Event #76: $2,500 Mixed
On Tuesday, June 1, 2025, the spotlight at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) shifted to Event #76: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet, where poker legend Daniel Negreanu sought his eighth bracelet. Instead, the title went to Florida’s grinder Aaron Kupin, who defeated Marco Johnson heads‑up to win $206,982 and his first gold bracelet.
🧐 Negreanu Gets Denied
Negreanu, making his fifth final table of the summer, forced the tournament into feature‑table coverage as hopes soared for yet another bracelet. Ultimately, though, he finished in fourth place, earning $60,792 before succumbing to Kupin during a critical Pot‑Limit Omaha hand .
🧩 Aaron Kupin: Into the History Books
- A dedicated WSOP grinder since 2018, Kupin led the field of 458 entrants from Day 3 onward.
- “When you have the lead the whole day, […] you almost feel like you have more to lose than you do gain,” Kupin admitted, highlighting the pressure of maintaining dominance.
- He described a moment of relief: “I’m in the car, I’m already thinking about what I’m going to say in the interview,” sharing his pre-win jitters.
🎲 Mixed Game Mastery
The Mixed Big Bet format rotates among no‑limit and pot‑limit Hold’em, Omaha, and draw games, testing player versatility. With a prize pool exceeding $1.02 million, the event attracted stars like Jeff Madsen, Bariscan Betil, and Ofir Mor
🧠 Heads-Up: Grinder vs. Brass
Kupin outlasted a familiar foe in Marco Johnson, a two-time bracelet winner. The pair, who once clashed online at low stakes, found themselves battling live at the final table.
Despite their shared history, Kupin relied on solid fundamentals in unfamiliar variants like Pot-Limit Triple Draw and Five Card Draw High. “I’ve never played them outside this tournament,” he said, crediting general poker principles for his success.
💍 What’s Next for Kupin?
- Kupin revealed his love for draw games and even open-face Chinese poker, which contributed to his mixed-game edge .
- He celebrated with his fiancée and a loyal rail, joking they should have brought his cat to Las Vegas for the winning photo op .
- Heading into February 2026, as he ties the knot, Kupin now enjoys the title of WSOP bracelet champion.
📌 Final Table Highlights
- 11th: Hiroyuki Noda – eliminated by Negreanu in Pot-Limit Omaha Hi‑Lo
- 10th: Christopher Vitch – fell to Kupin in No-Limit 2‑7 Single Draw
- 9th (Hye Park) and 8th (Steve Billirakis) followed, paving the way to the six-handed final
- At the feature table: Jeff Madsen (5th), Negreanu (4th), and Ofir Mor (3rd) each exited before the intense heads-up duel
📌 Why This Win Matters
- This is Kupin’s first WSOP bracelet, finishing a poker journey that began with his first cash in 2018
- Negreanu’s fourth-place finish extends his run of five final tables in 2025, closing in on the all-time single-series records held by Phil Hellmuth (2006) and Jeremy Ausmus (2024) .
- The Mixed Big Bet event continues to grow in popularity, challenging players across multiple poker disciplines.
🏆 Final Thoughts
Aaron Kupin’s triumph in Event #76 marks a milestone moment at the 2025 WSOP. His masterful play across a variety of poker formats culminated in his first bracelet victory and nearly $207K in winnings.
For Negreanu, the encore attempt fell short—yet his relentless presence at the table reminds us why he remains one of poker’s premier icons. As the fall of his final-table exit hung heavy in the arena, the crown passed to a new champion—one built from patience, adaptability, and unwavering grit.
Stay tuned to NutFlushNews.com for in-depth WSOP coverage, future bracelet profiles, and exclusive poker insights.
