WSOP Day 4: Bracelets for Jason Daly and Daniyal Gheba, Star-Studded Heads-Up Championship Kicks Off

Unveiling the Magnificent 'Mothership' Stage and Crowning the First Winner

The fourth day was highlighted by the debut of the colossal Mothership stage in the Paris Ballroom. This 25,000-square-foot production area quickly became the main attraction.

The setup, featuring five feature tables and an astonishing 12,000 LED tiles, took workers over 8,000 hours to construct. Legendary commentator Norman Chad described it as heralding a "poker boom 2.0 or 3.0," while host Jeff Platt could not hide his excitement over the new "arena" that will also host the Main Event on ESPN this year.

The very first bracelet awarded on the Mothership went to American player Daniyal Gheba. In Event #2: $5K 8-Handed NLH, Gheba earned his first gold bracelet and a record-breaking $502,985.

Gheba defeated Chenxiang Miao in heads-up, hitting a flush on the river with 5 d 4 d to end the Chinese opponent's run with T c T d. The winner confessed that this victory would change not only his life but also his future tournament plans. 

Final Table Results of Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em

Despite the impressive visuals at the final table, a shadow loomed over the tournament due to a significant drop in participation. While last year the event attracted 693 entries, this year saw only 570, marking a decrease of nearly 18%. This trend also affected the prizepool, which fell from last year's $3.7 million to $2.6 million, with winner Daniyal Gheba taking home nearly $80,000 less than his predecessor Antonio Ortega.

The drop is widely attributed to new tax laws in the USA, which allow only 90% of gambling losses to be deducted, creating what is known as "phantom income." The increased cost of living and traveling to Las Vegas also forces recreational players to reassess their budgets for high buy-ins.

Jason Daly's Third Title, 90-Year-Old Legend Perry Green Still in the Game

In Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Jason Daly claimed victory, securing his third career bracelet and a prize of $191,362 out of a field of 828 players.

Daly’s triumph is particularly cherished by the "Back Office" team owners in the $25K Fantasy, where this player was snapped up for just $5. He triumphed over Dorian Rios in heads-up, who is still seeking his first bracelet.

However, the biggest applause in the room was for the incredible Perry Green. This 90-year-old veteran and triple bracelet winner from 1976, 1977, and 1979 has shown that age is just a number, reaching the final table in fierce competition.

Had Green won, he would have broken the record for the oldest bracelet winner and the longest gap between bracelet wins, but he finished in 6th place with a reward of $30,973. Despite the records remaining unbroken, he reaffirmed his status as a living WSOP legend. 

Final Table Results of Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better 

Negreanu and Mizrachi in Elite Eight of $25K Heads-Up Championship

One of the day's most anticipated moments was the start of Event #7: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship. A field of 64 players battled in intense one-on-one matchups, with eight remaining from Flight 1a after three rounds.

Daniel Negreanu was among those securing a spot for the next day, delivering a commanding performance by eliminating former champion Darius Samual, Brock Wilson, and Harvey Castro in succession.

On the other side of the bracket, reigning Main Event champion Michael Mizrachi stood out by ousting bracelet leader Phil Hellmuth in a high-profile clash. Advancing to the next phase are Alex Foxen, Cary Katz, Barak Wisbrod, Justin Saliba, Dimitar Danchev, and Henry Puustinen.

For players who did not succeed in the first flight, organizers introduced Day 1b this year as a second chance to advance. You can watch the thrilling action of Day 1a’s live stream replay on the WSOP YouTube channel:

Jesse Lonis Dominates in PLO

The Omaha action heated up in Event #5: $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha, reducing the initial field of 716 entries to the final seven after two days of play. The total prizepool reached $3,293,600, with $595,388 awaiting the new champion.

Jesse Lonis is the absolute frontrunner, entering the final day with a massive stack of 17,610,000 (294 big blinds), commanding half of the chips in play.

Lonis relentlessly eliminated opponent after opponent on the second day, holding more than three times the chips of his closest rival, Stephen Hubbard. Dylan Weisman, the day one leader and renowned PLO specialist, remains in contention for his third bracelet, starting from fourth place.

Current Standings of Event #5: $5K PLO

Seven Card Stud Finals Set, Mystery Millions Breaks Records

Event #6: $1,500 Seven Card Stud will crown its champion tomorrow, with the final six emerging from a grueling second day. Thomas Savitsky leads the pack. In the hunt for the bracelet and a $103,184 prize is also five-time titleholder Brian Yoon, waiting to seize his opportunity from fourth place.

Current Standings of Event #6: $1,500 Seven Card Stud

The massive Event #1: $550 Mini Mystery Millions continues to draw crowds, with its fourth flight (Day 1d) attracting 4,579 entries, almost double the previous day's attendance.

The total entries have now surpassed 10,000, with 382 players securing their place in Day 2. Paul Interrante leads the latest flight, though Tal Avivi remains the overall leader after dominating Flight 1b.

The lineup of ongoing tournaments is completed by Event #8: $1,500 Badugi, drawing 554 entries. The prizepool of $735,435 will be shared among the top 84, with that many players advancing from the opening day. The winner stands to receive $141,963.

On the top after Day 1 is chipleader Brian Tate (428,000), yet the field is teeming with talent. Over 30 bracelet holders are still in contention, including stars like Chino Rheem, Nick Schulman, and Chris Moneymaker.

Sources: WSOP, X, PokerNews, YouTube