The World Series of Poker is back in 2025 and the stakes are higher than ever. As poker continues to evolve, so too does the field of competitors—rising stars, veteran crushers, online phenoms and live poker legends will all converge under the bright lights of Las Vegas ready to chase the coveted gold bracelet and their share of multi-million-dollar prize pools.
With the Main Event expected to surpass last year’s record turnout and new formats introduced across the schedule, this year’s WSOP promises high drama, big moments and breakout performances. Whether you’re tuning in for the high-stakes action or tracking fantasy poker lineups, here are five players you won’t want to miss at the 2025 World Series of Poker.
🥇 1️⃣ Daniel Negreanu
No WSOP watchlist would be complete without Daniel Negreanu, one of the most iconic figures in poker history. While “Kid Poker” hasn’t added to his bracelet collection since 2013, he’s been consistently deep in recent WSOP events including a final table run in the $50K Poker Players Championship in 2024 and multiple top-20 finishes across mixed games.
Now entering the 2025 series with renewed momentum and a full summer schedule, Negreanu remains one of the most adaptable players in the field.
His transparency with fans, daily WSOP vlogs, and unmatched table presence continue to make him a fan favorite—and he’s clearly hungry to add a long-overdue seventh bracelet to his resume.
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🧠 2️⃣ Kristen Foxen (formerly Kristen Bicknell)
Kristen Foxen enters 2025 as one of the most dominant female players of the last decade having consistently ranked in the GPI top 10 for women and scoring several major final tables over the past two years.
While her bracelet count sits at three which are all won in earlier No Limit Hold’em events many believe she’s primed for another deep run—perhaps even in the Main Event.
In 2024, she crushed the WPT Montreal and cashed heavily in the EPT circuit and she’s known for her aggressive-yet-calculated style that frustrates even elite opponents. With her sights firmly set on a fourth WSOP bracelet, Foxen is a serious threat in any field she enters.
🔥 3️⃣ Alex Foxen
Another name that is consistently on every poker radar is Alex Foxen, husband to Kristen and a regular in the high-stakes scene which has shown consistent deep-cash potential in either live and online tournaments.
Foxen – a former GPI Player of the Year – broke through with his first bracelet in 2022 at the WSOP, while also securing several other six-figure scores since then. Foxen enters 2025 having posted decent performances in the most recent US Poker Open events, and his name remains in every 25k+ high roller event.
His well-rounded game, unwavering focus, and top level decision-making allow him to pulse up every event, and many on the inside are calling it this year will be the one he grabs a marquee WSOP title.
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🧮 4️⃣ Espen Jorstad
Espen Jorstad, the 2022 WSOP Main Event champion, has established that he is not a one-hit wonder, accepting his place on the front line and raising his game in both live options, and online as well, since his unforgettable win.
Jorstad has proven himself to be consistent with multiple cashes at EPT and Triton events in 2024, a combination of deep runs suggesting he will also be a force in Vegas.
What makes Espen exciting to watch isn’t just his sharp poker brain—it’s his calm, calculated demeanor and ability to navigate chaos at the table.
With renewed confidence and the freedom to choose his best spots you should expect him to go deep in mixed events, high-rollers and perhaps even flirt with another Main Event run.
💻 5️⃣ Landon Tice
If you’re looking for breakout potential at WSOP 2025 Landon Tice is the name to circle. Still in his mid-20s, Tice is part of the new guard of online crushers transitioning to the live stage.
After gaining attention through poker media and streaming platforms he’s started to deliver on that promise with deep cashes in 6-max and high variance events in 2023 and 2024.
Smart, fearless and relentlessly studied Tice brings a GTO foundation and a hunger to prove himself on poker’s biggest stage. He’s likely to focus on NLHE and PLO events where he can leverage aggression and theory to punish softer fields. With the right run, Tice could be this year’s breakout Main Event storyline.
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📝 Final Thoughts
The World Series of Poker 2025 is set to be one of the most thrilling editions yet, with record-setting prize pools, elite competition and a mix of legends and rising stars. Whether you’re rooting for a veteran like Negreanu, a power couple like the Foxens or new talent like Tice there’s no shortage of storylines to follow.
Las Vegas is once again the epicenter of the poker world, and this summer the tables are sure to deliver drama, heartbreak and historic moments. Don’t blink—poker’s biggest stage is ready and the spotlight is on.
