The 2025 Texas Poker Open festival is underway and with a raft of big events coming this week, some of PokerStake’s finest are selling action to the Main Event among other tournaments in Round Rock. We’ve taken a look at the value on offer as four formidable players sit down to win themselves – and possibly you – big money at one of the fastest-growing poker festivals in the world.

Livschitz Looking to Dominate

Last year, the Texas Poker Open Main Event was won by Ren Lin (pictured below) for $400,000… but could there be a female winner in 2025? There is a lot of talk in the industry at this moment that female players are winning more and more, and with some of poker finest players like Cherish Andrews and Kristen Foxen both representing PokerStake on several occasions over the past two years, we’ve found another female player heading to Texas who can win big.

The Texas Poker Open is made for ‘Trekker’, a.k.a. Victoria Livschitz, who has made her name on the high roller circuit and won over $1.34 while a PokerStake player. Livschitz’s biggest win came in the PGT Last Chance opener that she won, turning a $10,500 buy-in into a $127,650 top prize that multiplied her backers’ investments by more than 12.

Selling to Event #10 the Main Event), #13, #14, #16 and #18, all at no markup whatsoever, her skills at the live felt are seriously undervalued and she can send shockwaves through The Lone Star State a month before the 56^th annual World Series of Poker begins.

Chen Chases Glory

David Chen comes into the 2025 TPO in good form, with a cash just 10 days ago on the PokerGO Tour. Chasing points to make it into the top 40 places – and thereby qualifying for the season-ending million-dollar freeroll – Chen shoots for more glory this week in Texas.

Playing the same events as Livschitz, Chen is selling at a higher markup, with his action on offer at between 1.10 and 1.20, but his recent record coupled with his vast experience in this sort of buy-in range certainly mean he’s a great pick.

Chen has only just joined PokerStake but is already making a very positive impression and a signature win in Texas would not be a surprise. His winnings on The Hendon Mob sit at a very significant number, too, with $866,595 in his profit column meaning that a big win at the Champions Club Texas felt could tip him over the million mark for lifetime ranking tournament earnings.

Theodore Hoping to Rule

Another player hoping to reign in The Lone Star State is Kevin Theodore. A hugely talented live players, Theodore cashed for $250,000 when he finished in 37^th place in last year’s WSOP Main Event, so is used to making deep runs in the biggest of poker tournaments at the live felt.

Having cashed in live events on no fewer than six times already in 2025, Kevin is selling at a markup of 1.10 to the Texas Poker Open Main Event, which its buy-in of $3,330 meaning you can pick up 1% of Kevin’s action in the event for less than the cost of a family pizza. It could be more than worthwhile to get a slice of the profits.

Tyler Ticks Off Another Texas Run

Tyler Phillips spoke to us about his intention to be ‘On the Radar’ in 2025 at the top of the year and so far, his words have proved prophetic. With five cashes, two runner-up results and scores at festivals such as the WSOP Circuit in Cherokee and the Lucky Hearts Poker Open, Phillips isn’t just on target but hitting bullseyes.

Playing the Main Event across potentially four bullets, with all of them available at a markup of 1.08, Phillips is a real threat and is due an outright win after a few runner-up results in recent years. No-one is going to be more desperate to land what would be his seventh ranking title at the Champions Club in Texas than Tyler Phillips and you should snap up his action today.

With a raft of great PokerStake players in the mix, the forthcoming Texas Poker Open is sure to be the biggest one yet. Who’ll walk away with the infamous TPO Belt Buckle that is awarded to the Main Event winner? We’ll be cheering on the PokerStake players all the way… and investing in them too.