
The 2026 World Series of Poker gave away 100 bracelets and, by the time the Main Event wraps up, will have awarded an astounding $459,274,357 in total prize money, including $71,679,821 in first place prizes. Two players managed to land double bracelet wins, while several poker legends added to their tally. Phil Hellmuth fell one short on the final day, while Negreanu wrapped up his series with an eighth bracelet.
The 2026 WSOP seemed to go by without a hitch. The main controversies revolved around stalling, shot clocks, and the busyness of the Paris car park. One player was ejected from a tournament for smoking a cigarette at the tables and refusing to put it out, but it was a somewhat tame confrontation compared to Will Kassouf’s exit and subsequent banning the year before.
With the Main Event now on pause until players return for the televised final table, we take a look at the top stories and controversial moments from the 2026 World Series of Poker, as well as listing every bracelet winner of the summer.
All the Scandals and Controversies from the 2026 WSOP
In 2025, the World Series of Poker suffered a full blown integrity scandal when two players, Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll, worked together to help Yaginuma win the event to secure a $1,000,000 bonus prize from Club WPT. Eventually, the result was overruled, first and second place prize money split, and no bracelet was awarded.
This year has been relatively low-key in comparison, that is, until one player claimed to have his entire bankroll robbed after The Closer event. In any case, as always, the 2026 World Series of Poker has had its fair share of madness, moaning, and mishaps.
Sponsorship Patch Restrictions
The controversies started before the series even kicked off when Patrick Leonard made it public that the WSOP had denied him the right to wear his CoinPoker patch. Others followed as it was revealed that players had to formally apply to display their sponsors.
The rules also extended to promotions and content created at the WSOP, sparking debate as to whether this was an attempt to control the exposure of rival brands. Jeff Platt was seen on the PokerNews podcast, where he defended the position by stating that each brand was considered on a case by case basis.
At first, it seemed like offshore sites were the target. Then, ACR, which is itself an offshore site that does not restrict US players, was given the green light, further feeding into the sentiment that this was a planned attack on certain brands.
Club WPT was another company that came under the hammer, although for different reasons. They were complicit, rightly or wrongly, in the aforementioned final table scandal in 2025, paying out the $1,000,000 bonus to Yaginuma despite the WSOP overruling the result. The rule updates also banned third-party prop bets.
Read the full story here: WSOP New Patch Policy Sparks Backlash
Dealer Rating Systems

The World Series of Poker is the most prolific poker series on the planet, yet it’s also gained an infamous reputation for having really bad dealers. Logistically, recruiting thousands of staff members for a seven-week stint of work can’t be easy. The dealers also have tiring shifts, making some mistakes inevitable over the course of a long summer.
Still, we’re not talking about low stakes tournaments at the local casino. These are high stakes events. Players expect a certain standard. They deserve for the game to flow and for the chips to at least be pushed the right way. Mistakes have traditionally been plentiful at the World Series.
WSOP’s answer to this was to introduce a dealer rating system for 2026, another bold move that immediately sparked debate in the poker community. Players were able to rate the dealer on their table directly through the app.
The argument in favour is that the WSOP will be able to quickly identify the best (and worst) dealers for future gigs, while rewarding those who consistently delivered a top quality service. On the flip side, it piles pressure on dealers who already work long, challenging shifts.
On top of that, it’s not hard to envision situations in which a dealer received five stars for handing a player aces, or worse, got given a one star rating for delivering a brutal cooler. Is it fair? We’re not so sure…
Read the full story here: WSOP Dealer Ratings: Transparency or Trouble?
Player Ejected for Smoking at the Tables
Smoking hasn’t been allowed in any US cardroom since 2003, but one player apparently never got the memo. Joao Siqueira of Brazil lit up a cigarette and proceeded to casually chug on it while playing, until the floor was inevitably called over as a tablemate argued that he should receive at least a “one round penalty”.
Siqueira held his ground, arguing with the floor and taking a few more blasts before eventually conceding and putting out the butt in a bottle of water. The argument continued stood up and during that time Siqueira put his chips in his pocket, another serious misdemeanour.
He was ejected from the tournament, losing his stack in Event #56: $3,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em. The official reason was his drunkenness and pocketing the chips, although it’s unlikely the floor would ever have been called if he’d have just smoked somewhere else.
Shot Clocks Introduced After 15-Minute Tank
Late on in the 2026 WSOP Main Event, shot clocks were introduced for the first time ever in the series’ 57-year-long history. In some ways, the change was overdue. Other major series already make use of stop clocks, among them the WPT and European Poker Tour.
According to the WSOP, the introduction of the shot clock was a direct response to a controversial incident that occurred the day before, when a player called Loren Klein tanked for 15 minutes with a single chip behind, and with the full compliance of the entire table, in search of a $20,000 pay jump.
Despite the tank, the floor eventually intervened, and Klein missed out on the pay jump he had desperately attempted to gain. Still, the move prompted immediate criticism from players and apparently led to a direct rule change from the WSOP.
Although it seems like a no-brainer, the problem was that the change was dropped on players with no warning whatsoever on Day 7 of the Main Event. Several prolific pros pointed out that this was unfair for recreational players, who now faced additional, completely unexpected pressure from an ever-ticking clock.
In any case, the rule change stood, and, at least, fewer players tanking bodes well for the Main Event final table viewing experience when it airs on ESPN. Still, this one got mixed reviews.
Pro Claims to Have Been Robbed of Entire Bankroll
Up until the end of the 2026 World Series of Poker, everything had gone pretty smoothly in terms of scandals and controversies. Yes, there were some rule changes, but that’s to be expected when a company like GG took over just last year. Yes, a player was evicted for smoking, but he left without much hassle and wasn’t even handed a ban. None of it is that deep.
On July 13, Jared Griener put out a statement of a more serious nature, claiming that he returned to his Las Vegas Air B&B to find two men waiting for him, who allegedly immediately tackled him to the ground, hog tied him with duct tape, then took his rucksack containing his entire bankroll.
It’s a wild claim, one that drew both sympathy and doubt from the poker world. Whether or not it’s true remains to be known, but if so it will be recorded on CCTV and reported to the police, allowing for a more reliable kind of truth than hearsay on X, and arguably Griener’s own account.
Read the full story here: Pro Jared Griener Claims Entire Bankroll Robbed
Two Players Score the Double, Legends Add Bracelets to Collection
Moving on from controversies to the actual poker, two players managed to secure double bracelet wins in the 2026 World Series of Poker, while several of the biggest names in the poker world added another bracelet to their tally.
Anderson and Kihara do the Double

Naoya Kihara was the first to do the double this year, first locking up a win in Event #17: $10,000 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship. Kihara came back from a single chip after a failed bluff attempt left him short at the end of Day 1. He came back to defeat David Lin heads-up for a first place prize of $428,923.
Just three days later, Kihara went on to top Event #23: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship for $301,970 and claimed the second bracelet of his summer.
With three bracelets in total across his career, the victories brought Kihara to the top of the all-time leaderboard for Japanese players. After an excellent summer, he sat in second place in the Player of the Year rankings as the series wrapped up.
Later in the series, Calvin Anderson went on a heater, winning two events in quick succession. He came first in Event #48: $10,000 Razz Championship for $357,026, then locked up another bracelet with a first place finish in Event #54: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship, along with the $413,580 first prize.

Anderson is a beast at the tables, and this double makes for his sixth career bracelet, including two from online events and four at the WSOP. Anderson has proved himself a well rounded player, with his bracelet wins coming in Razz, PLO, NLHE, Seven Card Stud, and 8-Game mixed.
Shaun Deeb Sits Atop Player of the Year Rankings

Shaun Deeb captured his ninth bracelet in Event #74, putting himself just one behind Doyle Brunson, Erik Seidel and Johnny Chan, who each have ten bracelets to their name. Deeb, though, was just as concerned about his Player of the Year points as he was about any deep runs or cashes, as he even alluded to during the Main Event as he came closer and closer to making the final table.
Deeb eventually dropped out of the Main Event in 15th place for $410,475, and immediately went on to register in two more events on the same day, keen to rack up those points. Deeb’s patience paid off, as he finished the series atop the leaderboard once his Main Event points were added. He is on track for the $100,000 WSOP Paradise package, and more importantly for Deeb, the esteemed PoY title.
The race was tight at the top, with Kihara in second, and Alex Foxen in third, each currently due a $100k package. The PoY is not fully set until points are tallied after the WSOP Paradise in the winter.
Negreanu Among Poker Legends to Add to His Bracelet Tally

One of poker’s most perennially popular stars locked up a WSOP bracelet. Daniel Negreanu took down Event #76: $100,000 High Roller PLO for a whopping $2,257,718.after besting Artur Martirosian heads-up. It was Negreanu’s eighth lifetime bracelet, and his second in three years.
Elsewhere, Negreanu had an excellent series, locking up four final table finishes that left him within the top five of the Player of the Year race as the 2026 WSOP came to a close.
Spanish pro Adrian Mateos locked up his sixth bracelet, becoming the youngest player in history to reach that tally at 32 years old. His came with $4,334,441, one of the biggest top prizes outside of the Main Event. An emotional Benny Glaser also claimed his ninth career bracelet during the 2026 WSOP, taking down the Poker Players Championship for $1,343,764.
Phil Hellmuth wasn’t so fortunate, narrowly missing out on extending his all-time lead to 18 bracelets when he fell to Darren Rabinowitz heads-up in Event #99 on the final day.
Mizrachi Makes Headlines Again

Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi won the 2025 WSOP Main Event for $10,000,000, which put him front and centre of all the headlines last year. This time, Mizrachi had another great run at the series, joining the club of nine time bracelet winners.
Mizrachi then went on to have a mega run in the Main Event, putting himself in serious contention during Day 3 and 4, and begging the question, could he make it two in a row? Unfortunately for Mizrachi and the hoards of media vultures, he eventually fell on Day 5 in 241st place for $50,000.
2026 WSOP Main Event Final Table Set

It’s been a wild Main Event so far, with 9,208 entries making it a slight drop off from last year, but still the fourth largest in history. The prize pool reached $85,634,400, with $10,000,000 set aside for the winner.
Ultimately, poker’s most prestigious tournament has now been reduced to a field of just nine hopefuls. They have each locked up at least $1,000,000, with eyes on the top prize of $10,000,000 and the diamond studded WSOP Main Event bracelet.
Lucas Jumalon is way out in the lead with 194,000,000 chips when action resumes, more than twice that of second place Rami Hammoud. Cash game pro Jamie Shaevel rounds out the podium spots, while bracelet owners Greg Mueller and Michael Gagliano are among those who come back with decent stacks.
| Position | Player | Country | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 194,000,000 | |
| 2 | Canada | 79,000,000 | |
| 3 | United States | 56,000,000 | |
| 4 | Canada | 48,500,000 | |
| 5 | United States | 46,500,000 | |
| 6 | France | 44,000,000 | |
| 7 | Finland | 37,500,000 | |
| 8 | United States | 25,000,000 | |
| 9 | Cyprus | 22,500,000 |
The Main Event resumes on August 3, at which point Poker.pro will keep you updated. Until then, you can check out our daily highlights from the 2026 WSOP Main Event by clicking these links:
Ryuta Nakai Leads Heading Into Day 2
Five Previous Main Event Champions Make it Through Day 2abc
WSOP Main Event Stands as Fourth Biggest in History as Late Reg Closes
Sasha Liu Edges Ahead as Bubble Approaches
Chris Moneymaker Bubbles WSOP Main Event
Reigning Champ Mizrachi Falls on Day 5
Todd Brunson Looks to Continue Family Legacy With Deep Run
Shaun Deeb on Track for Title as 21 Players Remain
Meet the Final Nine Players in the 2026 Main Event
| 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 |
Full List of 2026 World Series of Poker Bracelet Winners
| Event | Number of Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Country | Prize |
| Event #1: $550 Mini Mystery Millions | 20,488 | $9,352,772 | USA | $400,622 | |
| Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em | 570 | $2,622,000 | USA | $502,985 | |
| Event #3: $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold’em | 906 | $375,990 | USA | $64,083 | |
| Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better | 828 | $1,099,170 | USA | $191,362 | |
| Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha | 716 | $3,293,600 | China | $595,388 | |
| Event #6: $1,500 Seven Card Stud | 359 | $476,572 | UK | $103,185 | |
| Event #7: $25,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship | 128 | $3,008,000 | Bulgaria | $800,000 | |
| Event #8: $1,500 Badugi | 554 | $735,435 | USA | $141,963 | |
| Event #9: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship | 204 | $1,897,200 | USA | $450,176 | |
| Event #10: $600 Deepstack No-Limit Hold’em | 4,622 | $2,329,488 | USA | $259,829 | |
| Event #11: $10,000 GGMillion$ High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | 627 | $5,831,100 | USA | $1,089,964 | |
| Event #12: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw | 626 | $831,015 | USA | $155,819 | |
| Event #13: $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em | 1,840 | $2,442,600 | USA | $346,108 | |
| Event #14: $1,500 Mixed: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, “Big O” | 1,287 | $1,708,492 | USA | $265,297 | |
| Event #15: $600 Deepstack Pot-Limit Omaha | 2,636 | $1,328,544 | USA | $171,589 | |
| Event #16: $1,700 U.S. Circuit Championship No-Limit Holdem | 2,148 | $3,231,666 | USA | $439,605 | |
| Event #17: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship | 198 | $1,841,400 | Japan | $428,923 | |
| Event #18: $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold’em | 11,933 | $15,841,057 | USA | $1,302,125 | |
| Event #19: $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | 345 | $5,804,500 | Canada | $1,773,083 | |
| Event #20: $1,500 Dealers Choice | 656 | $870,850 | USA | $161,057 | |
| Event #21: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better | 1,093 | $1,450,957 | Canada | $235,377 | |
| Event #22: $1,500 Big O | 2,150 | $2,802,785 | Canada | $387,110 | |
| Event #23: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship | 130 | $1,209,000 | Japan | $301,970 | |
| Event #24: $25,000 High Roller Six Handed No-Limit Hold’em | 242 | $5,687,000 | Russia | $1,286,285 | |
| Event #25: $500 Freezeout No-Limit Holdem | 4,100 | $1,701,500 | USA | $196,066 | |
| Event #26: $2,000 No-Limit Holdem | 968 | $1,723,040 | USA | $288,064 | |
| Event #27: $10,000 Dealers Choice Championship | 163 | $1,515,900 | USA | $371,664 | |
| Event #28: $600 Deepstack Mixed No-Limit Hold’em; Pot-Limit Omaha | 3,332 | $1,679,328 | USA | $204,140 | |
| Event #29: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | 167 | $7,932,500 | India | $1,992,870 | |
| Event #30: $1,500 Limit Hold’em 7-Handed | 510 | $677,025 | Germany | $133,704 | |
| Event #31: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold’em | 2,103 | $2,791,733 | USA | $238,097 | |
| Event #32: $3,000 No-Limit Holdem | 1,300 | $3,471,000 | USA | $538,158 | |
| Event #33: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship | 390 | $3,627,000 | USA | $767,395 | |
| Event #34: $500 COLOSSUS | 16,269 | $6,751,635 | USA | $550,000 | |
| Event #35: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha | 2,581 | $3,426,277 | USA | $441,560 | |
| Event #36: $100,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | 115 | $11,040,000 | Brazil | $2,841,432 | |
| Event #37: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. | 780 | $1,035,450 | USA | $183,366 | |
| Event #38: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship 7-Handed | 121 | $1,125,300 | China | $285,200 | |
| Event #39: $5,000 Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | 844 | $3,882,400 | Peru | $673,011 | |
| Event #40: $1,500 Razz | 519 | $688,972 | Germany | $135,564 | |
| Event #41: $250,000 Super High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | 56 | $13,720,000 | Spain | $4,334,411 | |
| Event #42: $10,000 Big O Championship | 456 | $4,240,800 | USA | $861,287 | |
| Event #43: $800 8-Handed Deepstack No-Limit | 3,903 | $2,732,100 | UK | $318,556 | |
| Event #44: $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold’em | 466 | $4,333,800 | USA | $594,246 | |
| Event #45: $2,500 Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better | 587 | $1,306,075 | USA | $248,545 | |
| Event #46: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em Championship | 7,538 | $6,633,440 | Canada | $660,000 | |
| Event #47: $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha | 451 | $10,598,500 | Finland | $2,161,056 | |
| Event #48: $10,000 Razz Championship | 155 | $1,441,500 | USA | $357,026 | |
| Event #49: $2,500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em | 1,561 | $3,473,225 | USA | $513,885 | |
| Event #50: $1,500 Millionaire Maker | 11,769 | $15,623,347 | USA | $1,250,000 | |
| Event #51: $10,000 Mystery Bounty No-Limit Hold’em | 558 | $5,189,400 | USA | $678,300 | |
| Event #52: $3,000 Nine Game Mix | 472 | $1,260,240 | USA | $254,470 | |
| Event #53: $1,500 Five Card Pot-Limit Omaha | 1,319 | $1,750,973 | USA | $271,552 | |
| Event #54: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship | 189 | $1,422,900 | USA | $413,580 | |
| Event #55: $50,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha | 110 | $5,225,000 | Brazil | $1,368,700 | |
| Event #56: $3,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em | 1,150 | $3,070,500 | USA | $492,050 | |
| Event #57: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha | 3,763 | $2,558,182 | USA | $390,300 | |
| Event #58: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw | 657 | $872,167 | USA | $161,313 | |
| Event #59: $500 Salute to Warriors | 4,478 | $1,835,980 | USA | $208,800 | |
| Event #60: $50,000 Poker Players Championship | 108 | $5,130,000 | UK | $1,343,764 | |
| Event #61: $1,000 Super Seniors | 3,323 | $2,924,240 | France | $355,263 | |
| Event #62: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em | 1,736 | $3,864,825 | USA | $555,198 | |
| Event #63: $1,000 Mystery Millions No-Limit Hold’em | 22,811 | $13,230,380 | USA | $1,000,000 | |
| Event #64: $25,000 High Roller PLO/NLH Mixed | 214 | $5,029,000 | Finland | $1,172,296 | |
| Event #65: $1,500 Freezeout No-Limit Holdem | 2,617 | $3,474,067 | Mexico | $449,067 | |
| Event #66: $1,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold’em | 1,375 | $1,210,000 | Brazil | $184,769 | |
| Event #67: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Championship | 176 | $1,636,800 | Japan | $392,478 | |
| Event #68: $1,000 Ladies | 1,475 | $1,298,000 | USA | $194,630 | |
| Event #69: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better | 647 | $858,892 | USA | $159,276 | |
| Event #70: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship | 836 | $7,774,800 | USA | $1,350,203 | |
| Event #71: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet Event | 388 | $858,850 | USA | $182,591 | |
| Event #72: $1,000 Mini Main Event | 12,560 | $11,052,800 | Japan | $1,000,000 | |
| Event #73: $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em | 1,402 | $6,449,200 | USA | $979,655 | |
| Event #74: $1,500 8-Game Mixed | 766 | $1,016,865 | USA | $181,625 | |
| Event #75: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship | 190 | $1,767,000 | USA | $415,648 | |
| Event #76: $100,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha | 83 | $7,968,000 | Canada | $2,257,718 | |
| Event #77: $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw Lowball | 508 | $1,130,300 | Canada | $223,177 | |
| Event #78: $600 Deepstack Championship No-Limit Hold’em | 5,177 | $2,609,208 | South Africa | $282,817 | |
| Event #79: $3,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em | 1,792 | $4,784,640 | Israel | $683,830 | |
| Event #80: $10,000 8-Game Mixed Championship | 199 | $1,850,700 | Poland | $431,260 | |
| Event #81: $800 Summer Celebration | 6,803 | $4,762,100 | USA | $500,000 | |
| Event #82: $10,000 Main Event NLHE Championship | 9,208 | $85,634,400 | TBD | $10,000,000 | |
| Event #83: $1,500 Double Board Bomb Pot Pot-Limit Omaha | 1,673 | $2,220,907 | USA | $322,564 | |
| Event #84: $5,000 Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold’em | 1,213 | $5,579,800 | USA | $593,601 | |
| Event #85: $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em | 1,732 | $1,524,160 | China | $219,391 | |
| Event #86: $600 Ultra Stack No-limit Hold’em | 8,007 | $4,035,528 | USA | $400,000 | |
| Event #87: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha | 4,764 | $4,192,320 | USA | $305,000 | |
| Event #88: $300 Gladiators of Poker | 11,185 | $2,751,510 | USA | $250,000 | |
| Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship No-Limit Hold’em | 3,668 | $9,793,560 | USA | $1,159,182 | |
| Event #90: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | 202 | $9,595,000 | UK | $2,276,691 | |
| Event #91: $1,500 Pick your PLO | 857 | $1,137,667 | Italy | $196,431 | |
| Event #92: $3,000 T.O.R.S.E. | 457 | $1,220,190 | USA | $247,842 | |
| Event #93: $1,500 The Closer No-Limit Hold’em | 3,724 | $4,526,376 | Israel | $582,800 | |
| Event #94: $10,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Championship | 558 | $5,189,400 | USA | $1,001,391 | |
| Event #95: $500 Summer Saver No-Limit Hold’em | 4,622 | $1,918,130 | USA | $210,000 | |
| Event #96: $3,000 6-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha | 892 | $2,381,640 | China | $407,137 | |
| Event #97: $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E. | 148 | $3,478,000 | Russia | $872,052 | |
| Event #98: $800 Deepstack No-Limit Hold’em | 2,036 | $1,425,200 | India | $196,659 | |
| Event #99: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em | 884 | $4,066,400 | USA | $695,256 | |
| Event #100: $1,000 Super Turbo | 1669 | $1,495,120 | USA | $216,286 |







