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Event #8: $15,000 NLH
Day 1 Completed
2026 U.S. Poker Open
Event #8: $15,000 NLH
Day: 1
Event Info
2026 U.S. Poker Open
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
Buy-in
$15,000
Total Entries
61
Level
20
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
80,000
Entries
61
Players Left
6
Players Left 1 / 61
Filter
Level 17
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
The 2026 U.S. Poker Open continued inside the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas with Event #8: $15,000 No-Limit Hold’em, where a field of 61 entries generated a $915,000 prize pool. A total of nine players earned a min-cash of $27,450, with $292,800 awaiting the eventual winner.
Out in front, Joao Simao leads the way after bagging the biggest stack, while Zach Bruch is the only other player to surpass the seven-figure mark, sitting in second place as the field narrows toward a champion.
End of Day 1 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joao Simao | Brazil | 3,325,000 | 83 |
| 2 | Zach Bruch | United States | 2,070,000 | 52 |
| 3 | Aram Zobian | United States | 805,000 | 20 |
| 4 | Dylan Linde | United States | 745,000 | 19 |
| 5 | Justin Zaki | United States | 560,000 | 14 |
| 6 | Shannon Shorr | United States | 225,000 | 5.5 |
Familiar Faces Fall Short as Day Unfolds
As has been the case throughout the series, the PokerGO Studio was once again filled with many of the game’s biggest names, all jockeying for position as the U.S. Poker Open Player of the series race continues to heat up.
Several players near the top of the leaderboard saw their runs cut short, including Brock Wilson, Cherish Andrews, Alex Foxen, Kristen Foxen, and Jeremy Ausmus, all of whom failed to cash in Event #8. Their early exits leave the door open for others to make a move in the standings as the series progresses.
They were joined on the rail by a number of other notables who fell short of the money, including Nick Schulman, Jesse Lonis, and Jeremy Becker.
Brutal River Bursts the Bubble
The bubble burst in dramatic fashion as Brandon Wilson was eliminated by Simao after a tough river. Facing an all-in for his tournament life, Wilson used five time extensions before calling with A♣J♠, ahead of Simao’s Q♥8♥.
The board ran out 4♠2♦4♣10♠Q♣, pairing Simao on the river to send Wilson out just shy of the money and lock up a $27,450 min-cash for the final nine players.
Late-Night Drama Keeps Simao Rolling
Following the elimination of Sam Soverel in ninth place and Matthew Wantman in eighth, the final table was officially set. But the action didn’t slow down, highlighted by a wild hand between Simao and Bruch.
On a board of Q♠K♣4♥5♣3♠, Simao faced a massive river shove and burned through all 13 of his time banks—nearly six and a half minutes—before ultimately folding. Bruch later revealed the bluff with A♣6♣, while Simao admitted he had laid down a better ace-high.
Simao quickly rebounded to close out the night in style, tangling in a massive pot with Paul Roy. After calling with A♣Q♣ against Roy’s J♦J♣ on the flop, Simao was chasing with two overs and a flush draw. The turn K♠ changed nothing, but the A♠ spiked on the river to give Simao the pot and send Roy to the rail, capping off a rollercoaster finish to the day.
Remaing Payouts
| Palce | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $292,000 |
| 2 | $183,000 |
| 3 | $128,100 |
| 4 | $91,500 |
| 5 | $68,625 |
| 6 | $50,325 |
The final six players will enjoy a day off before returning on Monday at 11:45 a.m. local time to play down to a winner, with cards-up coverage streaming on PokerGO beginning at 1 p.m.
Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates and full coverage of the U.S. Poker Open, as well as major tournaments from around the globe.
Level 17
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
The final six players have bagged up for the night and will return on Monday at 11:45 a.m. to play to a winner.
Stayed tuned for a full Day 1 recap shortly.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
3,325,000
1,725,000
|
1,725,000 |
|
||
|
2,070,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
805,000
95,000
|
95,000 |
|
||
|
745,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
|
||
|
560,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
|
225,000
175,000
|
175,000 |
|
|
||
Level 17
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Action folded to Joao Simao in the hijack, and he rasied to 90,000. Then Paul Roy in the cutoff three-bet to 250,000, and when it folded back to Simao, he made the call.
Simao checked to Roy, who moved all in for his stack of 915,000. Simao who only had one time extension left, took all of his time bank before making the call.
Joao Simao: A♣Q♣ 
Paul Roy: J♦J♣
Simao had two over cards and a flush draw to beat the jacks of Roy. The K♠ on the turn was no help, but the A♠ on the river hit Simao, to give him the pot and knockout Roy.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Level: 17
Blinds: 20,000/40,000
Ante: 40,000
Level 16
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
The seven remaining players have been sent on another 10-minute break.
Level 16
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Joao Simao raised from under the gun, and it folded to Zach Bruch in the small blind, who three-bet to 140,000. Simao made the call.
The flop came Q♠K♣4♥ and Simao called a bet of 80,000 from Bruch.
After the 5♣ on the turn, Simao called another bet, this time for 160,000.
The river was the 3♠, and Bruch moved all in for an over bet of 1,330,000, which sent Simao deep in the tank.
Simao said "why my friend" and went through all 13 of his time banks, a six and half minute tank, before saying "I just wish my hand was a little better" and mucked his hand.
Shannon Shorr said to Bruch, "if there was ever a time show the bluff" and Bruch obliged and tabled A♣6♣. Simao told the table he was tanking with Ax10x, a better ace high.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,100,000
550,000
|
550,000 |
|
|
1,600,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
||
Level 16
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,900,000
250,000
|
250,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,550,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
|
950,000
375,000
|
375,000 |
|
|
800,000
240,000
|
240,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
710,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
640,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
400,000
325,000
|
325,000 |
|
|
||
Level 16
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Matthew Wantman was all in with Joao Simao putting him at risk.
Matthew Wantman: 5♠5♣
Joao Simao: 6♠6♦
Simao had the bigger pocket pair and held on the 10♥10♦K♣7♥8♦ runout to secure the knockout and set up the final table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,650,000
350,000
|
350,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Level 16
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Paul Roy raised the button and was three-bet Justin Zaki in the big blind. Roy then muttered all in, which Zaki snap-called. Roy claims he did not intend to move all in, and was just asking if Zaki was all in. However, the floor ruled that Roy's action will stand, to put Zaki at risk.
Justin Zaki: A♥A♣
Paul Roy: K♥10♥
Roy ran into the aces of Zaki, and could not crack them on the 4♦9♥6♠6♥5♦ board to give Zaki the double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,325,000
275,000
|
275,000 |
|
|
740,000
115,000
|
115,000 |
