Mother makes hasty plane journey to witness son's flight on the seventh day
Data Scientist Danny Iachan, a 31-year-old Baltimore native, is making waves in the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Iachan's poker journey began in college, where he was introduced to the game by friends.
His first visit to Las Vegas was at the age of 21, to participate in the WSOP. Since then, he has cashed in three WSOP events prior to the 2025 Main Event, with a career-best finish of 234th place in the 2018 Milly Maker event, earning $5,800[1].
Iachan's poker skills have significantly improved, as evidenced by his top-ten chip stack of 56 big blinds by Day 7 of the 2025 Main Event. This impressive performance guarantees him at least $360,000 in winnings, a substantial addition to his previous career earnings of $87,539[1]. If he manages to win the event, the top prize could be as much as $10 million.
Throughout the tournament, Iachan has maintained a casual, comfortable demeanor, often seen in his green hoodie[1]. His family support has been a crucial factor in his success. His mother made a special trip from the East Coast to Las Vegas early on Day 7 to support him, and she will be there for the rest of the Main Event. Iachan's girlfriend had to leave before Day 2 due to her job, but his mother's support means a lot to him[1].
Sue Royer, Iachan's mother, also accompanied him during his first visit to Las Vegas. Her presence provides Iachan with benefits such as bringing him food and talking during breaks. Iachan's family was fond of card games, and he played a lot of hearts growing up. Before poker, Iachan was also involved in competitive chess[1].
Iachan is confident about his abilities, stating, "I know I can hang with them." His poker buddies often consult with him during his free time, and he studies hands diligently[1]. The Main Event resumes on Sunday at 1pm local time, with a PokerGO livestream to follow on security delay[1].
[1] - Source: Unspecified
Sports, such as poker, have been a significant part of Danny Iachan's life, with his involvement in the game dating back to his college years. Even before his career-best finish in the 2018 Milly Maker event, he had cashed in three WSOP events, and is now making waves in the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event.
