Last update: June 1
The sixth day of the 2026 World Series of Poker delivered everything fans could ask for. Two more bracelets were awarded as James Cheung and Yang Wang celebrated career-defining victories, while one fortunate player walked away with a life-changing $1,000,000 mystery bounty in the Mini Mystery Millions.
Million-Dollar Mystery Bounty Awarded in Mini Mystery Millions
After six Day 1 flights, Event #1: $550 Mini Mystery Millions advanced to Day 2, meaning the mystery bounties were officially in play! The hugely popular event attracted a massive 20,488 entries, making it one of the largest tournaments in World Series of Poker history. The field generated a $9,352,772 prize pool, with $4,097,600 allocated to the bounty pool alone. That bounty pool included a top mystery prize worth $1,000,000, alongside several six-figure rewards, including a pair of $250,000 bounties and four worth $100,000 each.
A total of 793 players returned for Day 2, each hoping to turn a modest $550 buy-in into a life-changing score. Even without the mystery bounties, there was still plenty at stake, with at least $43,000 awaiting the final table and $400,000 reserved for the eventual champion.
The first two quarter-million-dollar bounties were claimed by Jacob Long and Brandon B., but all eyes remained on the elusive $1,000,000 prize.
That bounty eventually found its owner when Andrew Shelton pulled the golden chest, sparking one of the biggest celebrations of the summer so far. According to The Hendon Mob, Shelton had recorded just over $21,000 in lifetime tournament earnings before the event. He also shared an interesting plan for how he intends to use the money, which can be seen in the video below.
Shelton’s tournament run eventually came to an end in 102nd place, adding another $3,350 in prize money to his seven-figure bounty score. Meanwhile, 13 players remain in contention and will return today to battle for the remaining mystery bounties, the $400,000 first-place prize, and the coveted WSOP gold bracelet.
Event #1: $550 Mini Mystery Millions Final Day Chip Count
| Position | Playyer | Country | Chips | Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  David Prociak | United States | 88,000,000 | 55 |
| 2 | Alexander Kaviani | United States | 81,500,000 | 51 |
| 3 | Jurgen Pirgu | United States | 45,500,000 | 28 |
| 4 |  Axel Bayout | France | 43,000,000 | 27 |
| 5 |  Jalil Houssain | Palestine | 39,500,000 | 25 |
| 6 |  Kartik Ved | India | 35,000,000 | 22 |
| 7 | Philip Chun | United States | 32,000,000 | 20 |
| 8 | Sheldon Phelps | United States | 29,500,000 | 18 |
| 9 | Joseph Trezzo | United States | 29,500,000 | 18 |
| 10 | Rocco Iati | United States | 28,500,000 | 18 |
| 11 | Alex Ferrari | United States | 22,000,000 | 14 |
| 12 | Christopher Cawlfield | United States | 21,500,000 | 13 |
| 13 | William Carter | United States | 17,000,000 | 11 |
Event #1: $550 Mini Mystery Millions Final Day Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $400,000 |
| 2 | $265,000 |
| 3 | $200,000 |
| 4 | $155,000 |
| 5 | $115,000 |
| 6 | $90,000 |
| 7 | $72,000 |
| 8-9 | $43,000 |
| 10-11 | $32,856 |
| 12-13 | $27,200 |
James Cheung Wins First WSOP Bracelet in Seven Card Stud
Event #6: $1,500 Seven Card Stud has crowned a champion, with James Cheung capturing his first World Series of Poker bracelet and a career-best $103,185 payday.
The three-day tournament attracted 359 entries, generating a prize pool of $476,572. Cheung’s path to the title culminated in a heads-up victory over five-time WSOP bracelet winner Brian Yoon, who had to settle with $67,771 for his runner-up finish.
The victory marks the largest score of Cheung’s live tournament career and pushes his lifetime tournament earnings close to the half-million-dollar mark. It also serves as redemption after a near miss in another Stud event, having finished fourth in the 2023 WSOP $1,500 Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better event for $47,475.
Thomas Savitsky entered the final day as the chip leader with 25 big bets, while Jonathan Glendinning, on the other end of the spectrum, returned with just a single big bet. Unsurprisingly, Glendinning became the day’s first elimination.
What followed was a classic Seven Card Stud battle of attrition. Bradley Jensen was the next player to fall in fifth place, followed by Savitsky, whose chip-leading stack gradually disappeared until he was left with only half a bet.
As the field narrowed, Cheung began to separate himself from the pack, building a sizeable advantage over Brian Yoon and Gregory Josephson. He eventually eliminated Josephson in third place to take a commanding 4-to-1 chip lead into heads-up play.
The final duel was a quick affair. Cheung started the decisive hand with buried kings and improved to trips on sixth street. Yoon was unable to get away from his pair of nines, and a few moments later, Cheung was celebrating his maiden WSOP bracelet.
After the victory, the Chinese-Scottish player praised his final opponent, describing Yoon as an extremely tough competitor and saying it was an honor to battle him for his first-ever WSOP title.
Event #6: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Qibang “James” Cheung | United Kingdom | $103,184 |
| 2 | Brian Yoon | United States | $67,771 |
| 3 | Gregory Josephson | United States | $45,570 |
| 4 | Thomas Savitsky | United States | $31,380 |
| 5 | Bradley Jansen | United States | $22,141 |
| 6 | Jonathan Glendinning | United States | $16,017 |
| 7 | Korey Simeone | United States | $11,888 |
| 8 | Karle Wilson | United States | $9,058 |
Yang Wang Denies Jesse Lonis, Wins First WSOP Bracelet in $5K PLO
The first Pot Limit Omaha bracelet of the 2026 World Series of Poker has been awarded, with Yang Wang emerging victorious in Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha for $595,388.
The tournament attracted 716 entries, generating a prize pool of $3,293,600. Seven players returned for the third and final day, but all eyes were on Jesse Lonis, who entered the finale with a commanding chip lead. The two-time bracelet winner held more chips than the rest of the field combined.
Still, the road to the bracelet is always anything but easy. Among the players standing in his way were accomplished Omaha specialist and two-time bracelet winner himself, Dylan Weisman, mixed-game regular Stephen Hubbard, 2013 WSOP bracelet winner Jarred Graham, and several other proven tournament veterans.
As the day unfolded, however, it became the Yang Wang show. Wang’s charge began with six players remaining when he doubled through Lonis. Shortly afterward, he all but eliminated Weisman in sixth place before dispatching Hubbard in fifth. After Lonis knocked out Justin Scott in fourth, Wang seized the chip lead and never relinquished it.
Wang then eliminated Adam Krentzman in third place to begin heads-up play, holding more than a 4-to-1 chip advantage over Lonis.
It didn’t take long for all chips to be in the middle preflop. On a flop of 8♠A♥5♠, Lonis was in commanding shape with A♠K♠Q♦9♠, while Wang held Q♣10♣9♦5♦ and needed running cards. The 10♦ turn gave the Chinese player tons of new outs. The river paired the board with another 10♠, improving Wang’s hand to trips and ending the tournament in true Omaha fashion.
The victory earned Wang his first WSOP bracelet and a career-best payday of $595,388. Lonis collected $396,892 for his runner-up finish after coming up just short of a third WSOP title.
Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Yang Wang | China | $595,388 |
| 2 | Jesse Lonis | United States | $396,892 |
| 3 | Evan Krentzman | United States | $277,537 |
| 4 | Justin Scott | United States | $197,139 |
| 5 | Stephen Hubbard | United States | $142,279 |
| 6 | Dylan Weisman | United States | $104,359 |
| 7 |  Jarred Graham | Australia | $77,815 |
| 8 | Zackary Estes | United States | $59,001 |
| 9 | Edward Leonard | United States | $45,502 |
Highlights of the Day
- Jason Daly Wins Third WSOP Bracelet in Omaha Hi-Lo Event
- There’s Still Time to Qualify for the WSOP on GGPoker
- Half-Million Payday and a Bracelet for Daniyal Gheba
- WSOP Unveils Massive New Streaming Stage
- Jerome Neppl Claims First Bracelet of the 2026 WSOP
The first four days of the 2026 World Series of Poker are in the books, and three gold bracelets have already found new owners.
Away from the felt, the WSOP unveiled its massive new streaming stage and kicked off 34 consecutive days of free coverage, beginning with the prestigious $25,000 Heads-Up Championship on the WSOP YouTube channel.
And if you’re still hoping to make it to Las Vegas, GGPoker’s Road to Vegas promotion isn’t over yet, with a major final on May 31 set to award 50 WSOP packages worth $10,000 each.
Jason Daly Wins Third WSOP Bracelet in Omaha Hi-Lo Event
Jason Daly captured the third bracelet of his career after conquering Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better at the 2026 World Series of Poker. The three-day tournament attracted 828 entries, generating a prize pool of $1,099,170. Seventeen players returned for the final day with hopes of claiming the first mixed-game bracelet of the summer.
Already a two-time bracelet winner, Daly entered the day as the chip leader, but still had plenty to do with the nature of a limit split game. Among the remaining contenders were also several accomplished players and bracelet winners, including Vanessa Selbst, Renan “Internett93o” Bruschi, Amnon Filippi, Ryan Bambrick, and Perry Green.
We have to give a shout-out to Green. At 90 years old, the three-time bracelet winner had a chance to become the oldest bracelet winner in WSOP history, eclipsing the current record by seven years. Unfortunately for Green, his impressive run came to an end in sixth place at the hands of the eventual winner.
Daly successfully navigated through the rest of a stacked field and reached heads-up play against Dorian Rios. The duel ended with Daly securing the victory, his third WSOP bracelet, and the $191,362 top prize.
Rios earned $127,528 for his runner-up finish. This is Venezuelan’s second close call in pursuit of a bracelet, having previously finished second in the 2016 WSOP $1,500 Monster Stack.
Jason Daly’s WSOP Bracelets
| Year | Event | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | WSOP Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better | $191,362 |
| 2025 | WSOP Event #47: $2,500 Limit Omaha 8 or Better/Stud 8 or Better | $244,674 |
| 2023 | WSOP Event #58: $3,000 Limit Hold’em 6-Handed | $165,250 |
Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Daly | United States | $191,362 |
| 2 |  Dorian Rios | Venezuela | $127,528 |
| 3 |  Per Hildebrand | Sweden | $87,038 |
| 4 |  Amnon Filippi | Israel | $60,517 |
| 5 | Andrew Voor | United States | $42,879 |
| 6 | Perry Green | United States | $30,973 |
| 7 | Joseph Hallock | United States | $22,817 |
| 8 | Benjamin Gold | United States | $17,149 |
| 9 | Vanessa Selbst | United States | $17,149 |
There’s Still Time to Qualify for the WSOP on GGPoker
The World Series of Poker may already be in full swing, but with seven weeks of action still to come, there’s plenty of time to win your seat to poker’s biggest stage. GGPoker’s WSOP Express satellites are running daily, offering players a path to a WSOP package from as little as $0.50.
Players can climb through four qualifying stages and compete for coveted WSOP Passes, including the $10,000 Bracelet Pass package for the WSOP Main Event. The next major final takes place on May 31 and guarantees 50 Bracelet Passes, giving players a shot at turning a small buy-in into a seat in the most prestigious tournament in poker.
👉 Start your WSOP journey today with WSOP Express satellites on GGPoker
Half-Million Payday and a Bracelet for Daniyal Gheba
Daniyal Gheba added the biggest result of his career to his résumé by winning Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em for $502,985 and his first WSOP gold bracelet.
The four-day event attracted 570 entries, generating a prize pool of $2,622,000. After several days of action, just five players returned for the final day, led by Chenxiang Miao, who started with 90 big blinds. Gheba sat second in chips with 72 big blinds, while the remaining trio all returned with stacks of fewer than 30 big blinds.
Peter Mugar was the first player eliminated on the final day, followed by Ren “Tony” Lin and Xiaohu Liu, setting up a heads-up showdown between the two dominant stacks.
Miao entered the duel at a chip disadvantage, but he briefly managed to seize the lead. It was only temporary, however, as Gheba regained control and ultimately closed out the victory to claim the first-place prize and his first WSOP gold bracelet.
The win represents the largest score of Gheba’s live tournament career and pushes his lifetime live earnings to nearly $2 million.
Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniyal Gheba | United States | $502,985 |
| 2 | Chenxiang Miao | China | $335,290 |
| 3 | Xiaohu Liu | China | $234,432 |
| 4 | Ren “Tony” Lin | China | $166,448 |
| 5 | Peter Mugar | United States | $120,035 |
| 6 |  Ivan Ruban | Russia | $87,945 |
| 7 | Anatoly Nikitin | Russia | $65,479 |
| 8 | Casey Hatmaker | United States | $49,556 |
| 9 | Kharlin Sued | United States | $38,133 |
WSOP Unveils Massive New Streaming Stage
The WSOP has officially revealed its brand-new streaming stage, which will serve as the home of the series’ expanded live coverage throughout the summer.
According to the WSOP, the new setup stretches nearly the length of a football field and features five featured tables alongside 12 outer tables, creating the largest broadcast operation in WSOP history.
The first free livestream from the new stage will showcase the prestigious Event #7: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship. Before the cards go in the air, viewers can tune in to WSOP Countdown, a brand-new pregame show hosted by Jeff Platt, Joe Stapleton, and WSOP broadcasting legend Norman Chad.
The 64-player heads-up championship also features a new format in 2026, with two opening flights being held for the first time. Day 1 consists of three rounds of play, reducing the field to just eight players from each flight who will return for Day 2.
The opening broadcast will feature several interesting matchups, including Daniel Negreanu vs. Brock Wilson, Martin Kabrhel vs. Masato Yokosawa, reigning WSOP Main Event champ Michael Mizrachi vs. Jun Obara, and Phil Hellmuth facing David “ODB” Baker, among others.
Jerome Neppl Claims First Bracelet of the 2026 WSOP
The first gold bracelet of the 2026 World Series of Poker has found its owner, as Jerome Neppl emerged victorious in Event #3: $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold’em.
The casino dealer entered the final day as chip leader after bagging the biggest stack among the 136 survivors from a 906-entry field. Neppl maintained his momentum throughout the final day and ultimately defeated Sean Hamrick heads-up to secure the title and the $64,083 first-place prize. Hamrick earned $42,680 for his runner-up finish.
According to The Hendon Mob, the bracelet-winning score is only the second recorded live tournament cash of Neppl’s career. His previous result came just last month, when he collected $613 at Isleta Resort Casino in Albuquerque. And just a month later, Neppl has gone from a modest first cash to becoming a WSOP bracelet winner!
Event #3: $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerome Neppl | United States | $64,083 |
| 2 | Sean Hamrick | United States | $42,680 |
| 3 | Skyler Halama | United States | $29,678 |
| 4 | Michael Schlittler | United States | $20,988 |
| 5 | Nicholas Baldev | United States | $15,098 |
| 6 |  Andre Welt | Brazil | $11,052 |
| 7 | Antony Diep | China | $8,235 |
| 8 |  Armando Viramontes Serna | Mexico | $6,247 |
| 9 | Jessica Odom | United States | $4,828 |
Highlights of the Day
The cards are officially in the air at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP), as poker’s biggest festival returned to the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas for the 57th annual edition of the WSOP. Over the next seven weeks, from May 26 through July 15, a total of 100 gold bracelets will be awarded, once again turning Las Vegas into the center of the poker universe.
For players across the globe, the WSOP bracelet remains the most coveted prize in the game, and the atmosphere around this year’s series already feels bigger than ever. There is a feeling around the halls that the organizers are stepping things up in 2026. Fans of the game are finally getting something they have been asking for over the years, as the WSOP significantly expands (and opens up) its live coverage.
Free WSOP Livestreams
The series will feature 34 consecutive days of free livestreams across YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Twitch. A massive new production stage has also been built inside the venue, underlining the scale of this year’s media operation.
Then, on July 2, the WSOP Main Event returns to ESPN with coverage beginning on Day 1. Jeff Platt, who has become a familiar face of the WSOP media team over the past several years, described the move as “bringing poker back where it belongs.”
The commentary and broadcast team has also received a major boost. Joe Stapleton officially joins the WSOP family and will bring his trademark energy exclusively to WSOP coverage throughout the summer. David Williams and Maria Ho are also part of the expanded team, while Ali Nejad, one of poker’s most recognizable voices, will remain a constant presence across the livestreams alongside Poker Hall of Famer Nick Schulman.
When the Main Event hits ESPN, coverage duties will once again belong to what many fans still consider the official voices of the WSOP: Lon McEachern and Norman Chad, who have been calling the action for more than two decades.
Cards are in the air
On the tournament floor, the action is already fully underway, with six events running simultaneously across Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
The 2026 series officially kicked off on Tuesday, May 26 with Event #1: $550 Mini Mystery Millions. The tournament is still only in its early stages, with six starting flights scheduled before a champion is crowned and the bracelet awarded on Monday, June 1.
As tradition dictates, the first bracelet of the summer is expected to come from Event #3: $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold’em.
A total of 906 entries were recorded on Day 1, generating a $375,990 prize pool. Jerome Neppl finished the day as chip leader after bagging 758,000, putting himself in prime position heading into the final day.
Play resumed today and will continue down to a winner, with the champion set to receive $64,083 and the first gold bracelet of the 2026 WSOP.
Event #3: $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold’em Day 1 Chip Leaders
| Place | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerome Neppl | United States | 758,000 | 126 BB |
| 2 |  Yutaka Morishima | Japan | 517,000 | 86 BB |
| 3 | Ronan Woolman | United States | 491,000 | 81 BB |
| 4 | Skyler Halama | United States | 489,000 | 81 BB |
| 5 | Brian Baron | United States | 487,000 | 81 BB |
| 6 | Larry Serebryany | United States | 482,000 | 80 BB |
| 7 | Michael Schlittler | United States | 460,000 | 76 BB |
| 8 | Timothy Dugan | United States | 457,000 | 76 BB |
| 9 | Bobby Sanchez | United States | 404,000 | 67 BB |
| 10 |  Lennart Hennig | Germany | 394,000 | 65 BB |
Event #3: $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Payout
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $64,083 |
| 2 | $42,680 |
| 3 | $29,678 |
| 4 | $20,988 |
| 5 | $15,098 |
| 6 | $11,052 |
| 7 | $8,235 |
| 8 | $6,247 |
| 9 | $4,828 |
KidPoker Becoming PapaPoker
Away from the tables, Daniel Negreanu delivered one of the earliest bombshell moments of the 2026 WSOP by sharing one of the biggest announcements of his life during Day 3 of his WSOP vlog series.
KidPoker is becoming PapaPoker!
Daniel revealed that he and his wife Amanda are expecting a baby boy with the help of a surrogate. With the pregnancy currently at 15 weeks, the couple is expecting their son to arrive in late November, so the holiday season will be even more special for the Negreanu family this year.
You can watch the reveal in Day 3 of Daniel Negranu’s 2026 WSOP vlog.
