Robert Wells Breaks the Bracelet Barrier in $3K Nine Game Mix at 2025 WSOP

From Second-Place Pain to First-Place Finish

The final day began with 18 players and plenty of experience still in the field. Jonathan Glendinning led the way alongside Jon Kyte, while 2024 champion Yuri Dzivielevski bowed out just shy of the final table in 11th place. By the time the last eight were seated, there was hardly any breathing room between them — Wells may have had the chip lead, but sixth place was only a couple of big bets behind.

The final table action kicked off in 2-7 Triple Draw, where Yueqi Zhu was the first casualty. He ran into a pat number six from Fu Wong and couldn’t catch up. Then it was Glendinning’s turn to fall, losing a big draw versus the number two of Anthony Ribeiro in the same game.

David Bach, the last bracelet winner standing, exited in sixth, patting a nine that turned out to be second-best in a multi-way Triple Draw pot. With the bracelet guaranteed to find a new home, Wells began to push the pace.

Wong, also known as “Grasshopper” in the mixed game world, locked up third place after a classic No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw clash. Both he and Wells stood pat — Wong with a jack, Wells with a smoother nine. That set the stage for heads-up play between Wells and Taylor.

The Heads-Up Duel

Taylor started with a small chip lead and even extended it early with a big pot before the break. But the tide began to shift during a round of Stud Hi-Lo, where Wells made trip jacks to take back the momentum.

Back-and-forth swings defined much of the heads-up, but it all came down to a brutal cooler in No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw. Taylor opened the button and called all in with an eight-draw, only to see Wells stand pat with a ten-high. Taylor paired up on the draw, and Wells finally had his moment — arms raised and bracelet secured.

Final Table Results – 2025 WSOP Event #58: $3,000 Nine Game Mix

Place	Player	Country	Prize
1	Robert Wells		$228,115
2	Thomas Taylor		$149,152
3	Fu Wong		$99,771
4	Anthony Ribeiro		$68,304
5	Nicolas Barthe		$47,884
6	David Bach		$34,394
7	Jonathan Glendinning		$25,328
8	Yueqi Zhu		$19,134

🧠 Who Is Robert Wells?

At 42, Robert Wells isn’t exactly a newcomer — but his journey to the bracelet has been far from typical. Though he’s played poker off and on for over 20 years, his real dive into the tournament world came only a few years ago after a trip to Vegas got him hooked.

Originally a low-stakes mixed game grinder, Wells gradually stepped up his game, eventually building a close friendship with none other than Yuri Dzivielevski. The Brazilian star, who won this event in 2024, even encouraged Wells to take a shot at the $50,000 Poker Players Championship. That idea might not be so far-fetched now.

Despite admitting he lacks the experience of some of his mixed game peers, Wells felt confident in the heads-up stages of certain games — and credited the cards (and a crucial cooler or two) for helping him close it out. He also gave a heartfelt shoutout to his wife, who stayed home with their dog while he chased the dream in Las Vegas.

Photo Credit: Eloy Cabacas & Regina Cortina