The 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event ran all the way from 3,294 returning players on Day 3 down to just 1,389 who still have a shot at the ultimate prize. They ended just seven places away from cashing, as 1,382 players are set to make the money when the bubble bursts early on Day 4.
Sasha Liu led the way as action wrapped up, bagging an astounding 2,364,000 chips. She is poised to follow on from Leo Margets, whose performance last year landed her a final table finish. Liu is in the running to become the first woman ever to win the Main Event, although she still has many more days to get through if she’s to make history and convert her stack into a top prize.
Liu also faces stern competition. Two-time bracelet winner Martin Zamani bagged in second place with 1,963,000. The US pro has over $8.3 million in live tournament winnings, according to The Hendon Mob, and he brings loads of experience in high stakes, large field events with him to the tables.
Levon Khachatryan, fresh off a runner-up finish in the $25k High Roller PLO event earlier in the series worth an impressive $1,440,680, finished the day in third place with 1,745,000. Bracelet winners Zdenek Zizka and Will Givens also made it into the top ten.
Top Ten Day 3 Chip Counts
| Position | Player | Country | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Sasha Liu | United States | 2,364,000 |
| 2 | Martin Zamani | United States | 1,963,000 |
| 3 | Levon Khachatryan | United States | 1,745,000 |
| 4 | Robert Gill | United States | 1,604,000 |
| 5 |  Zdenek Zizka | Czechia | 1,576,000 |
| 6 |  Robin Kleinbeck | Germany | 1,558,000 |
| 7 | Will Givens | United States | 1,540,000 |
| 8 | Brian Carraher | United States | 1,463,000 |
| 9 |  Felix Kuemayr | Austria | 1,398,000 |
| 10 | Jared Passanante | United States | 1,361,000 |
The reigning and defending champion Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi was still in contention after Day 3. He ran up his stack all the way to 1.2 million while on the main feature table, but only managed to bag a middling amount of 615,000 by the end of the day. Mizrachi has work to do, but could still become the first back-to-back champion since Johnny Chan in 1987 and 1988.
Six other Main Event champions also bagged. Leading them was Hossein Ensan with 1,280,000, ahead of John Cynn (927,000), Ryan Riess (431,000), Joe Hachem (353,000), Greg Raymer (326,000), and Chris Moneymaker (221,000), as well as WSOP Main Event online champion Stoyan Madanzhiev (499,000).
Other notable players who bagged top 100 stacks at the end of Day 3 include multi-time bracelet winners Brian Yoon (1,132,000), Artur Martirosian (1,063,000), Shaun Deeb (960,000), Alex Foxen (839,000) and Chris Brewer (754,000), while David Peters (602,000), Stephen Chidwick (599,000), and Joao Simao (420,000) are among those a little lower down the counts.
Not everyone was so fortunate, as Day 3 saw nearly two-thirds of the remaining field slashed. Those who fell by the wayside included former Main Event champions Joe McKeehan and Phil Helmuth, GGPoker ambassador Kevin Martin, nine-time bracelet winner Benny Glaser, and Will Kassouf, while a brutal cooler sent Mike Matusow to the rail.
What’s Next at the 2026 World Series of Poker?
The 1,389 players who bagged at the end of Day 3 will return to an exciting yet potentially nitty start. Sound like a paradox? The bubble begins almost immediately on Day 4 as only seven players need to bust before the money.
Expect stalling, but also an exhilarating moment in which the remaining 1,382 lock up their well-earned min-cash of $15,000. Of course, all eyes will be higher up the prize table, where a $10,000,000 sum awaits the eventual winner.
Day 4 kicks off at 11 a.m. Vegas time with blinds at 4,000/4,000 with an 8,000 big blind ante. Day 4 plays much deeper into the money, with close to two-thirds of the remaining field expected to drop.
| Date | Time | Day |
| Thursday, July 9 | 11:00 AM | Day 4 |
| Friday, July 10 | 11:00 AM | Day 5 |
| Saturday, July 11 | 11:00 AM | Day 6 |
| Sunday, July 12 | 11:00 AM | Day 7 |
| Monday, July 13 | 11:00 AM | Day 8 |
| Monday, August 3 | 6:00 PM | Final Table Day 1 |
| Tuesday, August 4 | 6:00 PM | Final Table Day 2 |
| Wednesday, August 5 | 6:00 PM | 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
- Day 2d – 4,458 returned or late regged, 2,034 advanced
- Day 3 – 3,294 returned, 1,389 advanced
- Day 4 – 1,389 set to return
Total entries – 9,208
Confirmed prize pool – $85,634,400
Top Prize – $10,000,000
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $10,000,000 |
| 2 | $6,000,000 |
| 3 | $3,750,000 |
| 4 | $2,750,000 |
| 5 | $2,250,000 |
| 6 | $1,750,000 |
| 7 | $1,500,000 |
| 8 | $1,250,000 |
| 9 | $1,000,000 |
