Early Exit for Sam at WSOP Event #61 After Brutal First-Hand Cooler

Sam’s shot at glory in the 2025 World Series of Poker Event #61—a $500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout—ended almost as soon as it began.

Right out of the gate, Sam found what looked like a dream situation: he flopped a set. But that dream quickly turned into a nightmare when his opponent chased and hit a flush, dealing a crushing blow before the tournament had even settled into rhythm. It was a brutal cooler—one of those hands that even seasoned pros shake their heads at.

Trying to recover, Sam found himself up to 49k at the first break!

But the poker gods weren’t done with him yet. A series of swings and misses led to a tumultuous run, leaving him with just 27k at the second break. There would be no reprieve, and no luck as he busted out just before the third break, lasting through almost 6 hours of poker action.

It was a frustrating experience, but one that comes with the territory in freezeout events where there are no second bullets. Sam, like his friend Oliver, faced a string of rough beats that kept him from building any real momentum.

In poker, the line between a deep run and an early exit is razor-thin, and sometimes, despite playing the hands right, variance hits hard. While this wasn’t the result Sam hoped for, his composure in the face of adversity shows a player with both experience and perspective.

The entire Misfits Family congratulates Sam on his valiant effort at the WSOP event. We are so proud to have him as a member of the league.