2025 NAPT Side Event Winners Included Maria Konnikova

The 2025 PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) ran from November 3-12 at Resorts World Las Vegas, and the third edition of the festival proved to be a big success.

There were 50-numbered events on the schedule, but of those, 14 were satellite tournaments. So, over the course of 36 “Spadie” events, a combined 4,689 entrants competed, and $12,100,200 in prize money was awarded.

PokerNews was on-site to offer live updates from three tournaments including Gal Yifrach besting Thomas Boivin to win the $5,300 NAPT Main Event for $543,025; Stephen Chidwick navigating a 23-entry field to win Event #12: $50,000 Super High Roller for $557,930; and Nikolai Mamut claiming victory in the $1,100 PS Open Main Event for $158,700.

Some other big scores were Vitalijs Zavorontnijs besting a 158-entry field to win Event #42: $10,300 High Roller for $358,400; Sean De Jesus Rafael taking down Event #22: $25,000 NAPT PLO High Roller for $171,700; Joao Simao topping a 60-entry field in Event #13: $10,200 NLH/PLO for $174,600; and recent $100,000 PLO Super High Roller Bowl champ John Riordan emerging victorious in Event #8: $5,200 PLO for $58,400.

Here’s a look at some of the bigger winners from the 2025 NAPT.

Cherish Andrews Bests Nick Petrangelo

One of the first big tournaments was Event #5: $10,300 NLH Mystery Bounty on November 3. That tournament drew 60 players who rebought 24 times, which meant the 84-entry field generated an $814,800 prize pool ($394,800 in regular prize pool + $420,000 in bounty prize pool).

Not surprisingly, it was a stacked final table that included Sam Laskowitz (4th for $64,400 + $39,400 in bounties) and David Coleman (3rd for $51,200 + $125,000 in bounties). In the end, it was Cherish Andrews defeating Nick Petrangelo in heads-up play to win the title and $111,300 first-place prize, which, along with $220,000 in bounties, gave her a total of $331,300 in prize money.

Event #5 Final Results

Nick Petrangelo Rebounds

While Petrangelo had to settle for runner-up in Event #5, he didn’t have to wait long to claim a title of his own. The following day in Event #9: $20,000 Super High Roller Warm Up, he bested a 53-entry field (43 unique players + 10 re-entries) to win $309,030.

He did so by besting arguably one of the toughest final tables in recent memory, one that included some of the hottest players in the world right now.

Event #9 Final Results

James & Rawn Victorious in Women’s Events

One of the premier tournaments on the schedule was Event #33: $330 Women’s Event, which offered a $50,000 GTD. With 175 runners, the top 23 finishers made the money, including PokerStars Ambassador Caitlin Comeskey (18th – $670), Tirza Sanders (13th – $1,020), and Elaine Rawn (10th – $1,170). After a long day of play, it was Raena James claiming the title for $11,670.

$330 Women’s Event Final Table Results

Speaking of Rawn, she was also one of 81 entrants to compete in Event #44: $1,100 Women’s High Roller, which offered up a $77,760 prize pool to the top 11 finishers. Comeskey once again cashed finished ninth for $2,430, while Kristen Deardorff placed sixth for $5,970.

After Lydia Cugudda bowed out in third place for $10,090, the title came down to Rawn and Yansong Kou. The former prevailed in heads-up play to take the title and $21,910 top prize back to Canada.

ODB Gets It Done in Seniors Event

On November 10, Event#43: $550 NLH Seniors drew 130 players who rebought 47 times. The 177-entry field generated an $84,960 prize pool that was paid out to the top 27 finishers. Some familiar names to cash were Loyal Sprague (20th – $1,110), John Morgan (15th – $1,460), and Matt Salsberg (9th – $2,230).

When the dust settled, it was David “ODB” Baker defeating David Larson in heads-up play to win the “Spadie” and $18,930 in prize money.

Seniors Event Final Table Results

A Second Chance for Maria Konnikova

One of the last tournaments on the schedule was Event #48: $5,300 NAPT High Roller 2nd Chance, which attracted 32 players who rebought four times. The 36-entry field offered up a $174,600 prize pool to the top five finishers.

PokerStars Ambassador Maria Konnikova ended up defeating 2025 WSOP Main Event runner-up John Wasnock in heads-up play to win the tournament outright for $66,350.

“Sure, I felt like I was playing well – in the zone, locked in, however you want to put it,” Konnikova shared in her Substack. “I got the right bluffs through, got called with worse hands when I had value, made some good calls of my own when I was being bluffed. But also? Man, I got so incredibly lucky. At the final table, when we were three-handed, I ended up cracking pocket kings. Yes, it was after the flop, not an all-in-pre confrontation.”

Event #48 Final Table Results

2025 NAPT Side Event Winners

Note: any missing events were satellite tournaments.

_{*Images courtesy of PokerStars.}

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, host of both the PokerNews Podcast & MPST Podcast Presented By PokerNews, and 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.