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Event #97: $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E.
Day 1 Completed
2026 World Series of Poker
Event #97: $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E.
Day: 1
Players Left 64 / 109
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 10
Limit Flop: 3,000-6,000 Blinds, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
While the 2026 World Series of Poker is winding down, with the Main Event down to its final nine and many tables inside the Paris Ballroom already being prepped for storage, there is still plenty of action left to be had over the next couple of days.
A total of 109 entrants took their seats for Event #97: $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E., the last high roller on the schedule. By the time the final card was dealt on Day 1, just 64 players remained, with Chino Rheem leading the way after bagging 641,000.
Rheem, who boasts over $20 million in tournament earnings, has had several cashes this summer, with his biggest result being a runner-up finish in Event #49: $2,500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em. Rheem is still looking for his elusive first gold bracelet, but currently sits in pole position to make another run at a final table. Sitting hot on his heels is Arthur Morris with 638,000, and rounding out the podium spots is Patrick Stacey with 552,000.
End of Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Bets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chino Rheem | United States | 641,000 | 40 |
| 2 | Arthur Morris | United States | 638,000 | 40 |
| 3 | Patrick Stacey | Canada | 552,000 | 35 |
| 4 | Jeff Madsen | United States | 487,000 | 30 |
| 5 | Allan Le | United States | 475,000 | 30 |
| 6 | Jason Mercier | United States | 430,000 | 27 |
| 7 | Ashish Gupta | Australia | 409,000 | 26 |
| 8 | Ali Eslami | United States | 392,000 | 25 |
| 9 | Mike Leah | Canada | 391,000 | 24 |
| 10 | Eli Elezra | Israel | 389,000 | 24 |
Day 1 Highlights
After being eliminated in 15th place in the Main Event, Shaun Deeb took less than 10 minutes to register for the event and took his seat a while after. Deeb busted his first bullet in a hand of Stud against Daniel Negreanu, but immediately reentered and ran up his stack, thanks in part to a hand of Stud where he made a higher straight against Joe Hachem. Deeb continued to run well and ended the day with a healthy stack of 370,000 as he looks to add more WSOP Player of the Year points to his scoreboard.
Caitlin Comeskey, who has been having a stellar summer with a deep run in the Main Event and final table appearances in both the Limit Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship and Ladies Championship, was among the first entrants. Unfortunately for Comeskey, she was unable to gain any momentum and was the first player eliminated after falling to Ashish Gupta in a round of Stud.
Other players who busted and opted not to reenter included Allen Kessler, Anthony Zinno, Matt Glantz, Jordan Siegel, Michael Mizrachi, Andrew Kelsall, James Obst, Luke Schwartz, Hachem, and Ren Lin after a couple of Hold'em hands didn't go his way.
James Joiner busted two bullets, and while Jesse "The Gorilla" Lonis came close to being eliminated twice, he managed to rally his second bullet from a mere 6,500 to a still short, but more workable 43,000 by the end of play.
Other notables who will bring big stacks to battle with on the felt for Day 2 include Eli Elezra (380,000), Naoya Kihara (383,000), Phillip Hui (369,000), Ryutaro Suzuki (364,000), Alex Foxen (347,000), and Negreanu with a well above-average 345,000.
Players will return tomorrow for Day 2 at 1 p.m. local time to play an additional 10 hour-long levels. Action will resume on Level 11, which features 8,000/16,000 betting limits.
Late registration will remain open until the start of Level 13 (~3:15 p.m. local time), and an extended 60-minute dinner break will be held at the end of Level 16 (7:30 p.m.). The tournament allows one reentry, so any player who busted one bullet today may choose to get back in before late registration closes.
With a star-studded field remaining and plenty more expected to join tomorrow, the action is just getting warmed up in this final high roller of the summer. For all the latest, be sure to stick with PokerNews as the field gets one step closer to crowning the next H.O.R.S.E. champion!
Level 10
Limit Flop: 3,000-6,000 Blinds, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Level 10
Limit Flop: 3,000-6,000 Blinds, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
All 64 remaining players are bagging up, spelling the end of Day 1.
Stay tuned as the chip counts and recap of the day will follow shortly.
Level 10
Limit Flop: 3,000-6,000 Blinds, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Seven Card Stud
Eli Elezra completed from late position before Brian Tate raised from the bring-in, and Elezra called.
"Wow! What a player!" Shaun Deeb joked as Tate put in the raise with the three up.
Eli Elezra: XxXx / Q♥Q♦K♠J♠ - folded on sixth street
Brian Tate: XxXx / 3♠8♦5♥J♦
The table erupted after Elezra made open queens on fourth, but Tate stuck around with a call.
Tate called another bet on fifth as Deeb ensured that he knew they were playing Stud Hi, rather than the split-pot variety.
On sixth, Elezra led once more, Tate put in a raise, and Elezra instantly folded, sending the lively table into another frenzy.
"He's him!" Arthur Morris praised Tate, "He is him!"
Level 10
Limit Flop: 3,000-6,000 Blinds, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Seven Card Stud
Jesse Lonis: XxXx/5♦ - folded on third street
Dario Sammartino: XxXx/7♦7♠2♣ - folded on fifth street
Chino Rheem: A♠4♠/A♣7♥7♣
Jesse Lonis completed, Dario Sammartino raised, and Chino Rheem three-bet. Lonis folded before Sammartino called.
Sammartino paired his seven on fourth street and led out. Rheem just called, but he bet out once he made an open pair of sevens himself on fifth street.
After some time in the tank, Sammartino decided to fold, and Rheem was kind enough to show his opponent an ace in the hole.
Level 10
Limit Flop: 3,000-6,000 Blinds, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Limit Hold’em
Matt Grapenthien raised from the small blind and Walter Chambers defended his big blind.
Chambers raised a bet from Grapenthien on the 3♠Q♣6♥ flop and Grapenthien called.
Both players checked on the 8♣ turn and Grapenthien checked a final time on the 8♥ river.
Chambers put out a bet and tabled J♣3♦ for a pair of threes after Grapenthien called. Grapenthien showed 5♦5♥ and was sent the pot.
Level 10
Limit Flop: 3,000-6,000 Blinds, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
The dealers in the $25k H.O.R.S.E. have been instructed to deal three more hands before the bagging process begins.
Level 10
Limit Flop: 3,000-6,000 Blinds, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Razz
Jason Mercier: 6x3xAx/5x5x8xKx
Shaun Deeb: XxXx/2x8x9x6x/Xx
Jason Mercier completed, Shaun Deeb raised, and Mercier called. Deeb fired bets on fourth, fifth, and sixth street, with Mercier calling each time.
Deeb then checked seventh street to Mercier, who took the opportunity to bet. Deeb reluctantly called, but he could not beat Mercier's eight-six and mucked.
Level 10
Limit Flop: 3,000-6,000 Blinds, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Stud Games: 1,500 Ante, 2,000 Bring-In, 6,000 Completion, 6,000-12,000 Limits
Seven Card Stud
Action picked up heads-up to fifth after Mike Leah and Nick Guagenti both put a few bets into the middle already.
Mike Leah: XxXx / 8♥10♠8♣K♣ / Xx
Nick Guagenti: XxXx / A♠Q♣8♠K♦ / Xx
Leah led on fifth with open eights, and Guagenti called.
He bet again on sixth before Guagenti raised, and Leah took a moment before he called.
Leah would check-call a final bet on seventh as Guagenti showed Q♦J♥3♥ for the lone pair of queens. Leah tabled 10♥9♥2♦ in the hole, and his two pair, tens and eights, was the winner to collect a substantial pot.
