Blind level
Level 29: 200,000 / 400,000 ante: 400,000
Entries
1/191
Total Chips
47,750,000
Average
47,750,000

Day 3

SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 12:56:30 PM

James Mendoza Finishes Runner-Up For $450,000

Level 29: 200,000 / 400,000 ante: 400,000
James Mendoza - 2nd Place

While the players are still talking about the last hand, Stephen Song jams his massive stack and James Mendoza double checks his cards before making the call.

PlayerHandChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
J3
D
48,000,000(120 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
KQ
BB
busted

Bad news for Mendoza after falling behind on the flop 3 7 2 and not being able to catch up when the board completes 7 J . He still takes home the biggest cash of his career that stood at just over $300K until today for finishing 3rd at the 2023 WSOP Bracelet Event #59.

SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 12:46:40 PM

Stephen Song Slowly Grinds Down His Opponent

Level 29: 200,000 / 400,000 ante: 400,000

After some back and forth in the last few hands and James Mendoza down by a little bit, he limps T 6 and Stephen Song opts to check again with 5 3 . Song check-calls a 500,000 bet to the 3 turn that gets rejected and the board completes J . Song forks out a massive 3,000,000 over-bet and Mendoza doesn't buy it, making the call with the aid of a time bank. Some friendly banter between the two contenders follows before they focus on the next hand.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
45,000,000(113 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
3,300,000(8 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 12:24:36 PM

Mendoza Claws Back A Few Chips

Level 29: 200,000 / 400,000 ante: 400,000

James Mendoza limps 6 2 and Stephen Song opts to check for the flop 5 9 2 that gets rejected for a free turn 3 where Song tries to steal with an 800,000 lead, but Mendoza pays up. The board completes Q with both players checking and Mendoza's bottom pair coming out on top.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
40,000,000(100 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
7,600,000(19 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 12:15:19 PM

Stephen Song Back In Control

Level 29: 200,000 / 400,000 ante: 400,000
Stephen Song

Aside from a preflop scoop with a four-bet and a walk for James Mendoza every other hand went to Stephen Song who increased his lead to a 7:1 now.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
42,000,000(105 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
5,800,000(15 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 12:04:21 PM

James Mendoza Starts Heads Up With Aggression

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
James Mendoza

A limped pot gets checked to the turn 8 T 7 2 where James Mendoza bets 800,000, Stephen Song check-raises to 2,200,000, but decides to let go of J 2 after Mendoza jammed for a total of 6,100,000 with Q 8 .

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
39,000,000(130 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
9,200,000(31 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 11:57:04 AM

Chip Count Last 2 Players Remaining

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
41,000,000(137 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
6,400,000(21 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 11:54:52 AM

Marius Gierse Out In 3rd With Big Slick For A $320,000 Payday

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
Marius Gierse - 3rd Place

Right after doubling up, Marius Gierse opens 600,000 with from the button, small blind Stephen Song ups it to 2,000,000 and big blind James Mendoza cold four-bets to 5,500,000. Back to Gierse, all-in for 8,800,000 is announced and Stephen Song successfully isolates with a jam of his own.

PlayerHandChips
MG
AK
D
busted
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
JJ
SB
41,000,000(137 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
AK
BB
6,400,000(21 BB)

No help for the German online crusher on 3 T 2 Q 6 sees him vacate his seat and the table gets prepared for the very lopsided heads-up.

SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 11:34:11 AM

Chip Count With 3 Players Left

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
30,000,000(100 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
13,000,000(43 BB)
MG
5,100,000(17 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 11:08:32 AM

Chip Count Update

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
21,000,000(70 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
16,000,000(53 BB)
6,900,000(23 BB)
MG
3,900,000(13 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 11:05:42 AM

Patrik Demus Dominated And Out In 5th For $170,000

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
Patrik Demus - 5th Place

Under the gun James Mendoza lays out 600,000, cutoff Patrik Demus ups it to 2,500,000 and fills up for a total of 5,700,000 after Mendoza put him all-in.

PlayerHandChips
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
JJ
UTG
16,000,000(53 BB)
PD
88
CO
busted

Digging for two outs with his bare hands, Demus improves to a four outer on Q 6 9 J but the river Q makes his elimination official, banking the biggest win of his career.

SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 10:59:29 AM

Chip Count Update With 5 Players Left

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
20,000,000(67 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
8,900,000(30 BB)
7,600,000(25 BB)
PD
6,900,000(23 BB)
MG
4,700,000(16 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 10:53:54 AM

Latest Chip Count

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
15,000,000(50 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
9,700,000(32 BB)
7,600,000(25 BB)
PD
6,900,000(23 BB)
MG
4,700,000(16 BB)
IZ
4,000,000(13 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 10:48:56 AM

Chip Count Update

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
12,000,000(40 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
9,700,000(32 BB)
7,600,000(25 BB)
PD
6,900,000(23 BB)
MG
4,700,000(16 BB)
IZ
4,000,000(13 BB)
HW
2,600,000(9 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 10:33:22 AM

James Mendoza Chips Back Up

Level 27: 125,000 / 250,000 ante: 250,000

First to act Stephen Song makes it 500,000 and takes two players to the flop 5 6 T where his 450,000 c-bet gets filled by both to reveal the J turn. He fires a second barrel of 800,000 with A K , hijack James Mendoza raises T T to 2,200,000 after using a time bank, big blind Marius Gierse folds A T and Song follows suit.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
13,000,000(52 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
9,700,000(39 BB)
MG
4,800,000(19 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 10:12:35 AM

Latest Chip Count With 7 Players Left

Level 27: 125,000 / 250,000 ante: 250,000
PlayerChips
PD
11,000,000(44 BB)
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
10,000,000(40 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
6,800,000(27 BB)
MG
6,000,000(24 BB)
5,900,000(24 BB)
HW
3,900,000(16 BB)
IZ
3,900,000(16 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 10:03:06 AM

Jiaming Zhao Ends Second Final Table Appearance Of The Series In 8th For $76,000

Level 27: 125,000 / 250,000 ante: 250,000
Jiaming Zhao - 8th Place
James Mendoza

Down to his last 2,700,000, Jiaming Zhao puts all of them in front from the hijack and small blind James Mendoza - who just doubled up against Zhao a few hands ago - wakes up with a monster and calls.

PlayerHandChips
QJ
HJ
busted
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
AK
SB
7,800,000(31 BB)

Zhao's live cards can't hit on 4 9 4 2 8 ending his second final table after finishing 6th in the Circuit Main Event just a few days ago.

SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 9:58:35 AM

Chip Count Update

Level 26: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000
PlayerChips
PD
11,000,000(55 BB)
8,100,000(41 BB)
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
7,600,000(38 BB)
MG
5,700,000(29 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
5,100,000(26 BB)
HW
4,500,000(23 BB)
IZ
3,500,000(18 BB)
2,700,000(14 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 9:47:22 AM

James Mendoza's Heater Continues

Level 26: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000

Jiaming Zhao min-raises from +2 and fills up after cutoff James Mendoza requested the triangle again for 2,300,000.

PlayerHandChips
AQ
MP
3,200,000(16 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
JJ
CO
5,100,000(26 BB)

The dealer keeps it interesting until the end by flipping over 4 3 5 J A and grants Mendoza his third double up in a row.

SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 9:44:10 AM

Chip Count Update

Level 26: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000
PlayerChips
8,600,000(43 BB)
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
7,000,000(35 BB)
PD
7,000,000(35 BB)
MG
6,200,000(31 BB)
5,500,000(28 BB)
HW
5,400,000(27 BB)
IZ
4,000,000(20 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
2,300,000(12 BB)
HL
1,900,000(10 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 9:42:31 AM

James Mendoza Bounces Back

Level 26: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000
James Mendoza

After doubling right the next hand against Ivan Zhang, Mendoza is at it again, wagering his newly acquired 900,000 chips from the button and Marius Gierse fills up his 400,000 open from +1.

PlayerHandChips
MG
QJ
UTG+1
6,200,000(31 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
AK
D
2,300,000(12 BB)
Board:AJK73
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 9:39:12 AM

Martin Nielsen Triples Up

Level 26: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000
Martin Nielsen

Martin Nielsen min-opens from +2 and takes two interested parties to the action flop Q 9 6 where he continues for 450,000, cutoff Jiaming Zhao flats and big blind James Mendoza declares all-in for 2,500,000. Nielsen fills up for a total of 2,350,000 and Zhao calls to put both opponents at risk.

PlayerHandChips
AA
MP
8,600,000(43 BB)
JT
CO
5,500,000(28 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
KQ
BB
350,000(2 BB)

Nielsen's rockets stay ahead on T 3 and Mendoza picks up the tiny side pot to stay alive.

SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 9:28:38 AM

Chip Count Update

Level 26: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000
PlayerChips
8,900,000(45 BB)
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
7,100,000(36 BB)
MG
7,100,000(36 BB)
PD
6,900,000(35 BB)
HW
5,900,000(30 BB)
IZ
4,100,000(21 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
3,100,000(16 BB)
2,400,000(12 BB)
HL
2,300,000(12 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 8:56:52 AM

Chip Count Update

Level 26: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000
PlayerChips
MG
9,800,000(49 BB)
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
7,800,000(39 BB)
HW
5,900,000(30 BB)
PD
5,700,000(29 BB)
5,600,000(28 BB)
IZ
4,200,000(21 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
3,100,000(16 BB)
3,000,000(15 BB)
HL
2,800,000(14 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 8:55:44 AM

Marius Gierse Bounces Back

Level 26: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000
Marius Gierse

After losing some chips to Ivan Zhang and Patrik Demus, Marius Gierse is back with a 400,000 open from the lojack and big blind James Mendoza defends to see the flop 8 Q A where he check-calls a 300,000 c-bet from Gierse. An 800,000 2nd barrel on the 4 turn gets the job done for the German.

PlayerChips
MG
9,800,000(49 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
3,200,000(16 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 8:30:35 AM

Final Table

Level 25: 75,000 / 150,000 ante: 150,000
TLPT Main Event 15K Final Table
PlayerChips
MG
9,875,000(66 BB)
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
6,700,000(45 BB)
HW
5,750,000(38 BB)
5,375,000(36 BB)
PD
5,125,000(34 BB)
IZ
4,325,000(29 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
3,825,000(26 BB)
HL
3,425,000(23 BB)
3,350,000(22 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 6:12:44 AM

Stephen Song And Marius Gierse Dominate Their Tables On The FT Bubble

Level 24: 50,000 / 125,000 ante: 125,000
PlayerChips
MG
10,325,000(83 BB)
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
8,250,000(66 BB)
HW
5,525,000(44 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
4,800,000(38 BB)
PD
4,675,000(37 BB)
4,450,000(36 BB)
HL
3,575,000(29 BB)
IZ
2,475,000(20 BB)
2,100,000(17 BB)
BL
1,575,000(13 BB)
PlayerChipsTableSeat
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
8,250,000(66 BB)22
PD
4,675,000(37 BB)24
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
4,800,000(38 BB)26
IZ
2,475,000(20 BB)27
HW
5,525,000(44 BB)28
2,100,000(17 BB)31
HL
3,575,000(29 BB)33
MG
10,325,000(83 BB)35
BL
1,575,000(13 BB)37
4,450,000(36 BB)38
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 6:06:35 AM

Ivan Zhang On A Heater

Level 24: 50,000 / 125,000 ante: 125,000
Ivan Zhang

A limped blind battle gets checked to the turn T 7 3 3 where small blind James Mendoza leads 225,000 before filling up Ivan Zhang's 525,000 raise. The river Q is checked down with Zhang's T 5 granting him another pot against Mendoza with A J .

PlayerChips
IZ
4,600,000(37 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
3,800,000(30 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 5:55:09 AM

Patrick Demus Bounces Back

Level 24: 50,000 / 125,000 ante: 125,000
Patrik Demus

After just scooping a pot, Patrik Demus open-limps his small blind and fills up after James Mendoza made it 375.000 to see the flop 7 4 3 . Mendoza's 175,000 c-bet and a call is the last action before the turn Q and river A get checked down where Demus flips over the winner Q 5 and Mendoza mucks.

PlayerChips
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
5,410,000(43 BB)
PD
3,520,000(28 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 5:45:12 AM

Table 2 Update

Level 24: 50,000 / 125,000 ante: 125,000
PlayerChipsTableSeat
QZ
1,555,000(12 BB)21
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
7,100,000(57 BB)22
555,000(4 BB)23
PD
2,420,000(19 BB)24
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
6,100,000(49 BB)26
IZ
2,400,000(19 BB)27
HW
5,000,000(40 BB)28
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 5:33:37 AM

James Mendoza Wins Massive Flip

Level 24: 50,000 / 125,000 ante: 125,000
James Mendoza
Martin Michael Sedlak

With a 265,000 open and a 600,000 three bet in front, big blind James Mendoza squeeze jams 2,850,000 and only button Martin Sedlak snaps.

PlayerHandChips
QZ
HJ
1,855,000(15 BB)
AK
D
555,000(4 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
QQ
BB
6,140,000(49 BB)

Mendoza immediately hits a set on Q 2 9 K 2 for a boat in the end and a massive double up, leaving Sedlak with crumbs after starting the day in 2nd.

SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 5:03:42 AM

Big Stacks Collide

Level 23: 50,000 / 100,000 ante: 100,000

James Mendoza kicks off the action with a 200,000 raise from +1, small blind Stephen Song pumps it to 800,000 and Mendoza pays up to see the flop 6 3 K where Song's 400,000 c-bet gets called. After using a time bank on the 5 turn, Song fires another 900,000 which sends Mendoza in the tank. The Filipino-American uses up three time banks before letting it go.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
7,300,000(73 BB)
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
3,300,000(33 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 4:56:12 AM

Quan Zhou Chips Up Pre

Level 23: 50,000 / 100,000 ante: 100,000

With a 200,000 open from hijack Patrik Demus and a 520,000 three-bet from cutoff James Mendoza in front, Quan Zhou cold four-bets 1,300,000 from the big blind which is enough to scare his competition away.

PlayerChips
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
4,300,000(43 BB)
QZ
2,915,000(29 BB)
PD
1,700,000(17 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 4:47:03 AM

Table 2 With Stephen Song Taking Over The Lead

Level 23: 50,000 / 100,000 ante: 100,000
PlayerChipsTableSeat
QZ
2,175,000(22 BB)21
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
5,600,000(56 BB)22
PD
1,900,000(19 BB)24
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
5,000,000(50 BB)26
IZ
2,800,000(28 BB)27
HW
5,300,000(53 BB)28
4,400,000(44 BB)33
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 4:19:19 AM

James Mendoza Hits The Ground Running

Level 22: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000
James Mendoza

Also with an early win under his belt already, James Mendoza opens 170,000 from +2, hijack Ivan Zhang ups it to 450,000, Mendoza uses a time bank before putting a 1,400,000 four-bet in the middle and Zhang goes in the tank. After using up three times banks the AAPoker ambassador let's it go.

PlayerChips
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
4,915,000(61 BB)
IZ
2,900,000(36 BB)
SMPSMP
5/17/2025, 5:13:53 PM

Day 3 Chip Count

PlayerChips
MG
7,545,000
4,755,000
4,685,000
HW
4,265,000
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
4,085,000
IZ
3,550,000
3,505,000
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
3,330,000
PD
2,250,000
QZ
2,140,000
1,920,000
BL
1,915,000
GT
1,460,000
JQ
1,370,000
HL
985,000
SMPSMP
5/17/2025, 5:10:53 PM

Day 3 Seat Draw

PlayerChipsTableSeat
QZ
2,140,00021
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
3,330,00022
PD
2,250,00024
JQ
1,370,00025
JM
James MendozaUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
4,085,00026
IZ
3,550,00027
HW
4,265,00028
3,505,00031
HL
985,00033
4,755,00033
GT
1,460,00034
MG
7,545,00035
1,920,00036
BL
1,915,00037
4,685,00038