Neymar is competing for the title of online poker world champion and $186,000

Football star Neymar is participating in the prestigious WCOOP 2025 tournament on PokerStars with a $10,300 buy-in and a chance to win $186,000.

One of the year’s most anticipated online poker series has kicked off — the 2025 World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) on PokerStars. The festival boasts a total guaranteed prize pool of $65 million, and in just the opening days, players have already competed for substantial prizes. The spotlight is firmly on the WCOOP 17-H: $10,300 NLHE Super Tuesday High Roller, where not only the poker elite but also global football superstar Neymar Jr. are battling for the title and the top prize. WCOOP 17-H: $10,300 NLHE Super Tuesday High Roller — Battle for $186,434 The WCOOP 17-H event, with its $10,300 buy-in, is one of the series’ most prestigious tournaments, renowned for its high-caliber field and massive payouts. The guaranteed prize pool was $500,000, but with 60 buy-ins, the final pool swelled to $600,000. The winner will take home $186,434, while the runner-up will receive $134,352. Every player who reached the final table has already locked up at least $26,111. The final stage brought together seven of the toughest contenders at one table, featuring both established pros and celebrities from other fields. Leading the way in chips ahead of the decisive showdown is Brazil’s Pedro "PaDiLhA SP" Padilha, who bagged 1,601,941 chips (equivalent to 80 big blinds). In second place by chip count is German pro Ole "wizowizo" Schemion. Sitting in the middle of the pack are British businessman Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi and Canadian Guillaume "Nolet20" Nolet. Austrian player “[Removed:560]” and renowned online grinder Linus "LLinusLLove" Loeliger reached the final table with fewer than 30 big blinds each. Neymar enters the final stage with the shortest stack — just 23 big blinds remain for him as play resumes. Final Table Chip Counts — WCOOP 17-H: $10,300 NLHE Super Tuesday High Roller Pedro "PaDiLhA SP" Padilha (Brazil) — 1,601,941 chips (80 BB) Ole "wizowizo" Schemion — second in chips Talal "raidalot" Shakerchi — average stack Guillaume "Nolet20" Nolet — average stack [Removed:560] (Austria) — less than 30 BB Linus "LLinusLLove" Loeliger — less than 30 BB Neymar Jr. — 23 BB (shortest stack) Final table payouts are as follows: 1st place: $186,434 2nd place: $134,352 3rd place: (not specified) 4th place: (not specified) 5th place: (not specified) 6th place: (not specified) 7th place: $26,111 (minimum payout for the final table) The money bubble — the stage where the next player eliminated receives nothing — burst when Alexandros "pwndidi" Theologis exited in eighth place. From that point, every remaining player was guaranteed at least $26,111. Notably, Neymar, Padilha, and Shakerchi each fired two bullets (re-entered twice), but have already locked up a profit in this tournament. Play will resume on Wednesday, September 10, at 18:05 UTC. With each elimination, the pay jumps become more significant: the difference between seventh and sixth place exceeds $10,000, while the gap between first and second is $52,000. Neymar: From the Football Pitch to the WCOOP Final Table Neymar Jr. is not only a PokerStars ambassador but also a passionate poker enthusiast for many years. Despite his ongoing football career (he still plays and captains Santos in Brazil), Neymar regularly takes part in major online tournaments. A WCOOP victory would mark his first major poker title. This tournament was no easy ride for Neymar: he made two entries, but managed to reach the final table despite a short stack. Now, he faces some of the world’s most experienced players in the fight for the top prize. Even if he’s among the first to bust from the final table, his minimum payout will already exceed the buy-in. Other Standout Performances at WCOOP 2025: Key Results from the Opening Days While the spotlight is on the high rollers, several other WCOOP events have already crowned their first champions. In the most accessible tournament of the series — the $5.50 Kickoff — Brazilian player "vinicius_sci" took down the title, earning $6,781. In the $5,200 Bounty Builder Super High Roller, Leon "RUMUKULUS" Sturm claimed victory, securing the largest prize of the series so far — $109,822. Denis "aDrENalin710" Strebkov notched a notable achievement by winning the $2,100 HORSE for $23,456. This win allowed him to tie for second place in COOP titles in the series’ history. Other notable results: Rodrigo "SELOUAN1991" Selouan won the $1,050 PLO and took home $29,111 Vladimir "SerVlaMin" Minko scored two victories, including a $42,296 win in the $1,050 PKO WCOOP Format and Opportunities on PokerStars WCOOP is the largest online poker festival, bringing together thousands of players from around the world on PokerStars every year. The schedule features hundreds of tournaments across a wide range of formats and stakes, from micro to high roller buy-ins. Satellites — special qualifying tournaments — are available for players of all bankrolls, offering a chance to enter the main events for a fraction of the cost. Within the series, everyone can test their skills in classic formats like No Limit Hold’em (NLHE), as well as in less common variants such as HORSE and PLO. It’s an opportunity not only to win big prizes, but also to gain invaluable experience competing against top-tier opponents and to make your mark on the global poker stage. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, the news from WCOOP 2025 is a great reason to reflect on your own progress and potential in online poker. First, the example of Neymar and other well-known players shows that even with a short stack and after multiple attempts, you can succeed if you stay composed and seize your opportunities. This underscores the importance of discipline and smart bankroll management — skills you can hone in PPPoker club games. Second, the variety of formats and buy-ins at WCOOP demonstrates that the path to big prizes is open not only to high rollers, but to players of all skill levels. PPPoker clubs regularly host tournaments and satellites that can serve as your training ground for future appearances at major international series. Finally, following the achievements of professionals and sports stars at WCOOP can be a powerful source of inspiration. Study hands, analyze the strategies of finalists, and apply the best ideas in your club games. PPPoker is not just a place for entertainment, but a platform for developing true champions.