Andrey Zhigalov has once again proven his prowess in mixed games, claiming his second career World Series of Poker bracelet in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event—seven years after his first victory in the same format.
Zhigalov battled through a field of 867 entries to secure the win in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 14, taking home $197,923 and earning 912 Card Player Player of the Year (POY) points. The victory pushes the Russian pro past the $1 million mark in live tournament earnings and adds another trophy to his already accomplished resume.
Mixed Game Mastery
With 40 career cashes logged in the Card Player database, Zhigalov’s dedication to non-hold’em formats is clear—only two of those came in no-limit hold’em events. Since debuting at the WSOP in 2014, he’s reached seven final tables, including a runner-up finish to Scott Seiver in the 2019 $10,000 Razz Championship.
This latest title puts Zhigalov in elite company at the 2025 WSOP, joining the likes of Nick Schulman and Xixiang Luo—both of whom have also won events they’d previously conquered.
Final Table Drama: From the Bottom to the Top
The road to victory wasn’t without turbulence. Zhigalov entered the final table of eight as the short stack, with less than two big bets in play. Only he and Marcel Vonk returned with prior bracelet wins, and early momentum didn’t favor the Russian.
But a pivotal hand in Seven Card Stud, where Zhigalov made a six-high straight on seventh street, tripled his stack and sparked a remarkable turnaround. Shortly after, he tripled again with two pair in Stud Eight or Better, propelling himself back into contention.
By the time play reached four-handed, Zhigalov had reclaimed the chip lead, helped by key knockouts. Although Thomas Taylor surged ahead before the dinner break, Zhigalov kept pace and regained traction with a critical Razz hand—coming from behind to scoop the pot with a perfect six-low against Tal Avivi’s eight-low.
Heads-Up Mayhem: The Wheel That Changed Everything
Following Marcel Vonk’s third-place exit, Taylor entered heads-up play with a commanding 4-to-1 chip lead. Zhigalov rallied once more, first cutting the deficit with quad fives in limit hold’em, then pulling even with an ace-high flush.
The seesaw battle swung wildly, with each player trading control multiple times. But the turning point came in a seemingly quiet Razz hand. On boards reading 10♦-4♣-2♠-Q♠ for Zhigalov and K♣-4♦-2♣-10♣ for Taylor, the action escalated across the streets. Zhigalov tabled A-5-3 for a wheel, while Taylor revealed A-6-3—a crushing cooler that left him reeling.
Zhigalov sealed the deal shortly after, again in Razz, making a perfect 6-5-4-3-A to clinch the title.
WSOP 2025: The Year of the Repeat?
Zhigalov’s repeat H.O.R.S.E. victory marks the 21st event out of 38 so far at this year’s WSOP that has been won by a former bracelet holder. Whether it’s deep mixed-game knowledge or the calm under pressure, experience continues to be a decisive edge at this year’s Series.
Final Table Results – Event #38: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrey Zhigalov | $197,923 | 912 |
| 2 | Thomas Taylor | $131,916 | 760 |
| 3 | Marcel Vonk | $91,545 | 608 |
| 4 | Tal Avivi | $64,607 | 456 |
| 5 | Travis Kubota | $46,384 | 380 |
| 6 | Joseph Santagata | $33,885 | 304 |
| 7 | Sachin Bhargava | $25,198 | 228 |
| 8 | Stanislav Ivanov | $19,078 | 152 |
Stay with us for continuing coverage of the 2025 WSOP, as legends are made and bracelets are won.
