Spanish poker player Antonio Galiana secured his second World Series of Poker bracelet by winning Event #3 of the 2025 WSOP, a $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed tournament. The event drew 693 entries, generating a prize pool of $3,270,960. Galiana took the top prize of $582,008. This victory comes just under one year after he won the 2024 $2,500 Freezeout for $439,395. With this latest triumph, Galiana’s recorded tournament earnings now total nearly $1.1 million.

The tournament took place over four days at Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas. A total of 104 finishers made money in this event. Galiana won the event during the first week of the 2025 WSOP, which includes bracelet wins from other players such as David Shmuel, Bruno Furth, and Dan Heimiller.

Final Day Begins with Five Remaining and Roberts Leading

On the fourth and final day of the tournament, five players remained. Christian Roberts of Venezuela held the chip lead. Galiana entered the day second in chips. All three of the largest stacks—Roberts, Galiana, and Frederic Normand of Canada—were in contention for their second bracelet.

The first elimination of the day occurred when France’s Gaetan Balleur moved all-in with pocket sevens and was called by Galiana, who had pocket jacks. Galiana had three-bet from the small blind after Balleur raised on the button. Balleur flopped a flush draw with the only spade in his hand but did not improve and finished in fifth place for $137,948. This is Balleur’s highest live tournament score, surpassing the $63,192 he won for finishing third in a $400 WSOP Circuit event at Harrah’s Cherokee in 2024.

Galiana took the chip lead after this hand but lost a large pot in an all-in preflop confrontation. Galiana held ace-jack while Normand had ace-king, and Normand’s hand held, allowing him to take over the lead.

Renji Mao Eliminated in Fourth Place for $191,550

Renji Mao of China was eliminated in fourth place, earning $191,550. Mao, the 2023 WSOP $800 Deepstack champion, moved all-in with ten of spades and nine of clubs. Normand called with the ace of spades and the five of diamonds. The board ran out jack of diamonds, three of spades, three of clubs, five of clubs, and queen of diamonds. Mao was eliminated, increasing his total recorded tournament earnings to nearly $2.3 million.

Galiana Gains Momentum with Bluff Against Christian Roberts

A critical hand between Galiana and Roberts took place during three-handed play. Galiana limped from the small blind with the king of clubs and the four of spades. Roberts checked from the big blind with ten of spades and eight of spades. The flop came the jack of spades, six of clubs, and four of diamonds. Galiana checked, Roberts bet 450,000, and Galiana check-raised to 1,125,000. Roberts three-bet to 2,000,000 with only backdoor draws. Galiana called. The turn brought the nine of clubs. Galiana checked, Roberts bet 1,000,000 into a pot of 4,900,000, and Galiana called again. The river was the five of hearts. Galiana led for 5,000,000 into a pot of 6,900,000. Roberts folded. Galiana showed his king as he took the pot and moved into a virtual tie for the chip lead.

Christian Roberts Exits in Third Place for $270,407

Roberts was eliminated in third place. In his final hand, Roberts raised to 800,000 from the small blind with the king of hearts and the seven of clubs. Normand called from the big blind with the queen of clubs and the ten of clubs. The flop came seven of spades, six of clubs, and two of hearts. Roberts checked with the top pair, and Normand checked behind. The turn brought the queen of diamonds. Roberts checked, and Normand bet 675,000. Roberts called. The river was the two of spades. Roberts checked, and Normand moved all-in. Roberts called off his remaining 5,150,000 and lost the hand. Roberts, the winner of the 2023 WSOP Online $500 No-Limit Hold’em event, earned $270,407 for his finish.

Heads-Up Play Between Antonio Galiana and Frederic Normand

Heads-up play began with Normand holding a chip lead of approximately 3:2 over Galiana. Galiana narrowed the gap after running a multi-street bluff with six-high. Normand folded the bottom pair after tanking for approximately ten minutes, and Galiana edged into the lead.

The final hand was played with blinds at 150,000-300,000 and a 300,000 big blind ante. Galiana raised to 700,000 on the button with the ace of clubs and the three of clubs. Normand defended with the seven of spades and the six of clubs. The flop came queen of clubs, five of clubs, and three of spades. Normand check-raised over Galiana’s 350,000 c-bet. Galiana called with a bottom pair and a nut flush draw. The turn was the four of clubs, giving Normand a straight and Galiana the nut flush. Normand bet 3,900,000 into a pot of 4,600,000. Galiana called. With the river the nine of hearts, Normand put nearly all of his stack in, leaving a single big blind behind. Galiana moved all-in, and Normand was forced to call off the rest. That was the seal – Galiana, the Spanish native, secured his second WSOP bracelet and a $582,008 payday.

Normand, the 2023 WPT bestbet Scramble main event winner, finished second for $387,979. His recorded live tournament earnings now exceed $2.1 million.

Final Table Results of WSOP Event #3

Antonio Galiana won first place and $582,008, earning 1,680 Player of the Year points. Frederic Normand finished second for $387,979 and received 1,400 points. Christian Roberts took third for $270,407 and 1,120 points. Renji Mao earned $191,550 and 840 points for fourth place. Gaetan Balleur placed fifth for $137,948 and 700 points. Uri Reichenstein finished sixth and received $101,028. Justin Liberto came seventh for $75,263, and Georgios Sotiropoulos finished eighth for $57,051.

2025 WSOP Opens with Multiple Bracelet Winners

The 2025 WSOP began with several players capturing early titles. Antonio Galiana won Event #3. David Shmuel claimed his first bracelet in Event #4, a $1,500 Omaha 8 tournament with 910 entrants and a prize pool of $1,208,025. Shmuel defeated Joe Ford heads-up for $205,333.

Bruno Furth earned his second WSOP bracelet in Event #5, a $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament with 757 entrants and a prize pool of $3,482,200. He defeated Fabian Riebau-Schmithals and won $620,696.

Dan Heimiller won his third bracelet in Event #6, the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud tournament. The event drew 377 players with a prize pool of $500,467. Heimiller beat David Bach heads-up and won $106,840.