Brad Owen, one of poker’s most popular vloggers and a WPT Global Ambassador, has officially taken his shot in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship (PPC) at the 2025 World Series of Poker.
The Californian, who boasts over 780,000 YouTube subscribers, joined the star-studded Day 1 field in Level 2, around 5:30 p.m. local time. Not only is this the joint largest buy-in of his career, but it also marks his debut in what many consider the second most prestigious tournament on the WSOP schedule.
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Letting the Fans Join the Ride
For Owen, taking his seat in the PPC was a dream come true, even if it wasn’t always part of the plan.
“I don’t think there’s any tournament more prestigious than this one,” Owen told PokerNews shortly after sitting down. “Nine different variations of poker, against the best in the world, massive buy-in. So, this is kind of the dream I didn’t even know I had until recently.”
But for Owen, it’s not just about testing himself in the toughest mixed-game event on the calendar. As one of the most recognizable faces in poker, he knows he can help shine a spotlight on formats that don’t always get the same attention as No-Limit Hold’em.
“I just hope I can help contribute to growing the game,” he said. “I’ve had so much fun playing mixed. All these guys have been really friendly to me. They know I’m the least experienced player in the field, but I can get a lot of eyeballs on it. So, they’re more than happy to have me at the tables.”
Owen also gave his legion of fans a chance to get in on the sweat, selling 70% of his action to supporters at a markdown, something few players at this level ever do.
“It’s just a cool way for me to give the fans a sweat,” he explained. “I sold 70% of myself at a markdown, 0.9. These guys are better than me. I’m not trying to fleece my audience. I always try to take the best care of them I can, and I’m just grateful they’re supporting me with this journey.”
Follow Brad Owen’s PPC Journey Here
What Do His Chances Look Like?
While most know Owen for his exploits in the No-Limit Hold’em streets, the popular vlogger has taken a serious interest in mixed games over the last year—and it’s already paying dividends.
In December, Owen topped a 138-entry field in the $2,200 H.O.R.S.E. at the WPT World Championship for $60,530, giving him his first and only major title in the mixed-game arena. The experience he gained should have him well prepared as H.O.R.S.E. covers five of the nine disciplines played in the PPC.
While Owen will still be up against some of the most seasoned mixed-game players in the world, his steady progression—and recent success—shows he’s more than just a Hold’em specialist. He’s already racked up nine cashes at the 2025 WSOP, including three in non-Hold’em formats: 91st in the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, 225th in the $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, and 54th in the $3,000 Nine-Game Mix.
That said, the PPC is a different beast entirely, and making a deep run here would undoubtedly be a career milestone for the player with $1,163,147 in live earnings according to The Hendon Mob
Brad Owen & Matt Vengrin Prove the Game Still Has a Soul
What is the Poker Players Championship?
The PPC is one of the most prestigious events on the WSOP schedule, second only to the Main Event in status. First introduced in 2006, the $50,000 buy-in tournament has run every year since, with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19.
Widely regarded as the ultimate test of all-around poker ability, the PPC features a rotation of nine games: No-Limit Hold’em, Seven Card Stud, Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Razz, Pot-Limit Omaha, Limit Hold’em, No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw, Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better, and 2-7 Triple Draw.
The winner not only collects one of the most sought-after WSOP bracelets but also has their name etched on the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy, named after the legendary inaugural champion.
Originally called the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship from 2006 to 2009, the PPC boasts one of the most impressive lineages in poker. Daniel Negreanu is the defending champion, having ended an 11-year bracelet drought last summer by defeating Bryce Yockey heads-up to claim the title.
Michael Mizrachi and Brian Rast share the record for most PPC titles with three apiece, while Dan “Jungleman” Cates remains the only player to win the event in back-to-back years (2021 and 2022).
All Poker Players Championship Winners
YearEvent NameEntrantsWinnerPrizeSecond 2024$50,000 Poker Players Championship89Daniel Negreanu$1,178,703Bryce Yockey 2023$50,000 Poker Players Championship99Brian Rast$1,324,747Talal Shakerchi 2022$50,000 Poker Players Championship112Dan Cates$1,449,103Yuri Dzivielevski 2021$50,000 Poker Players Championship63Dan Cates$954,020Ryan Leng 2019$50,000 Poker Players Championship74Phil Hui$1,099,311Josh Arieh 2018$50,000 Poker Players Championship87Michael Mizrachi$1,239,126John Hennigan 2017$50,000 Poker Players Championship100Elior Sion$1,395,767Johannes Becker 2016$50,000 Poker Players Championship91Brian Rast$1,296,097Justin Bonomo 2015$50,000 Poker Players Championship84Mike Gorodinsky$1,270,086Jean-Robert Bellande 2014$50,000 Poker Players Championship102John Hennigan$1,517,767Brandon Shack-Harris 2013$50,000 Poker Players Championship132Matthew Ashton$1,774,089Don Nguyen 2012$50,000 Poker Players Championship108Michael Mizrachi$1,451,527Chris Klodnicki 2011$50,000 Poker Players Championship128Brian Rast$1,720,328Phil Hellmuth 2010$50,000 Poker Players Championship116Michael Mizrachi$1,559,046Vladimir Shchemelev 2009$50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E.95David Bach$1,276,802John Hanson 2008$50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E.148Scotty Nguyen$1,989,120Michael DeMichele 2007$50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E.148Freddy Deeb$2,276,832Bruno Fitoussi 2006$50,000 H.O.R.S.E.143David “Chip” Reese$1,716,000Andy Bloch
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In this Series
- 1 What to Expect from GGPoker’s First Summer WSOP Schedule Release
- 2 Mark Your Calendar: 2025 WSOP to Run in Las Vegas from May 27-July 16
- 3 2025 WSOP Schedule Released: 100 Bracelet Events Confirmed
- 4 Hellmuth Calls Time on the WSOP Main Event: ‘I Just Can’t Do It Anymore’
- 5 Negreanu, Other Poker Pros Sound Off on Hellmuth’s WSOP Main Event Complaints
- 6 Fedor Holz Says WSOP Bans Are Coming for Online Poker Cheaters
- 7 WSOP Bracelets – All Your Questions Answered
- 8 Daniel Negreanu Reveals His WSOP 2025 Schedule; ‘Kid Poker’ to Play the Seniors Event?
- 9 What Are the Biggest Wins in WSOP History?
- 10 Poker Raffles Is Sending Someone to the WSOP Main Event for Only £1
- 11 PokerNews Daily Deepstack Challenge Returns to 2025 WSOP w/ 50 SEATS for Deepstack Championship
- 12 What Happened to Peter Eastgate’s 2008 WSOP Main Event Bracelet That Sold for $150,000?
- 13 Is a Poker Vlogger an Industry Employee? WSOP’s New Rules Stir Controversy
- 14 What Are the Biggest Wins in WSOP History?
- 15 WSOP Records That Will (Probably) Never Be Broken
- 16 Looking at the Worst Bad Beats in World Series of Poker History
- 17 WSOP Tournament of Champions $1 Million Freeroll Returning to Commerce Casino May 15-17
- 18 Is It Worth Playing Cash Games During the WSOP?
- 19 TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Things To Do In Las Vegas During The 2025 WSOP
- 20 How Foreign Travelers to the 2025 WSOP Will Be Impacted by Trump’s Executive Order
- 21 WSOP+ App Launches to Streamline 2025 World Series of Poker Experience
- 22 Electronic Devices, Player Bans & More: 6 Key 2025 WSOP Rule Changes You Must Know
- 23 Check Out the PokerGO Streaming Schedule for the 2025 World Series of Poker
- 24 Find Out Why Shaun Deeb Gives Away All of His WSOP Gold Bracelets
- 25 2025 World Series of Poker ‘Not Going to Be About Results’ for Daniel Negreanu
- 26 PokerNews Named Official Live Reporting Partner of the 2025 WSOP
- 27 Five Reasons Winning Poker Players Lose Money at the WSOP
- 28 PokerNews Staff 2025 WSOP Predictions – Player of the Year? Potential Bans?
- 29 Phil Hellmuth Will Play the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event After All
- 30 Follow All the Daniel Negreanu $25K Fantasy Draft Picks this WSOP with PokerNews
- 31 Upcoming Milestones and Record Possibilities at the 2025 WSOP Part 1
- 32 Upcoming Milestones and Record Possibilities at the 2025 WSOP Part 2
- 33 Horseshoe & Paris: Your Guide to the Home of the World Series of Poker (WSOP)
- 34 Why Shaun Deeb isn’t as ‘Amped Up’ for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) This Year
- 35 Texas Mike Goes All In Blind at WSOP, Runs into Jacks, Queens, Kings & Aces
- 36 Phil Ivey Arrives at 2025 WSOP, Promptly Busts Moments After Questionable Bet
- 37 ‘Fake News’ Doug Polk Trashes Phil Hellmuth for Backtracking on WSOP Main Event Plans
- 38 Alan Keating ‘Got Outplayed’ in WSOP Heads-Up Event; Wants to Face Negreanu
- 39 Poker Player Who Hit $6.4M Pai Gow Jackpot Pulls $1M WSOP Mystery Bounty
- 40 WSOP $1 Million Mystery Bounty Pulled Within an Hour
- 41 Phil Hellmuth’s Son Has World Series of Poker Bracelet Dreams of His Own
- 42 WSOP Hands of the Week: Schulman Owns Kabrhel & A New Cult-Hero
- 43 Negreanu vs. Blom: Poker Legends Set to Square Off for WSOP Bracelet
- 44 Bad Blood Brewing Between Shaun Deeb and Sean Perry in WSOP High Roller
- 45 ‘Texas Mike’ Makes Unconventional Play on Soft Bubble in WSOP High Roller
- 46 How WSOP Champ Beat Improbable Odds to Win a $1 Million Bonus Check
- 47 Has This Unsung Poker Star Been the Top WSOP Performer Since 2015?
- 48 Gus Hansen Involved in One of the Rarest Poker Hands You’ll See at the 2025 WSOP
- 49 Did WSOP High Roller Winner Angle Shoot at Final Table?
- 50 WATCH: Full Seat Redraw Needed in WSOP High Roller After 72 Max Late Register
- 51 Poker Player Penalized for Expletives After Refusing to Color Up Deep in WSOP Event
- 52 WSOP Online Poker Bracelet Event Canceled on Day 2 Due to Technical Issues
- 53 Massive Cooler Near Money Bubble of WSOP’s Biggest Buy-In So Far
- 54 Daniel Negreanu Reaches Another 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Final Table
- 55 It’s Becoming the ‘Summer of Isildur’ at the 2025 World Series of Poker
- 56 Phil Ivey Records First Cash at 2025 WSOP, and He’s Big-Stacked in $100K High Roller
- 57 How Are Team Grosvenor Getting on in Las Vegas?
- 58 WSOP Addresses Cancelled Online Bracelet Event: “Disruption Severely Impacted Integrity of the Game”
- 59 Big Changes Announced for WSOP Circuit; Remaining 2025 Schedule Released
- 60 Brutal River Card Dooms Mike Matusow Deep in WSOP Seniors High Roller
- 61 ‘Whiny’ Phil Hellmuth Vows to ‘Play Great Poker’ After Slow Start to 2025 WSOP
- 62 WSOP Performance of the Week: Schulman Strengthens Hall of Fame Case w/ Bracelet #7
- 63 Angela Defoe Balances Poker, Artistry & Being Married to a Rock Star
- 64 Seven-High Bluff in WSOP $250K w/ 15% Pot Bet; Did It Work?
- 65 Is This Player the Next Big Thing at the World Series of Poker?
- 66 Sean Perry Loses $250,000 in Five Minutes at the World Series of Poker
- 67 Op-Ed: Is Martin Kabrhel’s Act Good for Poker and the WSOP?
- 68 Navy Vet Played Poker on a Nuclear Sub, Now He’s Chasing a WSOP Bracelet
- 69 Hands of the Week: Peters FINALLY Shuts Up Kabrhel on $250k Bubble
- 70 Seiver, Galfond, Schulman Newcomers Among Poker Hall of Fame Finalists
- 71 Hellmuth Chip Leading at World Series of Poker Final Table in Quest of 18th Bracelet
- 72 ‘Rampage’ Struggling to Spin it Up at 2025 World Series of Poker — ‘Ready to Quit’
- 73 Which of These Players is the Best Without a WSOP Bracelet in 2025?
- 74 Phil Hellmuth Helped Ted Cruz Introduce Policy Benefiting America’s Youth
- 75 Update: Phil Ivey’s 12th Bracelet Run Ends at WSOP $25K Final Table
- 76 This Former PokerStars Team Pro is a Champion in WHAT Ancient Sport?
- 77 Player Who Coolered Matusow at 2005 Main Event Final Table Runs Deep in WSOP Seniors
- 78 Male Poker Player Sparks Controversy After WSOP Ladies Champs Satellite Win
- 79 Glaser in Hunt for 3rd Bracelet of Summer at $2.5K Triple Draw Final Table
- 80 Did High-Stakes Poker Pro Angle Shoot Recreational Player at WSOP?
- 81 WATCH: Texas Mike Goes All In Blind Near $50K PLO Money Bubble
- 82 Poker Vlogging Legend Brad Owen Chasing ‘Dream’ By Shot-Taking in $50K WSOP PPC
