button in SafariJerome Neppl Dominates Event #3: $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold'em For Career-Highlight Win
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The final day of Event #3: $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold'em at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) saw 136 hopeful players return to the felt from a starting field of 906, each chasing the dream of capturing a coveted WSOP gold bracelet. With all returning players already guaranteed a minimum payout of $1,011, the pace of play was relentless from the outset, with eliminations coming quickly throughout the day.
While many of the competitors were no strangers to long hours on the casino floor, the grind of tournament poker presented a different kind of challenge. Along with the prestigious bracelet, the $64,083 first-place prize, and accompanying bragging rights, there was plenty of motivation for the remaining field.
Leading the charge at the start of the day was Jerome Neppl, a poker dealer from New Mexico, though despite holding the chip lead, he still faced a tough road against a determined field of contenders.
Neppl maintained a focused and serious demeanor throughout the day, but his emotions were evident after securing the victory by defeating Sean Hamrick in heads-up play. The win marked just his second career live tournament cash, as Neppl previously had just $613 in poker earnings.
Event #3: $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerome Neppl | United States | $64,083 |
| 2 | Sean Hamrick | United States | $42,680 |
| 3 | Skyler Halama | United States | $29,678 |
| 4 | Michael Schlittler | United States | $20,988 |
| 5 | Nicholas Baldev | United States | $15,098 |
| 6 | Andre Welt | Brazil | $11,052 |
| 7 | Antony Diep | China | $8,235 |
| 8 | Armando Viramontes Serna | United States | $6,247 |
| 9 | Jessica Odom | United States | $4,828 |
Winner's Reaction
Despite earning a career-defining win and the accompanying payday, he plans to continue dealing at the WSOP this summer. His friends joked about him wearing his newly won bracelet while working the tables and laughed about the reactions he might receive from players chasing the very same prize.
The first person Neppl called after his victory was his girlfriend, Skye Waring. Though she had been asleep when he reached out, she was thrilled to hear the news. The couple is preparing for a move to Florida as they look to begin a new chapter away from New Mexico.
"This money is life-changing and will help me get debt-free," Neppl said.
Neppl's victory was particularly impressive given that Day 1 chip leaders rarely go on to win a tournament, let alone reach the final table. His ability to maintain his position throughout two long days of competition highlighted both his endurance and composure under pressure. When asked if dealing had helped develop that stamina, Neppl credited it more to his natural disposition, saying he has always been able to work long hours with little sleep. Still, he admitted to feeling some nerves at the start of Day 2 and wondered whether he would be able to sustain his deep run.
Those concerns quickly faded as Neppl spent much of the day near the top of the chip counts, only briefly surrendering the lead during the evening. One of the pivotal moments came when his trip queens held up against Skyler Halama on a dangerous board, allowing him to build a commanding chip advantage. Throughout the tournament, Neppl balanced aggression with patience, frequently applying pressure and picking up uncontested pots to steadily increase his stack.
When asked whether dealing has improved his poker game, Neppl pointed to his ability to recognize physical tells and betting patterns.
"You can spot tells, such as if they're going to fold or play," he said. He also credited the profession with strengthening his endurance and teaching him the value of perseverance. Beyond the technical aspects of the game, Neppl said he particularly enjoys dealing to friendly players who bring positive energy to the table.
Day 2 Action
Two of PokerNews own reporters, Tyler Boyer eliminated in 18th place ($2,083) and Brett Slezak sent out short after in 16th place ($2,496), made deep runs to reach the final two tables.
A memorable moment during the game was when Bobby Sanchez hit a royal flush versus Isaac Ebrom. Unfortunately, that luck did not carry him to the final, but he still had a nice run, finishing 48th ($1,370).
The final table began at a measured pace, with players carefully protecting their stacks as they sought to climb the payout ladder. As the field narrowed, however, eliminations came in rapid succession. Ultimately, the tournament came down to a heads-up battle between Las Vegas resident Hamrick and Neppl.
Neppl entered the final table with momentum, having held the chip lead since Day 1 and controlled much of the action throughout the tournament. Hamrick, meanwhile, took a more patient approach, expertly navigating a short stack to secure his place among the final two competitors.
During heads-up play, Hamrick steadily chipped away at Neppl's advantage and mounted a serious challenge. In the end, however, Neppl's relentless aggression proved decisive, allowing him to prevail and capture the title.
That wraps up coverage of World Series of Poker Event #3: $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold'em, but stay tuned to PokerNews for continuing coverage from the rest of the 2026 WSOP.
