Phil Hellmuth Confirms Return to WSOP Europe; Is Bracelet #18 Coming?
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It’s been a huge week for the World Series of Poker.
The 2026 WSOP schedule dropped with a series of changes that players have already labelled game changing. At the same time, the WSOP also confirmed an revamp to the Main Event.
Soon after, Daniel Negreanu outlined his summer grind, revealing plans to fire in as many as 40 bracelet events.
But, before a single card is dealt in Las Vegas, one of the biggest names in the game has confirmed he’ll be chasing WSOP gold in Europe.
“I’m Planning on Playing Almost Every Event”
Phil Hellmuth has committed to playing WSOP Europe in Prague.
The all-time bracelet leader, and a BetRivers Poker ambassador, took to X to announce the news, where he said he was going to be putting some serious volume.
“I’m here to talk about the World Series of Poker, specifically the World Series of Poker Europe in Prague. I’ll be there." Hellmuth said. "I’m going to fly in a day or two early. I’m planning on playing almost every event."
"Looking forward to the World Series of Poker Europe in Prague, playing for bracelets, going for it and then of course, looking forward to the World Series of Poker.”
It marks the first time in several years that Hellmuth will compete for bracelets on European soil.
The last time he played WSOP Europe was in 2019, where he came agonizingly close to adding to his record tally.
He finished second in the €25,500 Mixed Games Championship, third in the €2,500 8-Game Mix, and had two other cashes during the series.
A Unique Piece of WSOP History
Hellmuth’s connection to WSOP Europe runs deeper than those near misses.
In 2012, he captured the €10,540 WSOP Europe Main Event, topping a 420-entry field for €1,022,376 and his then 13th gold bracelet. That victory came more than two decades after he won the 1989 WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.
To this day, he remains the only player to win both the Las Vegas Main Event and the WSOP Europe Main Event. It is one of the more unique feats in poker history.
Hellmuth Chasing WSOP Player of the Year?
Hellmuth’s 17 bracelets remain the record, and his last win came in 2023 when he took down the $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty for $803,818 plus bounties. He defeated Justin Zaki heads-up on a final table that also featured Phil Ivey.
For all the hardware, though, one prize has slipped through his fingers: WSOP Player of the Year.
Hellmuth has long spoken about legacy. Records matter to him. Milestones matter to him. By committing to play almost every event in Prague, he gives himself a genuine chance to build early momentum in the 2026 WSOP POY race before the Las Vegas grind even begins.
And he may not be alone in making the trip after several years away.
The WSOP Player of the Year race has undergone a significant overhaul for 2026. The leaderboard now features a $1 million prize pool distributed across the top 100 finishers, with the overall winner earning a $100,000 WSOP Paradise package in addition to the POY title.
That added value could tempt plenty of players back to WSOP Europe after a hiatus, or encourage first-timers to make the journey to Prague.
What’s on Offer in Prague?
The 2026 WSOP Europe runs from March 31 through April 12 at King's Casino inside the Hilton Prague, with 15 bracelet events on the schedule.
The €5,300 Main Event headlines the festival. While the buy-in has been reduced from its traditional €10,350 price point, it still boasts a €10 million guarantee.
Also new for 2026 is the €1,500 European Circuit Championship, backed by a €1.5 million guarantee.
2026 World Series of Poker Europe Full Schedule
| Date | Event # | Event Name | Buy-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31 | Event #1 | The Opener Mystery Bounty - Flight A | €1,100 |
| Mar 31 | Event #2 | Mixed PLO / PLO8 / Big O | €3,300 |
| Mar 31 | Event #1 | The Opener Mystery Bounty - Flight B | €1,100 |
| Apr 01 | Event #1 | The Opener Mystery Bounty - Flight C | €1,100 |
| Apr 01 | Event #1 | The Opener Mystery Bounty - Flight D | €1,100 |
| Apr 02 | Event #3 | COLOSSUS NLH - Flight A | €565 |
| Apr 02 | Event #3 | COLOSSUS NLH - Flight B | €565 |
| Apr 03 | Event #4 | PLOSSUS Bounty - Flight A | €565 |
| Apr 03 | Event #5 | Europe Main Event (€10M GTD) - Flight A | €5,300 |
| Apr 03 | Event #4 | PLOSSUS Bounty - Flight B | €565 |
| Apr 04 | Event #6 | Ladies Championship | €1,000 |
| Apr 04 | Event #5 | Europe Main Event (€10M GTD) - Flight B | €5,300 |
| Apr 05 | Event #5 | Europe Main Event (€10M GTD) - Flight C | €5,300 |
| Apr 05 | Event #7 | Turbo Bounty NLH | €2,200 |
| Apr 06 | Event #8 | MONSTER STACK NLH | €1,650 |
| Apr 06 | Event #9 | PLO European Championship | €5,300 |
| Apr 07 | Event #10 | Rounder Cup NLH (EU vs. World) - Flight A | €2,750 |
| Apr 07 | Event #10 | Rounder Cup NLH (EU vs. World) - Flight B | €2,750 |
| Apr 08 | Event #12 | European Circuit Championship (€1.5M GTD) - Flight A | €1,500 |
| Apr 08 | Event #11 | Super High Roller NLH | €20,800 |
| Apr 08 | Event #12 | European Circuit Championship (€1.5M GTD) - Flight B | €1,500 |
| Apr 09 | Event #12 | European Circuit Championship (€1.5M GTD) - Flight C | €1,500 |
| Apr 09 | Event #13 | GGMillion$ High Roller NLH | $8,400 |
| Apr 09 | Event #12 | European Circuit Championship (€1.5M GTD) - Flight D | €1,500 |
| Apr 10 | Event #14 | PLO Double Board Bomb Pot | €1,100 |
| Apr 10 | Event #15 | The Closer Turbo Bounty | €2,750 |
