3,546 entries result in the eventual champion taking home $525,700
The 2025 Arizona State Poker Championship at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale saw one of its biggest fields ever, drawing 3,546 entries at $1,100 apiece. That turnout pushed the total prize pool high enough to award $525,700 to the eventual champion, Brandon Mitchell.
Mitchell dramatically clinched the title, closing out the event with trip fives to secure the win. The victory added another major milestone to his career, as just a few years earlier, he came out on top of a 3,737-entry tournament at the Wynn Summer Classic for $327,817. With these two large-scale triumphs and other deep runs, Mitchell’s lifetime earnings are now approaching $1.5 million.
Is this how you’d react winning $525,700?! 🤯👇🏽
Former officer-turned-poker-player (Brandon Mitchell) does the unthinkable, besting a field of 3,546 and coming from behind at the final table to WIN the 2025 Arizona State Poker Championship ♠️🏆💰🎉 pic.twitter.com/XzasUVvg8a
— Talking Stick Resort (@TS_Resort) August 21, 2025
The depth of the field meant payouts at the top were significant. Each of the final six players earned six figures, showing the strength of both participation and competition. One of the highlights of the final table was the performance of Hayley Hanna, who finished in fourth place for $157,900.
That result was her best career cash, far surpassing her previous high of $37,708 from a WSOP Circuit online event last year. Hanna’s tournament ended when her combo draw couldn’t get there against Mitchell’s pair and straight draw.
David Levy entered short-handed play with the chip lead, but his run was cut short after dropping a crucial hand to Mitchell’s trips. Levy ultimately finished second when his king-deuce was unable to catch up against Mitchell’s king-five. The board delivered Mitchell three fives, locking up the championship.
This year’s turnout and prize pool underscored the Arizona State Poker Championship’s reputation as one of the premier mid-stakes live tournaments in the country, with strong participation from both seasoned pros and rising contenders.
