If you walked into the PokerGO Studio at the Aria last April, you would’ve felt it. That hum. The US Poker Open 2025 wasn't just another high-stakes series; it was a ten-day clinic in how quickly things can go sideways. One minute, you’re the favorite for the Golden Eagle trophy. The next? You’re on the rail watching Shannon Shorr play the best poker of his life.
Honestly, the way the points race ended was kinda ridiculous. For a week, Matthew Wantman looked like he had the series on lock. He was cashing consistently, winning Event #4, and basically making the final table his second home. But the US Poker Open rewards the closer. And Shorr closed like a freight train.
The Shannon Shorr Heater You Might've Missed
Shorr came into the series already riding a wave. He’d just won a WSOP Circuit Main Event weeks before. Most players would be satisfied with that. Not Shannon.
He didn't just win; he picked the perfect spots to do it. His victory in Event #5 ($10,100 NLH) for $220,400 was dramatic enough, especially that river card against Eric Blair that essentially saved his tournament life. But the real story was the finale. Entering the $25,200 Main Event, the math was brutal. Only Shorr and Nacho Barbero had a mathematical path to catch Wantman.
They both had to win.
The final table was a bloodbath. Landon Tice was there. Nick Petrangelo was there. At one point, Shorr was the short stack after Barbero doubled through him with set over set. Most pros would've folded mentally right then. Shorr didn't. He found a double with queens against Barbero's jacks, stayed alive, and eventually took down the whole thing for $529,250.
By winning the Main Event, he vaulted to 538 points. Wantman had 512. It was that close. Shorr walked away with the Golden Eagle trophy, the $25,000 PGT Passport, and the kind of month most players only dream about.
Why Event #1 Set the Tone for the Series
The opening $5,100 event felt like a warning shot. Usually, the first tournament is a feeler. Not this time.
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Kristen Foxen reminded everyone why she's one of the best in the world. She battled through 129 entrants and a final table that lasted way longer than anyone expected. We're talking a three-handed battle between Foxen, Ping Liu, and Francis Anderson that went on for over two and a half hours. In the PGT world, where the clock is always ticking, that’s an eternity.
Foxen's win was messy. She hit a deuce on the turn to bust Michael Arellano (who got in via a satellite, which is a cool story in its own right). Later, she flopped trip deuces to crack Anderson's pocket tens. It was pure chaos. But she stayed composed, took the $158,025 prize, and for a few days, sat atop the PGT leaderboard.
The Foxen Household Dominance
If you follow poker, you know the Foxens. But seeing them both win titles in the same series is something else. About a week after Kristen’s win, her husband Alex Foxen took down Event #7 ($15,100 NLH).
He wasn't messing around. He came into the final table with the lead and stayed aggressive. He flopped a set of kings in a massive pot against David Coleman, who had a monster straight-and-flush draw. Foxen's set held. He ended up pocketing $340,200. Between the two of them, they've now won four PGT titles in the first half of 2025 alone. It's becoming a bit of a joke how much they're winning.
Breaking Down the 2025 Winners
It wasn't just the Shorr and Foxen show, though it felt like it at times. The variety of winners showed just how deep the high-roller pool is getting.
Jesse Lonis snagged Event #2 for over $250k. He’s been on a tear lately, so that wasn't a huge surprise. Michael Rossitto took Event #3, and Brandon Wilson grabbed Event #6. Each of these events had roughly 70 to 130 entries. That might sound small compared to the WSOP, but remember: these are all pros and wealthy enthusiasts. There are no "easy" seats at the PokerGO Studio.
The buy-ins for the US Poker Open 2025 were pretty standard for the tour:
- Event 1: $5,100 NLH
- Events 2-5: $10,100 NLH
- Events 6-7: $15,100 NLH
- Event 8: $25,200 NLH (The Main Event)
One thing people get wrong about this series is thinking it’s all about the money. Don't get me wrong, half a million dollars is a lot. But for these guys, the Golden Eagle trophy and those PGT points are everything. Those points determine who gets into the $1,000,000 PGT Championship at the end of the year. Every min-cash matters.
What This Means for Your Game
You’re probably not playing $25k buy-ins tomorrow. That's fine. But watching the US Poker Open 2025 gives you a look at high-level adjustments you won't see in your local $1/2 game.
Notice how Shorr played when he was the short stack at the final table. He didn't panic. He waited for the right spot to flip. In tournament poker, your mental game is usually the first thing to break. Shorr’s didn't. That’s why he’s a champion.
Also, look at the aggression levels. In Event #8, Barbero and Shorr were constantly putting each other in tough spots. They aren't just "playing their cards." They're playing the person and the situation. If you want to move up in stakes, you’ve gotta stop worrying about having the "nuts" and start worrying about who has the most leverage in the hand.
Takeaways from the Series
If you're looking to track the PGT or improve your own tournament results, here's what you should do next:
- Watch the Replays: PokerGO has the full streams. Don't just watch the highlights. Watch the three-handed play in Event #1. You’ll see how Kristen Foxen manipulates her stack size to put pressure on her opponents.
- Track the PGT Leaderboard: The race is wide open now. Guys like Alex Foxen and Shannon Shorr are at the top, but the schedule for the rest of 2025 is packed.
- Study the Final Hands: Look at the Shorr vs. Barbero heads-up. It was fast—less than 30 minutes. Why? Because Shorr knew exactly when to pull the trigger.
- Check the Structures: If you play local tournaments, compare your structures to the PGT ones. You’ll notice the PGT uses a big blind ante and a shot clock. This keeps the game moving and prevents people from tanking for five minutes on a simple fold.
The US Poker Open 2025 confirmed that the current era of poker belongs to the grinders who can stay calm when the cards get weird. Shannon Shorr proved he belongs at the absolute top. Matthew Wantman showed that consistency pays off, even if you don't take home the big trophy. And the Foxens? Well, they’re just doing Foxen things.
Keep an eye on the upcoming Poker Masters. If Shorr keeps this heat up, he might be looking at a Purple Jacket to go with his Golden Eagle.