Event #7: $25,000 Heads Up Championship
Day 3 Completed
2025 World Series of Poker
Event #7: $25,000 Heads Up Championship
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2025 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$25,000
Prize Pool
$1,504,000
Entries
64
Level
66
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
0
Entries
4
Players Left
1
Level 66
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante
Six straight wins. That’s what it took to win the $25,000 Heads Up Championship Event at the 2025 World Series of Poker. A total of 64 entrants took their shot at the coveted title at the Horseshoe and Paris Casino Las Vegas, but only Artur Martirosian remained after the dust settled as he took home the $500,000 top prize and the prestigious World Series of Poker bracelet after defeating Aliaksei Boika in the final.
It was a tough road to the finals for Martirosian, who had to run through a gauntlet of a who’s who of challengers, defeating Jeremy Ausmus in the first round before knocking out Faraz Jaka, Kevin Rabichow, Chance Kornuth, and Patrick Leonard en route to the final match. Martirosian stated that heads up is one of his preferred formats, making this title a special one for the decorated veteran. The champion is no stranger to the heads-up format, winning the 2023 WSOP Online $10,000 Heads Up No-Limit Championship, making this his second World Series of Poker heads-up title. The champion made it to the semifinal in last year's event, but fell short, making the title all the more satisfying for Martirosian.
“It’s my favorite tournament, so I come earlier to play this event. Last year I was unlucky in the semifinal, so I’m happy to finally win it,” said Martirosian.
Event #7: $25,000 Heads Up Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artur Martirosian | Russian Federation | $500,000 |
| 2 | Aliaksei Boika | Belarus | $300,000 |
| 3 | Patrick Leonard | United Kingdom | $180,000 |
| 4 | David Chen | United States | $180,000 |
| 5 | Thomas Eychenne | France | $86,000 |
| 6 | Chance Kornuth | United States | $86,000 |
| 7 | Harvey Castro | United States | $86,000 |
| 8 | Mike Shi | United States | $86,000 |
Martirosian referenced his first match in the tournament as his toughest due to an early deficit against Ausmus. A championship title appeared as an unlikely possibility for Martirosian when he found himself down nine to one to Ausmus in the first round, but Martirosian would reverse his fortune and rally to come back and stay alive. Martirosian's resilience would be a theme throughout his third bracelet run. Time and time again, Martirosian’s poise was exhibited in this tournament.
“I have a lot of experience in this format,” Martirosian said. “I know how to be patient.”
The first round was not the only round where Martirosian stumbled out of the gate and then fought back into contention. He managed a similar feat against Kornuth in the quarterfinals and repeated that accomplishment against Boika in the final after enduring a deficit during the early stages of the match.
Martirosian would lock up his third bracelet when he spiked a runner-runner flush to knock out Boika. The title is yet another feather in his hat in an already accomplished career, earning his third bracelet in the prestigious $25,000 Heads Up Championship.
The buzz was palpable as onlookers and supporters crowded around the rail to watch the action unfold in the final stages of the tournament after a frenetic semifinal round. Boika punched his ticket to the final with a swift match against David Chen in a four-bet pot, knocking out Chen’s two pair with the nut flush.
Martirosian dispatched Leonard to advance to the finals. Martirosian was in command of the match after turning a king-high straight, leaving Leonard on fumes. Martirosian leaned on Leonard until Martirosian eliminated Leonard with a better ace high to earn his spot in the final.
That concludes PokerNews' coverage of Event #7: $25,000 Heads Up No-Limit Championship. Stay tuned for more coverage of the 2025 World Series of Poker throughout the summer!
Level 66
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante
Aliaksei Boika raised to 160,000 on the button and Artur Martirosian three-bet shoved all in as the bigger stack. Boika wasted no time before calling off his stack of 2,340,000 and the cards were on their backs.
Aliaksei Boika: K♥Q♥
Artur Martirosian: A♦6♣
The flop fell K♦Q♦7♣ to give Boika two pair and a commanding lead. The turn brought the 4♦ as Martirosian picked up a flush draw. The dealer burned and turned the 9♦ on the river to give Martirosian a flush and his third WSOP gold bracelet.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
9,600,000
2,500,000
|
2,500,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 66
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 0 ante
Aliaksei Boika raised to 185,000 on the button with Q♦10♠ and Artur Martirosian looked down at 10♣10♦ before reraised to 700,000. Boika called and the dealer spread the flop of K♠5♠4♣.
Martirosian led out with a bet 350,000 and Boika floated to the 2♣ on the turn. Martirosian fired out a second bullet of 700,000 and Boika finally dumped his cards into the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,100,000
1,100,000
|
1,100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,500,000
1,100,000
|
1,100,000 |
Level: 66
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 0
Level 65
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 0 ante
Aliaksei Boika raised to 125,000 on the button with A♠3♣ and Artur Martirosian called from the big blind with a suited 10♣2♣. Both players flopped a pair on the A♣Q♠10♥ flop and Martirosian check-called a bet of 80,000 from Boika.
The K♥ rolled off on the turn and both players checked to the 8♣ on the river. Martirosian opted to lead out with a large bet of 480,000 but Boika called him down with top pair to earn the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,000,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,600,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
Level: 65
Blinds: 30,000/60,000
Ante: 0
Level 64
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 0 ante
Aliaksei Boika raised to 100,000 on the button with A♥10♥ and Artur Martirosian three-bet to 400,000 from the big blind with 8♠8♣. Boika called and the dealer fanned the flop of A♦K♦Q♥.
Martirosian was facing three over cards and checked but Boika did the same with his top pair. The turn was the 2♣ and both players checked again to the 8♦ on the river.
Martirosian spiked a set of eights and fired out a bet of 800,000. Boika instantly called and Martirosian tabled his hand to extend his heads-up lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,100,000
1,200,000
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,500,000
1,200,000
|
1,200,000 |
Level 64
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 0 ante
Artur Martirosian opened to 100,000 on the button with A♣10♣ and Aliaksei Boika reraised to 400,000 in the big blind with 8♥6♥. Martirosian called and got the dream flop of A♠10♠10♥.
Boike continued his story with a bet of 200,000 and Martirosian just called with his full house. The 4♠ landed on the turn and Boika checked this time. Martirosian pushed out a bet of 480,000 and Boika snap-folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,900,000
900,000
|
900,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,700,000
900,000
|
900,000 |
Level: 64
Blinds: 20,000/40,000
Ante: 0
