Seven Years Later Zhigalov Wins $1,500 HORSE Again, Takes Bracelet in Event #39

Andrey Zhigalov has reclaimed a title he first won seven years ago. In Event #39: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. at the 2025 World Series of Poker, the 36-year-old Russian poker pro came back from behind to grab his second WSOP bracelet, winning $197,923 in the process.

Good to know

• Zhigalov also won this same H.O.R.S.E. event in 2018.
• The field included 867 players and generated a prize pool just under $1.2 million.
• He now has over $1 million in total live tournament earnings.

Zhigalov made his first WSOP cash in 2014. Since then, he has reached seven final tables, but two results now stand above the rest: his win in this same event in 2018 and his second-place finish in the $10,000 Razz Championship in 2019.

On June 14, he added another high point by winning the same $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event again. The mixed-game specialist became the latest repeat winner of this year’s series, joining names like Nick Schulman and Xixiang Luo, who also scored repeat wins in events they had previously conquered.

Climbing Back From the Bottom on the Final day

Zhigalov came into the third and final day with the chip lead. However, by the time the official final table of eight was set, he found himself as the short stack. Early double-ups in seven-card stud and stud eight-or-better gave him new life. From there, he surged forward, eliminating players and regaining control of the table.

Other big names fell along the way. Ari Engel and Alex Livingston went out before the final table. Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson finished 10th, narrowly missing her first WSOP final table appearance in over two decades.

Thomas Taylor had a strong heads-up advantage, holding nearly four times as many chips as Zhigalov when the final duel began. Zhigalov stayed patient and chipped away, using a quad fives hand in limit hold’em to start his comeback. An ace-high heart flush followed, then more pressure with well-timed aggression.

The hand that changed everything happened in Razz. Zhigalov’s board looked weak with 10-4-2-Q, but his hole cards revealed a perfect wheel. Taylor also had a strong hand but could not top the nuts. That gave Zhigalov a lead he never gave back. He sealed the win moments later with another perfect Razz hand, making a 6-5-4-3-A to close the match.

Final Table Results 2025 WSOP Event #39: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.

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