Event #27: $1,500 Big O
Day 4 Completed
2025 World Series of Poker
Event #27: $1,500 Big O
Day: 4
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 4
2025 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,989,922
Entries
1,499
Level
37
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Entries
1
Players Left
1
Level 37
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Event #27: $1,500 Big O at the 2025 World Series of Poker went to an unscheduled Day 4 as the two remaining players played down to a champion. In the end, it was Igor Zektser lifting the gold and laying claim to the $297,284 first prize.
Zektser sifted through a whopping 1,499 entries, which swelled the total prize pool to $1,989,922.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Igor Zektser | United States | $297,285 |
| 2 | Paul Sincere | United States | $198,134 |
| 3 | Ryan Hoenig | United States | $141,315 |
| 4 | Shiva Dudani | United States | $102,079 |
| 5 | Nicolas Milgrom | France | $74,693 |
| 6 | Joshua Biedak | United States | $55,372 |
| 7 | Kevin Ho | United States | $41,595 |
| 8 | Shawn Daniels | United States | $31,667 |
Winner's Reaction
This was by no means Zektser’s first deep run of the summer. He cashed the $1,500 Mixed Omaha 8 or Better ($3,381), the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better ($4,391), and the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot ($6,784). These Events all occurred back-to-back-to-back, meaning that Zektser is no stranger to chopping pots. This win marks his fourth consecutive cash in the 2025 World Series of Poker here at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas and he couldn't have done any better.
Zektser’s first WSOP cash dates back to 2013, making this accomplishment well over a decade in the making.
An elated Zektser had this to say about how it felt to win the gold bracelet:
“It feels amazing. I mean… I’ve been working for a long time trying, trying, never giving up… I’m sure it’s been said many times before: It’s every poker player’s dream, right?”
When asked about his plans for the rest of the summer, Zektser said he will largely keep the same schedule and will be hopping straight into the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better Championship after having a celebratory meal with his rail. He hopes to make a trip home to Los Angeles to spend some time with his family before returning to the full grind.
An enthusiastic, Paul Sincere, had to settle for runner-up in his first ever WSOP cash. He was thrilled to have run deep with his good friend and neighbor, Ryan Hoenig, who bowed out in 3rd place and recently won his first bracelet. Hoenig confirmed that he offered Sincere some coaching before the start of Day 4.
A full review of Day 3 and final table dynamics is available here.
Heads Up Play
Heads up play lasted less than two levels with both players experiencing feast and famine along the way. With pot-sized bets and an aggressive style, Sincere had Zektser down to only 4,000,000 to his 33,000,000. At one crucial point, Sincere almost won the bracelet, but a fateful club gave Zektser the double.
Zektser then changed the tide further in his favor when he coolered Sincere, who had a pair of kings with the nut low draw – Zektser had him pipped with aces when the board ran out high cards, awarding him the majority of chips in play.
In the end, Sincere got it in with a flopped set of fours but Zektser made a straight to end the tournament.
That concludes coverage of Event #27: $1,500 Big O. Stay locked in to PokerNews for your most up-to-date World Series of Poker news and announcements.
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Level 37
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Once again, Paul Sincere entered a raising war on the Q♦7♠4♥ flop that put Igor Zektser at risk.
Igor Zektser: A♦A♠9♣6♥5♥ 
Paul Sincere: A♣K♠K♦4♣2♦
A bit of a cold deck, both players had monsters but Zektser's aces had Sincere's kings pipped and when the board completed the 9♠ and J♦ they were good for a full scoop and to put Zektser.
A Few Hands Later:
A short-stacked Sincere got his chips in and at risk on a flop of 6♣10♥4♠ Zektser made the call.
Paul Sincere: Q♦9♣9♥4♥4♣
Igor Zektser: K♣8♣7♥5♦4♦
Sincere needed high cards but it was Zektser's day when the 3♦ fell , giving Zektser the straight, and the board didn't pair with the 5♣ bringing the tournament to a close.
Both players developed a comradery over the four days of play and shoot hands, congratulating each other on the deep runs.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
37,000,000
23,500,000
|
23,500,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Hand 1:
Igor Zektser was in good position to win three quarters of the pot on a flop of A♠4♦6♣ when he got it in against Paul Sincere.
Igor Zektser: A♥10♣8♠7♥4♣
Paul Sincere: A♣K♦9♦8♦7♠
Zekster had two pair and a 8-7 low to Sincere's pair of aces and same low. Then the board ran out 9♠ and Q♣, Sincere improved to a better two pair, aces and nines, for the high and they chopped the low. This left Zekster at an all time low with only a few million chips after the pot was divvied up.
Hand 2:
The very next hand Sincere seemed poised to win the tournament on a flop of Q♦9♦8♣ after he raised Zektser all in and got a call.
Igor Zektser: Q♣J♣J♥9♠5♥
Paul Sincere: A♠Q♠J♦10♣5♦
Sincere had flopped a straight and the diamond draw, but when the 5♣ and A♣ fell off the deck, Zektser scooped the pot with his backdoor flush, since neither player made a low.
Hand 3:
Another action flop of K♠5♥6♥ had both players put their chips in the middle and Zektser was at risk again.
Igor Zektser: A♥Q♣J♠8♥2♦
Paul Sincere: Q♥Q♠9♦5♠2♥
Sincere had a pair of queens and a worse flush draw than Zektser, who had the nut-flush draw and nut-low draw. His flush came in when the J♥ turned, making the 10♦ river irrelevant since no low was possible, Zektser doubled again.
Zektser went from nearly out the door to well in contention in a matter of three hands.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
23,275,000
8,225,000
|
8,225,000 |
|
|
13,500,000
6,975,000
|
6,975,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 37
Blinds: 400,000/800,000
Ante: 800,000
Level 36
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Paul Sincere bet 1,800,000 on a flop of 9♠10♥6♦ and Igor Zektser raised to 4,200,000. Sincere almost beat him in the pot declaring all in for enough to put Zekster at risk.
Zekster stood up, looked at his cards several times, but ultimately pushed his hand forward.
"I flopped the joint, I guess I shouldn't have blown my load so fast," said Sincere as he collected the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
31,500,000
15,500,000
|
15,500,000 |
|
|
6,525,000
11,700,000
|
11,700,000 |
|
|
||
Level 36
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Paul Sincere bet 3,600,000 on a flop of 6♠9♠7♣ and Igor Zektser made the call.
The turn peeled the 8♠ and Sincere went all in for his remaining 9,600,000. Zektser eventually pushed his hand in the muck after Sincere said, "You said you don't like folding so I have to bet big."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
18,225,000
6,300,000
|
6,300,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
16,000,000
3,775,000
|
3,775,000 |
Level 36
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Paul Sincere got the last of his chips at risk on a flop of Q♣6♣10♦ and Zektser obliged.
Paul Sincere: A♣K♠J♣8♥4♥
Igor Zektser: A♠Q♠Q♥J♠8♣
Zektser had top set and on the cusp of winning the tournament, but had Sincere's monster draw to contend with.
The turn brought the flush for Sincere with the K♣, and the 7♦ brick on the river awarded him a full double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
24,525,000
6,250,000
|
6,250,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
12,225,000
6,225,000
|
6,225,000 |
Level 36
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Paul Sincere backpedaled the first few hands of the day before this pot came.
Igor Zektser and Sincere saw a flop of A♥9♦2♣ in a limped pot. Both players checked
The turn peeled the 6♦ and Sincere bet 1,000,000. Zektser called.
The river brought the 10♦ and Sincere went all in for 2,950,000 and Zektser called.
Paul Sincere: K♦J♦9♣7♣2♥
Igor Zektser: K♥8♦7♠6♠4♥
Sincere's flush was good for the high and Zektser took the low with his 7-4.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
30,775,000
3,050,000
|
3,050,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
6,000,000
3,750,000
|
3,750,000 |
