In a stunning display of grit and tenacity, Nguyen Le rallied from the brink of elimination to capture the top prize at the 2025 BetMGM Poker Championship, held at Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. With just a single chip remaining among the final 11 players, Le mounted one of the most memorable comebacks in recent poker history, ultimately securing $777,777 after besting Ashish Ghosh in heads-up play.
Tournament Highlights & Payouts
The $3,500 buy-in event drew a record-breaking 1,853 entries, generating a massive $5.9 million prize pool—nearly double its original $3 million guarantee.
Final Table Results:
| Rank | Player | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Nguyen Le | $777,777 (chopped) |
| 2nd | Ashish Ghosh | $752,282 (chopped) |
| 3rd | Yaniv Peretz | $590,348 (chopped) |
| 4th | Hassan El Hakim | $320,198 |
| 5th | Aleksandras Rusinovas | $248,510 |
| 6th | Michael Rossitto | $200,065 |
| 7th | Lars Kamphues | $153,280 |
| 8th | Nicholas Schuler | $123,098 |
| 9th | Joe Serock | $97,245 |
Celebrating Le’s Biggest Career Win
“It’s wonderful. You’ve got to be lucky to get this far in a field like this. It feels amazing,” said Le after securing the win — a payday larger than his entire career earnings to date.
This follows Le’s impressive $425,000 finish in January’s Borgata Winter Poker Open, marking a breakout year for the rising star.
Industry Reaction
David Mileaf, Senior Manager of Poker Operations at BetMGM, commented:
“Nguyen’s comeback was possibly the most epic of the summer — the perfect snapshot of poker’s emotional highs and lows.”
Ryan Kirk, ARIA Director of Poker Operations, added:
“Our partnership with BetMGM began in 2022 with a $1M guarantee. This year, we’re thrilled to award nearly $1M to the champion and nearly $6M in total prizes — a testament to how far we’ve come.”
BetMGM Poker Championship Growth
Since its launch in 2022:
- Entries grew from 343 to 1,853 — a 440% increase
- Prize pool grew from $1.1M to $5.9M — a 436% increase
More than 110 players from BetMGM markets (NJ, MI, PA, and ON) won prize packages including:
- $3,500 entry
- 5-night ARIA stay
- Travel credit
- BetMGM swag bag
Play, Earn, Redeem: BetMGM Rewards
Players at BetMGM Poker earn:
- BetMGM Rewards Points
- Tier Credits
- Redeemable bonuses for MGM properties and Marriott Bonvoy
Responsible Gaming Commitment
BetMGM integrates the GameSense platform, a leading responsible gaming initiative licensed by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Available via desktop and mobile, it complements BetMGM’s suite of safety tools for a secure and engaging digital experience.
