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, 11:35:01 AM

Marius Gierse Doubles Up

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
Marius Gierse

After bleeding some more chips in the previous four hands, small blind Marius Gierse limps, chip leader Stephen Song puts him all-in and Gierse takes the offer for a total of 4,200,000.

PlayerHandChips
MG
66
SB
8,800,000(29 BB)
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
AT
BB
27,000,000(90 BB)
Board:6T7J2
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, 11:29:30 AM

Short Deck Specialist Martin Nielsen Takes Trip To The Payout Desk In 4th For $220,000

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
Martin Nielsen - 4th Place

After two orbits of chips moving back and fourth with not much changing in chip counts, Stephen Song leads 600,000 from the button and Martin Nielsen defends his big blind. Song continues for 400,000 on the T 8 3 flop and fills up after Nielsen check-raised to 1,000,000. The turn 8 has Nielsen put out another 500,000 that gets called and the board completes 5 . Nielsen wagers his last 3,000,000 for a massive bluff with 7 6 , but Song snaps with trips K 8 to extend his lead even further.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
30,000,000(100 BB)
busted
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, 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, 10:56:14 AM

Ivan Zhang Eliminated In 6th For $130,000

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
Ivan Zhang - 6th Place

Cutoff Stephen Song opens 600,000 and snaps after big blind Ivan Zhang declared all-in for 3,700,000.

PlayerHandChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
AJ
CO
20,000,000(67 BB)
IZ
K2
BB
busted
Board:J8562
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, 10:50:25 AM

Hua Wei Lin Takes Home Biggest Cash Of Her Career In 7th For $100,000

Level 28: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
Hua Wei Lin - 7th Place

When the action gets folded to small blind Stephen Song he slides 2,200,000 over the line and Hua Wei Lin defends to see the flop 4 A 5 where she puts her last 125,000 in the middle and Song calls.

PlayerHandChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
T9
SB
15,000,000(50 BB)
HW
Q6
BB
busted

Being ahead, Lin needs to evade six outs and does so on the turn A before the river 9 gives Song a pair to knock her out.

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, 10:19:15 AM

The Chip Leaders Collide

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

Under the gun Patrik Demus min-raises A T and cutoff Stephen Song comes along for the ride with 6 6 to the flop A T 6 . Demus goes on to triple barrel for 400,000, 1,300,000 and 1,600,000 to the river 2 and K where Song takes a time bank before deciding to raise to 4,800,000. Demus gives it some thought, but makes a strong fold.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
15,000,000(60 BB)
PD
7,300,000(29 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, 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, 9:48:44 AM

Haitao Lei Stays Alive

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

After he won the next three hands, Stephen Song is involved for a fourth time by successfully isolating Haitao Lei's 1,400,000 open-jam with an all-in of his own from the button.

PlayerHandChips
HL
QJ
UTG
3,200,000(16 BB)
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
44
D
7,600,000(38 BB)
Board:52TKQ
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, 9:28:38 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, 9:26:53 AM

Jiaming Zhao Keeps Up The Pressure

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

Right the next hand, first to act Jiaming Zhao raises to 450,000 again and finds two customers to share the 9 2 5 flop with. He continues for 500,000 and only big blind Stephen Song pays up for the turn 7 to be revealed where two checks complete the board J . Zhao fires another 1,100,000 which gets Song to lay it down.

PlayerChips
8,900,000(45 BB)
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
7,100,000(36 BB)
HL
2,400,000(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, 8:43:38 AM

Biggest Pot Of The Tournament Ends With A Chop

Level 25: 75,000 / 150,000 ante: 150,000
Jiaming Zhao

Stephen Song opens 300,000 from +2, lojack Jiaming Zhao ups it to 1,000,000 and Song declares all-in for 6,700,000. Zhao doesn't lose much time an fills up for a total of 5,300,000.

PlayerHandChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
AK
MP
6,900,000(46 BB)
AK
MP
5,600,000(37 BB)
Board:3JT95
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, 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, 5:44:21 AM

Stephen Song Continues His Ascent

Level 24: 50,000 / 125,000 ante: 125,000
Stephen Song

A min raised pot between under the gun Stephen Song and hijack Patrik Demus gets checked to the turn 9 7 4 4 where Song lays out a 275,000 delayed c-bet and Demus calls to see the board completes 4 . Another 600,000 from Song gets the job done.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
7,100,000(57 BB)
PD
2,420,000(19 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 5:09:26 AM

Hua Wei Lin Takes On Stephen Song

Level 23: 50,000 / 100,000 ante: 100,000
Hua Wei Lin

Under the gun Hua Wei Lin min-raises and takes hijack Stephen Song to the flop T 9 4 where she check-raises 700,000 and Song fills up his 200,000 bet. Lin takes a time bank before checking the 4 turn and Song follows suit for a free 9 river. Lin forks out a 1,000,000 lead that goes unanswered.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
6,800,000(68 BB)
HW
5,000,000(50 BB)
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, 4:47:03 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, 4:46:15 AM

Stephen Song Is Running Over The Table

Level 23: 50,000 / 100,000 ante: 100,000
Stephen Song and Martin Michael Sedlak

Stephen Song limps his small blind before filling up a 350,000 raise from Martin Sedlak. Both players check to the river 8 K 2 8 4 where Song leads 580,000 with top-pair K T and Sedlak calls, throwing it in the muck after seeing his opponents hand.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
5,600,000(56 BB)
4,400,000(44 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 4:42:46 AM

Junbo Qu Becomes Firs Elimination Of The Day In 15th For $38,000

Level 23: 50,000 / 100,000 ante: 100,000
Junbo Qu - 15th Place

Junbo Qu declares all-in for 730,000 from +2 and big blind Stephen Song has an easy snap-call with kings.

PlayerHandChips
JQ
77
MP
busted
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
KK
BB
4,700,000(47 BB)
Board:T4J63
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 4:29:01 AM

Stephen Song Adds Some More

Level 22: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000
Stephen Song

First to act Junbo Qu lays out 180,000 and fills up button Stephen Song's 410,000 three-bet to see the flop 3 Q 6 where Song's 150,000 continuation is enough to take it down.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
4,200,000(53 BB)
JQ
830,000(10 BB)
SMPSMP
5/18/2025, 4:16:36 AM

Bracelet And Ring Holder Stephen Song Starts The Day Strong

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

After just scooping a pot, under the gun Stephen Song leads 170,000 and finds no callers, adding some more to his mid-sized stack early.

PlayerChips
SS
Stephen SongUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
3,560,000(45 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