The last time a player won the World Series of Poker Main Event two years in a row was back when Johnny Chan took it down in 1987 and 1988. Back then, the fields were much smaller, with the 1988 event attracting just 167 entries. Fast forward to 2026, and Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi is on track to make it a double after bagging in Day 2abc.
Mizrachi has a long way to go if he’s to make history, after 312 fresh entries to the field brought the total number in the Main Event up to 8,389, good for a prize pool of $78,017,700 and counting. Of the 2,780 entrants who sat down for Day 2abc, 1,260 bagged to return for Day 3.
At the very top of the counts was Gasper Fernandez with 754,000. Fernandez has enjoyed a number of high stakes victories in Uruguay and his home country of Argentina, totally a touch over $1 million in live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob. He’ll be looking to surpass his biggest score of $274,744 and make his first deep run in a WSOP event.
Only slightly behind was Mason Vieth with 730,000. Vieth, who is known as “Milkman” to his friends for his farm life at home, has totted up a number of WSOP runs in recent years, but is yet to lock up a six-figure score on the felt. Like Fernandez, he also has a little over $1 million in live winnings to his name.
Arturas Astrauskas of Lithuania rounds out the podium for end of Day 1abc chip leaders, while previous bracelet winner Michael Banducci slipped into fourth place.
Day 2abc Top Ten Chip Counts
| Position | Player | Country | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Gaspar Fernandez | Argentina | 754,000 |
| 2 |  Mason Vieth | United States | 730,000 |
| 3 |  Arturas Astrauskas | Lithuania | 646,500 |
| 4 | Michael Banducci | United States | 630,000 |
| 5 |  Daan Mulders | Netherlands | 629,500 |
| 6 |  Miguel Riera | Spain | 592,000 |
| 7 | Chiori Gannon | United States | 589,500 |
| 8 | Kevin Ordet | United States | 584,000 |
| 9 |  Haruna Fujita | Japan | 551,500 |
| 10 |  Peter Patricio | Brazil | 543,500 |
Five Main Event Champions Make it Through
There were eight previous Main Event winners in contention on Day 2abc. Of those, 2004 champion Greg “Fossilman” Raymer bagged the most with 291,000 after securing a late double-up with a set of queens versus top pair.
Reigning and defending champion Mizrachi is through. He started the day with 73,000 and span it up to a respectable 202,500, putting himself in a decent position for a deep run and keeping the dream alive that he could go back-to-back.
Seventeen-time WSOP bracelet winner and 1989 Main Event winner Phil Hellmuth managed to bag for 177,000 after a strong start was somewhat thwarted late on when he ran into a set.
Huck Seed (83,000) and Greg Merson (79,000) were the other Main Event champions to make it through, albeit with shorter stacks, while Joe Cada, Damian Salas, and Daniel Weinman all busted during Day 1abc.
Among the other notable players to bag decent stacks were Tony Dunst (479,000), Martin Zamini (460,000), six-time bracelet winner Brian Hastings (409,000), Freddy Deeb (383,000), three-time winner Joey Couden (346,000), seven-time bracelet winners Scott Seiver (260,000) and Josh Arieh (155,000), and one of poker’s most successful players in terms of live cashes, Stephen Chidwick (152,000).
What’s Next at the 2026 World Series of Poker?
Everyone who made it through Day 1d will take to the tables for Day 2d of the WSOP Main Event on Tuesday, July 7, at 11 a.m. Vegas time.
The 3,638 returning players will be joined by any new entries, as late registration remains open for the first two levels of Day 2d. By then, the total number of entries, prize pool, and payouts will be confirmed.
Although it looks unlikely to surpass last year’s numbers, the 2026 WSOP Main Event is on track to be one of the biggest in history.
Players who bagged either of the Day 2 flights will return for Day 3 on Wednesday, July 8, at 11 a.m. Vegas time.
| Date | Time | Day |
| Tuesday, July 7 | 11:00:00 | Day 2d |
| Wednesday, July 8 | 11:00:00 | Day 3 |
| Thursday, July 9 | 11:00:00 | Day 4 |
| Friday, July 10 | 11:00:00 | Day 5 |
| Saturday, July 11 | 11:00:00 | Day 6 |
| Sunday, July 12 | 11:00:00 | Day 7 |
| Monday, July 13 | 11:00:00 | Day 8 |
| Monday, August 3 | 18:00:00 | Final Table Day 1 |
| Tuesday, August 4 | 18:00:00 | Final Table Day 2 |
| Wednesday, August 5 | 18:00:00 | Final Table Day 3 |
2026 WSOP Main Event in Numbers
- Day 1a – 722 entries, 543 players advanced
- Day 1b – 1,038 entries, 759 advanced
- Day 1c – 1573 entries, 1166 advanced
- Day 1d – 4,694 entries, 3638 advanced.
- Day 2abc – 2,780 returned or late regged, 1,260 advanced
- Total entries so far – 8,389
- Total prize pool so far – $78,017,700 (late registration open during first two levels of Day 2d)
