57 hopefuls were reduced to just 24 contenders on day 7 of the 2025 WSOP Main Event, but it was hard to focus on the poker while the Will Kassouf show was claiming centre stage.
The 43-year-old Englishman was one of the shortest stacks all day but commanded more attention than any other player, at one point threatened with DQ if he didn’t simply “shut up”.
He was eventually escorted off the premises by security after busting to Hallaert, as we will see later.
Before that drama, we saw the final former Main Event champ in the field exit. Greg Merson was looking to replicate his 2012 run to glory but an early double-up was followed by losing a race. He eventually found himself all-in and at risk on the flop…
Greg Merson: 8♣ 6♥
Lautaro Guerra: A♠ J♠
Flop: :3♣ 8♥ Q♦
Turn: J♥
River: 9♠
That turn card sent Merson out in 52nd spot, good for $200,000.
While Kassouf was getting penalties and warnings, others were trying to ignore the incessant gibbering and get on with their deep runs. For some, day 8 was a step too far:
- Leon Sturm (48th for $200,000)
- Nick Pupillo (42nd for $240,000)
- Chad Power (35th for $300,000)
When Kassouf’s final moments came, they were no different form the previous six and a half days’ worth of self-indulgent, verbal diarrhoea followed by receiving penalties and making threats.
Will Kassouf: 7♠ 7♦
Kenney Hallaert: K♥ 5♥
Having had the clock called on him for what could have been the 100th time this event, Kassouf eventually 3-bet the last of his chips, big stack Hallaert calling the small shove. Irish pro David K. Lappin’s short Twitter/X clip gives you the short version of what happened next…
“God help anyone who stands in my way. You have been warned.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/kRoxcH97x5
— 🃏 David Lappin 🃏 (@dklappin) July 13, 2025
Finally, the English motormouth was gone, his 33rd spot good for $300,000 and a ban for the rest of the Series. Whether he’ll be allowed to return next year remains to be seen. You can read the full Will Kassouf day 7 story (at your peril!) here.
In more positive news, the chances of a first-ever female WSOP main Event champion remains a distinct possibility. Spanish pro Leo Margets, from Barcelona, has already topped her deep run back in 2009, when she finished 27th.
No woman has ever won the title and it has been fully 30 years since one made the final table, not since Barbara Enright in 1995. With a middle of the remaining pack stack, and plenty of experience, Margets has every chance of setting a new record.
Others still in content in include Mike “the Grinder” Mizrachi, looking to add the ME to his incredible, record-setting fourth PPC victory earlier in the series.
Meanwhile, Hallaert’s KO of Kassouf helped him to a convincing chip lead to take into day 8.
Top 10 Chip Counts
1 | Kenny Hallaert | Belgium | 63,600,000 |
2 | Braxton Dunaway | USA | 51,100,000 |
3 | Muhamet Perati | Italy | 50,100,000 |
4 | Adam Hendrix | USA | 39,500,000 |
5 | Luka Bojovic | Serbia | 33,900,000 |
6 | Richard Freitas | Brazil | 32,500,000 |
7 | Joey Padron | USA | 29,900,000 |
8 | Daniel Iachan | USA | 28,100,000 |
9 | Ruben Correia | Portugal | 26,700,000 |
10 | Daehyung Lee | South Korea | 25,600,000 |
