Pascal Lefrancois leads the WCOOP 2025 Main Event on PokerStars

The WCOOP 2025 Main Events kicked off on PokerStars on September 28. We take a look at the chip leaders, prize pools, and players’ prospects in the Main Event.

On September 28, the main events of the World Championship of Online Poker — World Championship Of Online Poker (WCOOP) 2025 — kicked off on the largest poker platform, PokerStars . On this day, six Main Events started simultaneously: three in No Limit Hold’em (NLHE) and three in Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), each attracting the best players from around the world. In this article, we provide a detailed overview of the events, leaders, prize pools, and prospects ahead of the final days of the series. WCOOP 2025 Main Events: Formats, Buy-ins, and Prize Pools The Main Events of the WCOOP series are traditionally considered the most prestigious online events of the year. In 2025, PokerStars offered players six Main Events with different buy-ins and formats: NLHE (No Limit Hold’em): $109 NLHE Main Event — 16,683 entries, prize pool $2,000,000 (3,317 entries short of the guarantee) $1,050 NLHE Main Event — 2,910 entries, prize pool $3,000,000 (90 entries short of the guarantee) $10,300 NLHE Main Event — 325 entries, prize pool $4,000,000 (75 entries short of the guarantee) PLO (Pot Limit Omaha): $109 PLO Main Event — 1,727 entries, prize pool $172,700 (registration closed) $1,050 PLO Main Event — 378 entries, prize pool $400,000 (22 entries short of the guarantee) $10,300 PLO Main Event — 44 entries, prize pool $500,000 (6 entries short of the guarantee) Late registration is still open in five out of six tournaments, giving latecomers a chance to compete for big prizes and influence the final prize pool sizes. Leaders and Key Events in the $10,300 NLHE Main Event Special attention is focused on the main No Limit Hold’em event with a $10,300 buy-in. This tournament has recorded 325 entries (including re-entries), and 111 players remain in contention for the title. They will return to the tables on September 29 at 17:35 BST. Late registration will remain open during the first 30-minute level of Day 2. Leading after Day 1 is Canadian Pascal "Pass_72" Lefrancois , who increased his starting stack of 250,000 to 1,777,360 chips. This tournament is especially significant for Lefrancois: a year ago, he lost heads-up to Finnish pro Samuel "€urop€an" Vousden , finishing second and earning $659,899. However, as experts note, for such an ambitious player, second place is just motivation to come back and take revenge. The top 10 chip counts after Day 1 are: Pascal "Pass_72" Lefrancois — 1,777,360 Alisson "heyalisson" Piekazewicz — 1,761,666 Mike "SirWatts" Watson — 1,663,424 Paul "_pauL€FauL_" Hoefer — 1,603,640 Mikita "fish2013" Badziakouski — 1,600,592 Dominik "Bounatirou" Nitsche — 1,502,553 Jack "jackziang" Salter — 1,447,206 Adrian "Amadi_017" Mateos — 1,272,105 Niklas "Lena900" Astedt — 1,216,116 Blaz "Scarmak3r" Zerjav — 1,086,466 The top 25 also includes stars such as Samuel "€urop€an" Vousden (1,079,761), last year’s champion, and other well-known professionals. Day 2 will end when 40 players remain. The final is scheduled for October 1. Brief Overview of the $10,300 NLHE Main Event Format and Features The main No Limit Hold’em event is played over four days. Each participant starts with a stack of 250,000 chips. During Day 1, players fought to build their stacks and survive — only 111 out of 325 made it through. The tournament allows re-entries, enabling eliminated players to rejoin the action, increasing the total prize pool and intensifying the competition. The leaders represent different countries and disciplines, including WCOOP title holders and champions of other major series. For example, Alisson "heyalisson" Piekazewicz recently won his first WCOOP title and managed to reach the top 2 in chips after making three entries in the tournament. Mike "SirWatts" Watson , Paul "_pauL€FauL_" Hoefer , and Mikita "fish2013" Badziakouski are also among the favorites. Day 2 of the tournament will begin on September 29 at 17:35 BST, and late registration will remain open during the first level, which could change the balance of power. Main Pot Limit Omaha Event: Ka Kwan Lau Takes the Lead In the $10,300 PLO 6-Max Main Event , only 11 players remain after Day 1, even though the tournament is scheduled for four days. Late registration will be open during the first level of Day 2, but it is unlikely that many new players will join, as the starting stack for late registration will be just 25 big blinds — a very short stack for this level of competition. The tournament is led by Ka Kwan "kaju85" Lau , a recognized Pot Limit Omaha specialist, who has built a stack of 2,321,285 chips. His closest challenger is Martin "Imbajimbaa" Dam , the 2023 champion of this event, with a stack of 1,520,066. Among those still in the game are well-known players such as Patrick "pads1161" Leonard , mixed games legend "FAL1st" , Finnish pro Aku "Aku1206" Joentausta , and Pascal "Pass_72" Lefrancois , who continues to compete in both Main Events. Kenny "SpaceyFCB" Hallaert has a short stack but still has a chance to make the money. WCOOP 2025 Schedule and Progress: The Final Stretch On September 29, PokerStars will host 15 more WCOOP events, and all six Main Events will continue as they determine their finalists. As the fields shrink, the tension and excitement around the series only grow. The final days of the Main Events are scheduled for October 1, when new champions and the winners of the largest prizes will be determined. At the moment, all prize pool guarantees are within reach, and according to organizers, the final amounts may even exceed the announced figures. For players, this means not only prestige but also a chance to win truly big money, competing against the best in world poker. Tables and Statistics: Prize Pools and Number of Entries Below are the official figures for the number of entries and prize pools in the WCOOP 2025 Main Events as of the end of Day 1: Tournament Number of Entries Prize Pool Entries Short of Guarantee Registration Status $109 PLO Main Event 1,727 $172,700 — Closed $1,050 PLO Main Event 378 $400,000 22 Open $10,300 PLO Main Event 44 $500,000 6 Open $109 NLHE Main Event 16,683 $2,000,000 3,317 Open $1,050 NLHE Main Event 2,910 $3,000,000 90 Open $10,300 NLHE Main Event 325 $4,000,000 75 Open What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, the results and progress of WCOOP 2025 are an excellent source of inspiration and valuable lessons. First, paying attention to the strategies of top players and analyzing their decisions in key moments can help develop your own understanding of tournament play, especially in the late stages. Watch how leaders like Pascal Lefrancois and Ka Kwan Lau approach building their stacks, choosing moments for aggression, and surviving tough fields — these are practical examples to apply in PPPoker club tournaments. Second, WCOOP clearly demonstrates the importance of making the most of late registration and re-entry opportunities. PPPoker clubs often host tournaments with similar options, and smart planning of your entries can significantly increase your chances of success. Notice how professionals choose the right moment for a re-entry and how they play with short and deep stacks. Finally, the scale and prestige of WCOOP are a reminder: even in online tournaments, anyone can reach the level of competing with the best, if they focus on learning and analyzing their game. Use the experience of the series to develop your skills — and perhaps in the future, you’ll find yourself among the leaders of the biggest online tournaments, just like the participants of WCOOP 2025.