the desert, aiming for Area 51—though not without incident, as Sonny briefly veered off the road before recovering safely. Navarro, already in Las Vegas for a month, dined on Spanish cuisine to stave off homesickness. Saliba kept things light with vegan food, a few games of pool, and crime documentaries. Barone, meanwhile, stayed in game mode, heading to the Horseshoe for cash games to keep sharp.
Day 2: Three Gone Before the Dinner Bell
Tournament poker can be unforgiving—and Day 2 proved it. Half the group was eliminated before the dinner break.
JaackMaate was the first to bust, running ace-queen suited into pocket jacks. Simpson followed shortly after, losing a flip with jack-ten suited against ace-queen. Saliba was also knocked out before the third level ended, though the specifics of her exit weren’t disclosed.
Eastwood faced a test of confidence when he laid down ace-high in a spot where he nearly called. Shown a king-high bluff, he was frustrated not by the result, but by ignoring his read. After a breather and a pep talk from Barone, he returned to the table re-centered.
As Day 2 came to a close, three players remained in contention. Navarro bagged 100,500 chips. Barone climbed to 198,500, while Eastwood emerged as the group’s new chip leader with 283,500. Sonny Dean, who had led after Day 1, busted on the final hand of the night.
Three players remain. The dream is still alive—for now.
