Shaun Deeb secured the 2025 WSOP Player of the Year title for the second time after his POY victory in 2018. Deeb joins Daniel Negreanu as the only two-time POY winner. Negreanu claimed titles in 2004 and 2013.
Deeb’s summer performance included:
- 18 live bracelet event cashes
- 6 online bracelet event cashes
- 5 final table appearances
- 7th career WSOP bracelet win
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His biggest score came from the $100,000 WSOP PLO High Roller Event. Deeb earned a massive $2,957,229 payday from this victory.
The POY race stayed competitive until the final events. Benny Glaser won three bracelets during the series. The margin between Deeb and Glaser was under 40 points.
Michael Mizrachi finished fourth despite winning both the Main Event and $50,000 PPC. Martin Kabrhel took third place after briefly leading with his Mini Main victory.
The current POY system counts only the top 10 scores. Deeb accumulated 24 total cashes but needed deep runs for higher points. Glaser’s fewer cashes meant each additional score improved his total.
Deeb receives these POY rewards:
- WSOP Player of the Year trophy
- 2026 WSOP Main Event entry
- Second banner at Horseshoe Las Vegas
His summer earnings exceeded $4 million, $2,9M from his Pot Limit Omaha High Roller win. Deeb acknowledged his competitors after the win: “We did it boys and girls, great battle between Martin and Benny they battled to the last tourney“.
WSOP 2025 POY Standings
Most Competitive POY Race in Years
The 2025 WSOP featured 87 bracelet events across six weeks. The POY title remained undecided until the final day at Horseshoe Las Vegas.
The top 10 scoring system created constant leaderboard movement. This format rewards consistency and exceptional individual results. Players shifted positions with each new cash.
The lead changed hands multiple times among poker’s elite. Joao Vieira established early momentum with back-to-back high roller final tables. Brian Rast briefly topped the standings after winning his seventh bracelet in the $50,000 PLO Championship. Daniel Negreanu stayed within range after four final tables in the opening month.
Martin Kabrhel’s Mini Main Event victory vaulted him into first place temporarily. Deeb and Glaser’s steady performances eventually separated them from the field. This set up the dramatic finish.
The 2025 race showcased remarkable variant diversity among contenders. Top players demonstrated skills across No-Limit Hold’em, PLO, and mixed games. This versatility has become essential for serious POY contenders.
What was Deeb’s strategic approach?
Deeb cashed 18 events during the summer. His top 10 scores counted toward POY points. Four finishes reached the top three. This showed his versatility across poker variants.
His tournament selection proved strategic. Deeb considered skipping the Main Event due to poor POY point value.
After securing the PLO High Roller, Deeb focused on the title race: “I’m going to multi-table the rest of the series… I got the money to do it. And I just want another banner, join my friends and tie Daniel [Negreanu]“.
Deeb joins Daniel Negreanu as two-time POY winner
Shaun Deeb now belongs to poker’s most exclusive club. His 2025 victory makes him only the second two-time POY winner.
Negreanu’s POY history
Daniel Negreanu first claimed the title in 2004. That breakthrough year included his third bracelet win in $2,000 Limit Hold’em. He made four final tables and earned nearly $350,000.
Negreanu’s second POY came in 2013 after 10 WSOP cashes. Both his bracelet wins occurred outside the United States. He took the WSOP Asia-Pacific Main Event for $1,087,160. His second victory came in WSOP Europe’s €25,600 High Roller for $979,955.
Deeb’s elite status
Deeb’s seven WSOP bracelets place him among only 12 players to reach this milestone. His live tournament winnings now exceed $16.9 million.
The POY title includes the trophy and 2026 Main Event entry. Deeb also receives his second banner at Horseshoe Las Vegas.
Conclusion
Deeb’s second POY title establishes him among poker’s greatest tournament players. The 2025 race tested every aspect of tournament poker excellence.
Strategic tournament selection proved crucial under the 10-best-scores format. Deeb balanced high-value events with consistent cashing opportunities. His decision-making reflected deep understanding of POY point allocation.
The competition elevated the entire field. Glaser’s three-bracelet run and Mizrachi’s historic double created pressure few players could handle. Deeb’s mental fortitude separated him from exceptional opponents.
This POY victory validates Deeb’s approach to tournament poker. Versatility across multiple variants matters more than specialization. Bankroll management and event selection carry equal weight with technical skill.
The 2025 WSOP proved that sustained excellence requires both tactical precision and strategic vision. Deeb’s second banner reflects a career built on systematic improvement and calculated risks.
For PLO players, Deeb’s $100K High Roller victory demonstrates the variant’s potential for career-defining moments. His path from short stack to champion shows why PLO rewards both technical skill and mental resilience.
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FAQs
Deeb’s victory was remarkable as it made him only the second player in history to win the WSOP Player of the Year title twice, joining Daniel Negreanu in this exclusive club.
The race was incredibly tight, with Deeb winning by less than 40 points over his closest competitor, Benny Glaser. This margin was equivalent to less than a typical min-cash in a WSOP event.
Deeb’s most crucial victory came in Event #79: $100,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller, where he won $2,957,229 and his seventh WSOP bracelet, providing a substantial boost to his POY points.
Deeb demonstrated remarkable consistency by cashing in 18 live bracelet events and 6 online bracelet events throughout the series.
The WSOP Player of the Year receives a trophy, complimentary entry into the following year’s WSOP Main Event, and a banner in their honor displayed in the rafters of the Horseshoe Las Vegas Event Center.
