10K Single Day Challenge ($10,000)

One of the most prestigious events of the WPT season, the 10K Single Day Challenge, has officially wrapped up with Australia’s Daniel Neilson emerging as the champion once again. Neilson outlasted a competitive 40-entry field to take home the $127,255 top prize after an intense twelve-hour grind.

This victory not only adds a second WPT title to his illustrious resume but also pushes his career earnings past the $5 million mark. Remarkably, Neilson captured the same title last year during the inaugural WPT Championship, proving that history has a way of repeating itself.

When asked if there was a specific moment when he felt he was destined to win, Neilson replied, "Yes, when I was registered," and indeed, he was right to feel confident.

The final table began with Neilson stacking just behind chip leader Amin Riyazati and straight away, lost his first showdown to drop down the ranks. It was at six-handed when Neilson turned the momentum back around after his royal flush got paid in full by Riyazati. From then on, Neilson stood unstoppable, successfully picking off one short stack after the other.

By the time heads up play was reached, Neilson had an astonishing lead against Yongjia Lin and closed it out in just one deal. Lin was left to settle for a runner up finish while Neilson continues to be the undefeated champion for two years in a row.

10K Single Day Challenge

Date/s: February 14, 2025

Buy-in: USD 10,000

Entries: 40

Prize pool: USD 374,420

ITM: 7 places

Final Table Results

With an astonishing lead, Daniel Neilson wrapped up the final duel in one hand, having raised all-in on the button with 6♠ 4♠ . Yongjia Lin called off for his last 1,110,000 (11 BB) with A♣ 2♣ , and bowed out shortly as board 4♣ 4♦ 2♥ 3♥ 9♥ ran Neilson trip fours for the final victory.

Action is down to heads up play with Daniel Neilson stacking a commanding lead against compatriot Yongjia Lin.

Mario Arrocha finally took a stand and shoved his remaining 900,000 (9 BB) on the small blind. Neilson looked down and quickly made the call with a pocket pair, putting Arrocha at risk.

Board 3♣ T♦ Q♥ 3♠ 8♦ missed to pair up Arrocha's overcards, sending him out two places short of a WPT title.

Daniel Neilson remains to be unchallenged with more blinds and antes swinging his way.

Mario Arrocha defended his big blind against Daniel Neilson's 200,000 button open, and check jammed on flop A♠ 3♠ 5♣ after Neilson sent out a 100,000 cbet. Neilson found no reason to continue and tossed his hand back in the deck.

Daniel Neilson limped in on the small blind and Yongjia Lin checked his option.

Action on board J♥ 7♥ T♦ 3♣ 8♠ was checked all the way down to the river, where Neilson led a bet of 200,000. Lin found the call with top pair J♣ 5♣ and picked up the pot as Neilson revealed bluff 5♥ 2♥ .

The following hand saw Daniel Neilson min open on the button and snap call Amin Riyazati's all-in for 1,820,000 (23 BB) on the small blind.

Window card instantly revealed a set for Neilson, eventually busting Riyazati out of the running as board 9♠ 3♠ 5♠ A♣ 4♦ completed on the felt.

Daniel Neilson opened once more, this time for a bigger 400,000 on the small blind. Amin Riyazati on the big blind, responded with an all-in for 1,360,000 (17 BB) and shipped the boost after Neilson got out of the way.

Final table action has shifted with Daniel Neilson now running table captain. The Australian pro has since picked up several preflop pots, extending his lead a little bit further.

Fabian Gumz called for his last 105,000 (1 BB) following an utg open from Amin Riyazati and saw Daniel Neilson on the big blind raise the stakes to 600,000. Riyazati opted out, leaving the two to showdown,

Gumz hanging by a thread, was officially cut loose as board 9♠ 6♦ 4♦ 5♣ 6♥ failed to save him from his demise.

Down to a chip and a chair, Simas Karaliunas was forced all-in on the small blind when Daniel Neilson shot out a 160,000 open utg. Amin Riyazati called behind and saw action on board J♣ 5♦ 7♣ 5♣ 6♥ check down to the river.

Riyazati fired a final 275,000 bet and pushed Neilson out of the pot. At showdown, Riyazati tabled the nut flush A♣ Q♣ and left Karaliunas' A♠ T♥ entirely in pieces.

Simas Karaliunas defended his big blind against Daniel Neilson's 120,000 early open, and check called another 60,000 on flop A♠ 9♠ 2♥ . Both checked turn Q♦ through to river J♣ , where Karaliunas snap called a final 280,000 bet from Neilson.

Neilson revealed a runner runner straight with K♣ T♥ and left Karaliunas inches from elimination.

A limp pot blind vs blind between Daniel Neilson and Amin Riyazati dealt a flop of Q♥ T♦ 7♠ . Action checked round to turn T♥ , where Neilson check called a 100,000 bet from his opponent.

Neilson checked river K♥ to Riyazati once more, and faced another 275,000 bet. Neilson shot out a raise to 970,000, leaving himself with 5,000 behind. Riyazati burnt through two time banks and eventually paid the price, only to muck as Neilson flipped over a royal flush A♥ J♥ . Neilson picked up the hefty boost and stepped out into the lead.

Daniel Neilson opened 100,000 utg+1 and put out 375,000 more following an all-in from Fabian Gumz on the small blind.

A coinflip situation, Gumz landed the lead straight away with a set on flop K♠ J♣ T♣ and further improved to a boat on runout T♦ Q♦ to secure the double up.

Following a ten-hour grind, today's 10K Single Day Challenge has narrowed down to its final seven players with Amin Riyazati stacking the lead over the final round. Each contender is now guaranteed in $16,849 winnings with all eyes set on the $127,255 top prize.

10K Single Day Challenge

Date/s: February 14, 2025

Buy-in: USD 10,000

Entries: 40

Prize pool: USD 374,420

ITM: 7 places

Final Table Chip Counts

Having just gotten a cbet through Daniel Neilson in the same situation just the hand prior, Amin Riyazati opened again for 100,000 utg. Joseph Sandaev completed his big blind, and folded after Riyazati shot out another 100,000 on flop 9♠ 8♠ 3♣ .

Daniel Neilson opened 100,000 and was met with an all-in from Kyosuke Nagami on the button for 375,000. Neilson unwilling to risk seven big blinds off his stack, slipped the fold and moved on to the next deal.

Daniel Neilson opened utg, raised by Yongjia Lin to 210,000. Jungsup Yun on the small blind, padded it further to 600,000 and called for the rest after Lin moved all-in for 155,000 more.

Yun crushed against the best hand in the deck, took the hit as board J♥ J♦ 2♦ 9♥ 5♥ offered him no salvation.

With pressure from the blinds continuing to mount, any takedown at this point bears some value. Daniel Neilson managed to pick up two rounds of big blind and antes, adding 200,000 to his stack straight away.

With one more elimination before the field drops down to its final nine, Daniel Neilson raised all-in on the small blind and saw Damir Zhugralin call off for his remaining 350,000 (9 BB).

Slightly behind, Neilson caught up quickly on board K♠ K♣ Q♥ 7♣ Q♠ , booting Zhugralin in the process.

Fabian Gumz pushed his 120,000 (4 BB) short stack in on the cutoff and was looked up by Daniel Neilson on the big blind.

Gumz dominated, had luck on his side with a seven on board 4♦ 4♣ 6♣ 7♦ 8♥ enough to earn him the pot.

Daniel Neilson raised all-in for 354,000 (22 BB) against a late position open and saw initial raiser Kyosuke Nagami take the spot.

Nagami dominated, forked over nearly half his stack, having failed to improve on board 9♥ 8♥ 4♣ 3♦ 2♥ .

Jinlong Hu opened to 9,000 and was called by Benny Glaser on the cutoff. Daniel Neilson squeezed to 84,500 on the small blind, and called for his last 500 chip after Glaser moved all-in.

Running a flip, Glaser's pocket pair held on board K♣ J♥ Q♣ 4♥ 7♥ , sending Neilson out of the running.

With a pot of 26,500 spread out on board 6♦ T♥ T♦ K♥ , Daniel Neilson gunned a bet of 22,000 and was check called by Lander Bereciartua on the big blind.

River T♠ saw no more chips pile in, revealing Bereciartua's boat K♦ 5♠ for the win.