Renji Mao won his second WSOP bracelet at WSOPE 2025 in PLO

Renji Mao became a two-time WSOP champion by winning the €5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event at the World Series of Poker Europe 2025, earning €213,600.

Renji Mao became a two-time WSOP bracelet winner after taking down Event #8: €5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha at the 2025 World Series of Poker Europe, held at King’s Resort, Rozvadov. After his triumph in 2023 in Las Vegas ($800 No-Limit Hold’em Deep Stack), the Chinese player added another prestigious trophy to his collection, defeating Dario Alioto heads-up and earning the top prize of €213,600. The tournament attracted 200 entries, and the final table featured equally decorated and ambitious opponents. The Road to Victory: How Event #8 €5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Unfolded The €5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament was the eighth event on the WSOPE 2025 schedule. Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) is a poker variant where each player receives four cards, and must use exactly two of them along with three community cards to make a hand. Pot-limit means that the maximum bet is limited to the current size of the pot, adding dynamics and tactical depth to the game. The tournament drew 200 players, creating a prize pool that allowed the nine finalists to count on substantial payouts. At the start of Day 2, 31 players remained in the field, and despite missing the beginning, Fahredin Mustafov managed to preserve the big stack he had built the day before. The first significant reduction in the field happened within the first hour: Renji Mao scored a double knockout, quickly moving the tournament closer to the three-table stage. Among those eliminated early on Day 2 were Nikolaos Lampropoulos (31st place, €10,650), Leszek Badurowicz (29th, €10,650), Han Kuo (23rd, €10,650), Konstantin Razinkov (18th, €11,200), and Ermanno Di Nicola (17th, €11,200). At this stage, Mao and Day 1 chip leader Dario Alioto were sharing the chip lead. Mao pulled ahead by eliminating Anh Do (15th, €12,200) and Ioannis Angelou Konstas (14th, €12,200), soon surpassing the 2,000,000 chip mark. Patrik Jaros (13th, €12,200) lost his chips to Shaun Deeb, who was chasing his eighth WSOP bracelet, but was soon knocked out by Fahredin Mustafov (11th, €13,900). The final table was set after Eran Carmi busted in 10th place (€13,900). The Final Table: The Battle for the Bracelet and Dramatic Endings The final nine included defending champion Dennis Weiss, aiming for back-to-back success. However, just minutes after the restart, he was eliminated by Renji Mao (9th place, €16,400). During the next hour, Dario Alioto extended his lead, winning a big pot with a rivered flush, while Kumaran Sarvendran (8th, €20,050) and Vadim Zakharyan (7th, €25,500) exited before the dinner break. After the break, the six remaining players went almost an hour and a half without another elimination. The next to go was Salih Atac (6th, €33,500) — in a hand where both players had two pairs of aces, Mao made a straight on the river to bust his opponent. This triggered a chain of quick eliminations: Zdenek Zizka (5th, €45,600) and Fahredin Mustafov (4th, €64,000) fell to Alioto. In three-handed play, Grzegorz Derkowski had the shortest stack but doubled through Mao to even the odds. However, Mao soon doubled through both opponents, leaving Derkowski with a minimal stack. The German player was eliminated shortly after (3rd, €92,800), and Alioto entered heads-up play with a three-to-one chip lead. Heads-Up: Renji Mao’s Comeback Against Dario Alioto The final showdown began with Dario Alioto holding a clear advantage — his stack was three times larger than Mao’s. However, Mao remained calm and noted that he felt no pressure: even a loss would bring a solid payout, so he could focus on playing aggressively and confidently. The Chinese player doubled up twice to close the gap, and in the third all-in hand, he became the chip leader. In the end, Mao held on to his advantage and won his second WSOP bracelet. After his victory, he said this trophy was especially valuable: while his first bracelet came in a large-field event where luck played a big role, this success in a high buy-in tournament with a strong professional field proved his versatility and skill not only in Hold’em but in other formats as well. Mao also emphasized that the tournament was full of ups and downs, and the final table required maximum concentration: “There were a lot of tough river spots, I remember losing a similar hand with aces against Nacho Barbero this summer in Vegas, but this time luck was on my side.” Although Mao does not consider himself a “bracelet hunter,” he is already aiming for the next series events, including the €10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Mystery Bounty and the upcoming Main Event. Full Final Table Results for Event #8: €5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 1st place: Renji Mao — €213,600 2nd place: Dario Alioto — €138,800 3rd place: Grzegorz Derkowski — €92,800 4th place: Fahredin Mustafov — €64,000 5th place: Zdenek Zizka — €45,600 6th place: Salih Atac — €33,500 7th place: Vadim Zakharyan — €25,500 8th place: Kumaran Sarvendran — €20,050 9th place: Dennis Weiss — €16,400 Payouts for Other ITM Places: 10th place: Eran Carmi — €13,900 11th place: Shaun Deeb — €13,900 12th place: — (not specified) 13th place: Patrik Jaros — €12,200 14th place: Ioannis Angelou Konstas — €12,200 15th place: Anh Do — €12,200 17th place: Ermanno Di Nicola — €11,200 18th place: Konstantin Razinkov — €11,200 23rd place: Han Kuo — €10,650 29th place: Leszek Badurowicz — €10,650 31st place: Nikolaos Lampropoulos — €10,650 Who Are Renji Mao and Dario Alioto: The Context of Success Renji Mao is a Chinese poker player who already won a WSOP bracelet in Las Vegas in 2023, and now confirmed his status by winning a prestigious high buy-in European event. His achievements show that he can compete with the world’s best not only in Hold’em but also in Omaha. Dario Alioto is an experienced Italian pro who held the chip lead for much of the tournament and came close to winning his second WSOP bracelet. His runner-up finish and €138,800 payout are impressive, though he was undoubtedly aiming for the win. The final table was highly competitive: among the finalists were WSOP bracelet holders (such as Zdenek Zizka) and the defending champion from last year’s event, Dennis Weiss. Tournament Features and WSOPE 2025 Statistics The World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) is one of the most prestigious poker series outside Las Vegas, annually attracting the best players from Europe and around the world. King’s Resort in Rozvadov traditionally hosts these tournaments, providing excellent conditions for high-stakes play. Event #8: €5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha in 2025 drew 200 entries, highlighting the popularity of the format among professionals. The prize pool allowed for payouts to more than 30 participants, and the final table was marked by fierce competition and unexpected outcomes. The tournament became a battleground for seasoned regulars and ambitious newcomers, as well as a stage for players to showcase their versatility and ability to win in different formats. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players This success story of Renji Mao is a great example of how important versatility and the willingness to master new formats can be. Even if you specialize in Hold’em, playing Omaha or other variants can not only broaden your horizons but also be the key to new victories. PPPoker clubs regularly host PLO tournaments, and the WSOPE results show: mastering this format opens up new opportunities for growth and increased profits. Moreover, Mao’s experience proves that even after serious setbacks and losing your stack, you shouldn’t give up — smart aggression and mental resilience can turn the tide in any tournament. For PPPoker club players, this is a signal to work not only on technical skills but also on the mental side of the game, to be ready for comebacks even in the toughest situations. Finally, playing in tournaments with tough fields is a great way to test your skills and gain valuable experience. Keep an eye on the club event schedule, try different formats, and don’t be afraid of new challenges: as Renji Mao showed, success comes to those who don’t limit themselves to one discipline and are ready to fight until the end.