2026 WSOPC Calgary Jan – Event #4: $400 NLH Mini Main Event

The massive Mini Main Event is now over, and Edmonton’s Benny Sarnelli got his first ring at the end. It was a pretty solid final table that featured Skyler York, Michael Khan, Michael Malm, Regan Duong, and Harp Padda, among others.

Sarnelli wasn’t the big stack the whole way. Malm and Khan were usually the ones with the big stack as the table played down, until Malm was chipped down shortly after the FT started. After that, Khan mostly ran the show until they got down to the final four.

That’s when the stacks started yoyoing. York was the first to go from four-handed play, and Khan still had the lead. A few hands later, Khan was down to the short stack with Sarnelli on top. Khan got a double back, but couldn’t hold onto it before finishing in 3rd.

That left Sarnelli with the big stack going into heads-up against Samson Mesenegeeshik. Sarnelli was about 2:1 up, and the final phase only took a few hands to complete. The final hand was all in preflop, with Mesenegeeshik on K♠J♠ against ace-three off for Sarnelli. Sarnelli hit his three to take a bigger lead and held for the win.

This was Sarnelli’s first ring, but he’s had a few wins before up in Edmonton. He had $56k in wins going into this one, so the huge score here will come close to doubling his previous lifetime earnings.

Final Table Results from Mini Main Event

1	Benny Sarnelli	$101,977
2	Samson Mesenegeeshik	$62,983
3	Michael Khan	$46,616
4	Skyler York	$34,880
5	Regan Duong	$26,388
6	Mike Malm	$20,187
7	Harpreet Padda	$15,618
8	Brian Bond	$12,222
9	Jimmy Lee	$9,675
10	Michael Grol	$7,749

Benny Sarnelli has the big lead now, with about twice as many chips as second-place Samson Mesenegeeshik. He just picked up a big pot to drop Michael Khan back to the short stack.

He raised the button to 1.2 million, and Khan called to the 10♦6♥8♥ flop. Khan check-raised from 1.2 million to 2.7 million, and Sarnelli called.

Khan led for 4 million on the 4♥ turn, and Sarnelli flatted. The fourth heart came on the river with the Q♥. Khan checked, then swore under his breath when Sarnelli fired 4 million, before ultimately folding. That left him with about 9 million, and he busted shortly after.

Michael Khan was the chip leader at the break about half an hour ago, but he’d chipped down to the short stack by the time they were three-handed. That changed when Benny Sarnelli raised the button to 1.2 million, and Khan called from the big blind.

The flop was 4♥10♣4♦, and Khan check-raised from 1.2 million to 2.4 million. Sarnelli made the call to the Q♣ turn.

Khan led out for 3.2 million, then called when Sarnelli shoved his covering stack. Sarnelli was on ace-queen with top pair, but Khan tripped up on the flop with 5♠4♠ and held for the win. He doubled back up to over 20 million.

Skyler York was the short stack at the break 20 minutes ago, and he just ended his night in 4th place. Samson Mesenegeeshik limped the button before York shoved the small blind. Mesenegeeshik snap-called with aces against queen-ten for York, and the aces held for the win.

That leaves the record-setting Mini Main Event 3-handed between Michael Khan, Benny Sarnelli, and Samson Mesenegeeshik.

Michael Khan raised to 1 million under the gun, and everyone else called to see a flop of 2♥8♠10♥. The action checked around to Benny Sarnelli on the button, and he fired a bet of 2 million.

The rest of the family folded, and Sarnelli showed the 10♣ as he collected the pot.

Benny Sarnelli limped in from the small blind, and Samson Mesenegeeshik checked the big. They both checked the J♠K♥6♥ flop, and Sarnelli check-called for 850k on the Q♣ turn. They both checked the 7♠ river, and Mesenegeeshik showed A♥6♣ against K♦5♦ for Sarmelli, who took it down with top pair.

The big hand happened against Michael Khan with Regan Duong on the big blind. I missed the preflop action, but with the flop os K♦2♦J♣ showing, Duong checked, Khan bet 1.5 million, Duong raised to 3.7 million, and Khan shoved a covering stack. Duong mucked his hand to leave himself short, and he was out shortly after.

There are five left in the Mini Main now after Mike Malm took sixth place. He started the day as the leader, and was stacking big all day, but ran into some trouble at the final table. He was the shortest stack at the last break, but I missed his bustout action updating other events.

The players are on a break with the end of Level 31, and Samson Mesenegeeshik is leading the way with a but more than 14 million, but Regan Duong is close behind.

Regan Duong raised the button to 500k, and Skyler York called from the big blind. York check-called for 350k on the 4♦J♦K♠ flop, and they both checked the Q♥ turn.

When the river came 9♠ York checked again, then mucked when Duong bet 850k. “Jack-ten is good,” he muttered as he mucked his hand.

There is a break coming in about 5 minutes, and I’ll get a round of chip counts then.

In a hand with the action picked up on the turn, small blind Mike Malm bet 1.5 million with the board reading 3♠10♠A♥Q♠. After some tank-time, Skyler York flatted from the big blind to the 3♣ river. Both players checked it down.

“You win,” Malm said, reluctant to show his hand. He eventually showed seven-four off with a spade, but Yprk had seven-deuce of spades for the flush win.

Below is a look at the current chips.

They are down to 6 left in the Mini Main. I haven’t caught much of the action yet as I’ve been updating the other two events underway today, but I should be on the stage for hand reports shortly.

Place	Player	Prize
7	Harpreet Padda	$15,618
8	Brian Bond	$12,222
9	Jimmy Lee	$9,675

Three quick eliminations has brought the Mini Main down to a nine-handed final table. The full prizes are now loaded under the payouts tab, with the recent eliminations below. Stay tuned for final table faces shortly.

Place	Player	Prize
10	Michael Grol	$7,749
11	Ben Cooper	$7,749
12	Seyed Seyednabian	$7,749

The Mini Main Event is down to 12 players left, which means they are just two players off the final table.

Place	Player	Prize
13	Adam Ratchford	$6,280
14	Simon Delarosbil	$6,280

The Mini Main is down to 14 left now, with about 10 minutes to play in Level 29.

Place	Player	Prize
15	Bobby Jones	$6,280
16	Aaron Walters	$5,151
17	Christopher Clellband	$5,151

The final 17 players in the Mini Main are back at the felt after their dinner break. Mike Malm still looks to be the leader with almost 14 million in play, but Harp Padda, who cashed for 4th in the Mystery Bounty early this morning, is playing close to 9 million for second place.

Yizhe Sheng: 6♥6♦
Simon Delarosbil: 10♠10♣

The board ran out 2♠4♣8♣2♣7♥ for Sheng to hit the rail.

Simon Delarosbil: 3,480,000

Samson Mesenegeeshik moved all in for 1,760,000, and middle position made the call. Both players revealed their holdings.

Samson Mesenegeeshik: K♣K♠
Middle Position: 10♣10♠

The board ran out A♥3♥6♠5♥5♠ for Mesenegeeshik to find the double.

Samson Mesenegeeshik: 3,820,000

Michael Grol moved all in for 520,000 from the cutoff, and the small blind moved all in over the top. The remaining players folded, and both players revealed their holdings.

Michael Grohl: A♥8♥
Small Blind: A♦9♦

The board ran out Q♠K♥3♥9♥3♠ for Grohl to find the double.

Michael Grohl: 1,280,000

Action was caught after the turn of 6♦5♠8♣4♠, and Michael Khan led out for 215,000. Mike Malm made the call.

After the river came the [invalid notations], Khan took some time before sliding out a bet of 1,300,000. Malm went into the tank, but eventually made the fold.

Mike Malm: 9,350,000
Michael Khan: 4,120,000

Action was caught after the board ran out 5♣10♥4♦5♦J♥, and the big blind moved all in for 780,000.

With the pot at 900,000, Regan Duong went into the tank. Eventually he found the call, and revealed Q♠Q♣ to best his opponent’s A♠6♦.

Regan Duong: 2,450,000

The flop came K♣K♥Q♠, and Samson Mesenegeeshik led out for 150,000 from the big blind. Middle position made the call.

Both players checked on the 2♥ turn.

The river came the A♠, and Mesenegeeshik fired for 375,000. His opponent made the call, and Mesenegeeshik revealed K♥4♣. This bested his opponent’s A♦3♦

Samson Mesenegeeshik

Early position raised to 430,000, and Adam Ratchford moved all in for 1,560,000. Early position made the call, and both players revealed their holdings.

Early Position: A♣7♣
Adam Ratchford: A♦Q♠

The board ran out 5♠4♠6♥9♥5♥, for Ratchford to take the pot.

Adam Ratchford: 2,110,000

Action was caught after the flop of 5♥4♦K♠, and Harpreet Padda was quick to check from the big blind.

Early position fired for 80,000, and Padda three-bet to 250,000. The early position player was quick to fold.

Harpreet Padda: 1,915,000

Skyler York opened to 100,000, and the big blind made the call.

The flop came 6♠A♦9♦, and the big blind was quick to check. York fired for 65,000, and was rewarded with the pot.

Skyler York: 780,000

Action was caught after the board ran out 4♥K♣K♥K♦3♣, and Evan Taylor moved all in from the small blind.

Middle position went into the tank, but eventually found the fold having revealed Q♥Q♣.

Evan Taylor: 1,325,000

Middle position opened to 85,000, and Donald Hart three-bet to 195,000. Middle position made the call.

The flop came 5♣9♦5♠, and both players were quick to check.

The turn came the Q♦, and Hart fired for 100,000. He was rewarded with the pot.

Donald Hart: 935,000

Early position moved all in for 270,000, and Darren Macleod made the call from the big blind. Both players revealed their holdings.

Early Position: Q♠8♠
Darren Macleod: J♠J♥

The board ran out 4♠7♠K♣8♦3♣, for Macleod to take the pot.

Darren Macleod: 850,000

Mike Malm opened to 100,000 from the button, and the big blind moved all in for 555,000. Malm made the call, and both players revealed their holdings.

Big Blind: A♥8♦
Mike Malm: 3♠3♣

The board ran out A♦3♥9♣7♥K♥ for Malm to find the elimination.

Mike Malm: 2,770,000

Action was caught after the flop of J♣3♦K♦, and the small blind fired for 175,000. Ryan Johnston called from middle position.

After the turn came the A♥, and both players were quick to check.

The river came the 7♣, and the small blind moved all in for 355,000. Johnston went into the tank, but made the call. He revealed A♦Q♦ to best the small blind’s J♦9♦.

Ryan Johnston: 1,630,000

Event #4: $400 NLH Mini Main Event Day 2 ($330 + $70)

Day 2 of the record-setting Mini Main Event is ready to roll at 1 PM on Sunday. 2024 & 2025 API Player of the Year Mike Malm is the chip leader for day 2 with 2.2 million. That puts him 700k ahead of second-place Ben Cooper.

The Day 2 action starts in Level 21, with nearly the full level to play at 15k/25k/25k. Blinds will be 30 minutes for Levels 21 & 22, and switch to 45 minutes for Level 23, and remain there for the rest of the game.

There are 114 players returning for Day 2 action, so this could be a long one. The winner on Sunday can expect to pocket more than $100k, with the Day 2 min-cash set at $1,228. Full prizes will be posted in the Payouts tab later today.

Day 2 Stacks by Seat

Day 2 Chips by Name