The $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better event at the 2025 World Series of Poker drew 1,176 entries to Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, creating a prize pool of $1,561,140. As has become standard in this high-variance but skill-heavy split-pot format, the tournament attracted a mix of seasoned bracelet winners and ambitious newcomers, and this time, it was the latter who came out on top.
Despite a final table featuring five former WSOP champions and boasting a combined total of 13 pieces of goldware, it was Canadian Zachary Zaret who took the win, claiming his first WSOP bracelet and $248,245, by far the biggest score of his career.
Zaret’s victory also marked the first bracelet for Canada at the 2025 WSOP, surely much to the delight of our Canadian colleagues here at poker.pro.
- Read more: Zachary Zaret Chip Leads Into Day 3 of $1,500 PLO Hi-Lo
- Read more: Week 2 Recap: Canada is Runner-Up Again
He defeated five-time bracelet winner Calvin Anderson in heads-up play, and even though the duo started nearly even in chips, the duel wrapped up in just two hands. Anderson earned $165,447 for his runner-up finish.
Before this win, Zaret had just about 20 (live) tournament results to his name, most of them under the WSOP brand and the standout being an online WSOP Circuit ring victory in 2023 for $23,131. This bracelet not only eclipses that but also pushes his lifetime tournament earnings past $330,000.
Rounding out the podium was another mixed-game regular, Chris “DeathDonkey” Vitch. The three-time bracelet winner held the chip lead during three-handed play and was close for a fourth title, but it wasn’t meant to be, and he had to settle for third place. Also making the final table were bracelet winners Bryce Yockey (6th), Marco Johnson (7th), and Andres Korn (8th).
2025 WSOP Event #21: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Zachary Zaret | Canada | $248,245 |
| 2 |  Calvin Anderson | United States | $165,447 |
| 3 | Christopher Vitch | United States | $116,672 |
| 4 | Darryll Fish | United States | $83,465 |
| 5 | Ronnie Tate | United States | $60,584 |
| 6 | Bryce Yockey | United States | $44,630 |
| 7 | Marco Johnson | United States | $33,374 |
| 8 |  Andres Korn | Argentina | $25,339 |
| 9 | Donny Rubinstein | United States | $19,538 |
2025 WSOP Event #21: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Final Table Recap
Eleven players returned for the third and final day of the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better event, but only one would walk away with the bracelet and the lion’s share of the $1,561,140 prize pool.
Yehuda Buchalter and Amnon Filippi were the first to hit the rail, falling in 11th and 10th place, respectively, setting the stage for a royal final table. Canadian Zachary Zaret came in with the chip lead and 96 big blinds in his arsenal. He was trailed by two heavyweights: three-time bracelet winner Chris Vitch (73bb) and two-time champ Bryce Yockey (63bb). In total, the final table featured 13 combined WSOP bracelets, making it the most decorated table of the 2025 WSOP so far.
Short-stacked Donny Rubinstein started the final table with just 8 big blinds and looked to see a cheap flop by limping preflop. But Vitch wasn’t having it, he raised the pot and Rubinstein called all-in. The board ran out A♥10♥4♥8♣Q♦, and Vitch’s A♠Q♣6♦3♠ gave him a bigger two pair to eliminate Rubinstein in ninth place for $19,538.
Andres Korn was also among the short stacks, but managed to double-up through Yockey, but his tournament life came to a stop shortly after in a massive hand against Vitch. On a flop of K♣10♣7♦, Korn raised Vitch’s initial bet, only for Vitch to shove. Korn called instantly.
Both players had flopped a set, but Vitch’s kings left Korn’s tens drawing thin. No help came, and the Argentinian bracelet winner bowed out in eighth place for $25,339.
Marco Johnson found a double through Christ Vitch to briefly climb back to 10 big blinds, but lightning didn’t strike twice. Facing a raise from Calvin Anderson, Johnson shoved with A♥Q♥6♠3♠ and was quickly called by Anderson holding A♣10♣10♠3♣. Johnson looked poised for a second double on the 9♦9♥K♣A♠ board, but the river 9♣ gave Anderson a full house and sent Johnson out in seventh place for $33,374.
Next to fall was two-time bracelet winner Bryce Yockey. The chips went in on the turn of a 6♣2♦6♥5♦ board, but Yockey was already drawing dead to Anderson’s straight and nut-low combo. Yockey had to settle for sixth place and $44,640.
Vitch had briefly surrendered the chip lead to Zaret but quickly regained it with another elimination. In a blind vs. blind clash, Ronnie Tate got all the chips in preflop against Vitch. Tate flopped a set of tens on A♦6♥10♥, but the 9♦ turn completed a straight for Vitch with eight-seven in his hand. Tate was out in fifth, collecting $60,584 for the deep run.
Vitch wasn’t done yet. Shortly after, he tangled with Darryll Fish on a flop of A♦J♣9♠. Fish moved all-in, and Vitch snapped it off with two pair. Fish had top pair and a few outs, but the board ran out clean for Vitch, and Fish exited in fourth place for $83,465.
At this point, Vitch held a commanding chip lead with more than both Zaret and Anderson combined, but the tides turned swiftly. First, Zaret quartered Vitch in a sizable pot to reclaim the lead. Then Anderson doubled through Vitch, leaving the former chip boss short-stacked and scrambling.
Vitch’s last stand came with Q♣J♠6♥5♣, up against Zaret’s A♥A♦J♦9♠. The flop of K♥10♦6♠ offered no low, and the Q♦ turn essentially sealed the deal. The river changed nothing, and Vitch’s brilliant run ended in third place for $116,672.
Zachary Zaret entered heads-up play with a narrow chip lead over Anderson, so the fact that it all ended in just two hands is a bit of a surprise.
In the final hand, Zaret opened from the button and Anderson three-bet from the big blind. Zaret called. The flop came 2♦A♠6♠ and Anderson continued with a bet. Zaret shoved with the covering stack and Anderson called.
Anderson showed A♣7♦5♥2♣ for two pair and a low, while Zaret held J♦J♣5♣3♣ for a flush draw and a better low. The Q♠ turn completed Zaret’s flush, and the Q♦ river ended the tournament.
Calvin Anderson earned $165,447 for his runner-up finish, while Zachary Zaret celebrated his first WSOP bracelet victory and a career-best payday of $248,245.
* Hands and photos courtesy of PokerNews and WSOP
