The $600 event earned him $318,842 and bragging rights
Kenneth Kim claimed his first-ever World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet by taking down Event #10: $600 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack at the 2025 WSOP, walking away with $318,842. The victory came after outlasting a massive 6,090-player field, which generated a total prize pool of over $3 million at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
For Kim, winning wasn’t even part of the plan. He had entered the event shortly after busting from the $1,000 Mystery Millions and was scheduled to leave town in a couple of days. With limited time, his mindset was simple: enjoy the moment and take it one level at a time. That patient and grounded approach helped guide him through a long and competitive field.
The momentum shifted in Kim’s favor deep into the tournament when he was sitting on just eight big blinds after the dinner break. In a key hand, he correctly called an all-in bluff from David Gonia—a decision that helped rebuild his chip stack and shifted the course of his run. From there, Kim maintained composure and gained traction as play continued.
Entering the final table second in chips, just behind Alex Paredes, Kim began to dominate once five players remained. He knocked out three opponents—Jared Anderson, Gary Blackwood, and Daniel Muniz—in quick succession, each with well-timed aggression and strong reads.
In heads-up play, Kim finished the job against Paredes, sealing the victory in relatively short order. The win marks not only his first bracelet but also a career highlight after years of grinding.
Kim, who initially came to Las Vegas just to enjoy the game and make the most of his trip, now plans to return to the WSOP in a few days. With new momentum and a bracelet to his name, he’s eager to chase even more hardware this summer.
