WSOP-C New Orleans

James Morris

Event #18: $400 Double Stack Closer was cruising along at a rapid pace before drawing to a standstill with eight players remaining, and for nearly two hours, short stack after short stack found double after double, leaving less than 100 big blinds on the table and eight players still in the tournament. 

Once the dust settled on the marathon eight-handed play, James Morris emerged victorious to claim his first career WSOP Circuit ring, the $14,348 first-place prize, and the $5,000 package to the 2025 WSOP Paradise.

Morris defeated Robert Andrews (2nd place for $9,363) heads-up, and when the play finally ended for the day, there were fewer than 25 total big blinds on the table.   

Joining Morris and Andrews during the marathon of the final table were Stanley Seelig (3rd for $6,299), Carlos Young (4th for $4,374), Roger Javier (5th for $3,138), Eli Karp (6th for $2,329), Chad Melerine (7th for $1,790), and Daniel Howard (8th for $1,426). 

The final event of the 2025 WSOP New Orleans drew 183 entrants and created a prize pool of $60,390, with the 28 players securing a min cash of $809. Once the money was reached, the field whittled down to the final table in a hurry, as the ten players took their seats for the start of the final table at 7:30 pm. 

By 8:00 pm Peter Tafaro (10th for $1,015) and Philip Steelman (9th for $1,180) had already hit the rail making it look like a short night awaited the rest of the field. However, thanks to the marathon play, it would be another two and a half hours before one of the above payouts took place.

Event #18: $400 Double Stack Closer Final Table Payouts:

1. James Morris - $14,348
2. Robert Andrews - $9,363
3. Stanley Seelig - $6,299
4. Carlos Young - $4,374
5. Roger Javier - $3,138
6. Eli Karp - $2,329
7. Chad Melerine - $1,790
8. Daniel Howard - $1,426
9. Philip Steelman - $1,180
10. Peter Tafaro - $1,015

For a complete list of payouts from Event#18 and all the results for the 2025 WSOP New Orleans, click here . 

This concludes our coverage of the 2025 WSOP New Orleans. From everyone here at PokerOrg, we thank you for following along and look forward to seeing you at the next stop!

Event #10: $1,700 Main Event Champion Yousef Saleh

Six years ago, at this very event, Yousef Saleh was cruising along at the final table before a blunder seven-handed cost him most of his stack, and he finished in a disappointing seventh place. This year, he wasn't going to make that same mistake, and after letting the game come to him, he defeated a field of 510 entrants to claim his second career WSOP gold ring, the $149,268 first-place prize, and the $5,000 package to the 2025 WSOP Paradise. 

Check out our full recap:

'I was out': Crazy cooler ends WSOPC New Orleans Main Event Yousef Saleh picked up his second career World Series of Poker Circuit ring in the New Orleans Main Event with some help from a cooler in heads-up play.

Keegan McCann / 1756838378380

Event #17: $600 Black Chip Bounty Juan Tejeda

Fresh off a 35th-place finish in Event #10: $1,700 Main Event, Juan Tejeda hopped into Event #17: $600 Black Chip Bounty, and after two days of play, he ended the tournament with all the bounties and the first-place prize of $11,739. 

Tejeda, who came into the final table in the middle of the pack in chips, maneuvered through the field effortlessly before defeating Evan Benton (2nd for $7,636) heads-up to claim his first career WSOP Circuit ring and the $5,000 package to the 2025 WSOP Paradise. 

Andrew Hill, who came into the final table as the chip leader, finished in 4th for $3,609, and Connor Steinbrook, who was looking for his second ring of the series after taking down Event #14, finished in 8th place for $1,309. 

Event #17: $600 Black Chip Bounty final table payouts: 

1. Juan Tejeda - $11,739
2. Evan Benton - $7,636
3. Benjamin Davis - $5,151
4. Andrew Hill - $3,609
5. Jerry Ard - $2,629
6. Danila Bytin - $1,996
7. Eli Karp - $1,581
8. Connor Steinbrook - $1,309
9. Meikle Partin - $1,136

Congratulations again to Juan. We look forward to seeing you in the Bahamas. 

For a complete list of payouts from this event, please click here . 

Heath Pender

Heath Pender defeated Maurice Hawkins heads-up in Event #16: $400 Grand Master 40/40/40 to deny Hawkins ring #22 and claim his second career WSOP gold ring plus the $21,244 first-place prize. 

Pender came into the final table in a virtual tie with Hawkins for the chip lead, and the pair made quick work of Jacque Gremilion, Steven Bierman, Lisa Roberts, Terry Boyer, J.W. Carter, Brian Peyton, Alexander Jones, and Alec Wilson. 

Heads-up play lasted for about an hour as the pair battled back and forth before Pender whittled Hawkins (2nd for $14,167) away before getting it all in with pocket fours to Hawkins overcards. The fours held as Hawkins remained unimproved, and Pender gleefully collected the $5,000 package to the 2025 WSOP Paradise. 

Final table payouts from Event #16: $400 Grand Master 40/40/40

1. Heath Pender - $21,244
2. Maurice Hawkins - $14,167
3. Alec Wilson - $9,765
4. Alexander Jones - $6,878
5. Brian Peyton - $4,952
6. J.W. Carter - $3,646
7. Terry Boyer - $2,748
8. Lisa Roberts - $2,120
9. Steve Bierman -  $1,675
10. Jacque Gremillion - $1,357

Congratulations again to Heath and good luck in the Bahamas!

For a complete list of payouts from the event, please click here .