2026 World Series of Poker

Event #82: $10,000 WSOP Main Event NLH World Championship
Event #82: $10,000 WSOP Main Event NLH World Championship Event #85: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Event #86: $600 Ultra Stack No-limit Hold'em Show All Events
Day: 1a
1a1b1c1d
Event Info
2026 World Series of Poker
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$75,116,100
Total Entries
8,077
Players Left
6,106
Average Chip Stack
79,368
Total Chips
484,620,000
Level Info
Level
5
Blinds
300 / 600
Ante
600
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
772
Players Left
543
Players Left 6,106 / 8,077
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Is It a Bird? Is It a Plane? No, It's Super... Hellmuth?

Tim Baker
Tim Baker
Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante
Phil Hellmuth Grand Entrance
Phil Hellmuth Grand Entrance
Phil Hellmuth Grand Entrance
Phil Hellmuth Grand Entrance
Phil Hellmuth Grand Entrance
Phil Hellmuth Grand Entrance
Phil Hellmuth Grand Entrance
Phil Hellmuth Grand Entrance
Phil Hellmuth Grand Entrance
Phil Hellmuth Grand Entrance

Ekrem Bozkurt raised to 1,000 on the button, and Eugene Teibloom called from the small blind. Phil Hellmuth, sporting a gold-and-black superhero outfit complete with inflatable muscles, defended his big blind.

When the action checked to Bozkurt on the Q♦10♣4♥ flop, he bet 1,700. Teibloom folded, but Hellmuth stuck around with a call.

The 10♦ turn checked through before the 3♥ completed the board. Hellmuth led out for 3,000, which was enough to get Bozkurt to fold.

In true superhero fashion, Hellmuth couldn't resist revealing a little of his secret identity, flashing QxJx as he dragged in the pot.

Tags: Ekrem BozkurtEugene TeibloomPhil Hellmuth

Margets Loses Massive in Cooler

Jacob Wilson
Jacob Wilson
Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante
Leo Margets
Leo Margets

Hannes Jeschka opened to 800 under the gun, only for Leo Margets to three-bet to 2,200 from middle position. Action folded back around to Jeschka, who made it 9,000 to go. Margets took some time before putting in the call.

On a flop of J♦7♦4♠ Jeschka carried on with a down-bet to 6,000. Margets called, and the two saw the turn 5♦. Here, Jeschka slowed down with a tank check, and Margets opted to take the betting lead, with 14,000 her sizing. Jeschka went back into the tank, before announcing "all in" for 38,600. Margets rechecked her cards, waited a few seconds, and flicked in a call.

Leo Margets: K♣K♦ All in
Hannes Jeschka: A♠A♦

It was the classic cooler, as Margets had just two outs to stay alive. The 3♦ was not one of them, as the two improved to nuts and second nuts, with Jeschka holding the best of it.

Tags: Hannes JeschkaLeo Margets

Bach Pays Yokosawa Off

Dan O'Hair
Dan O'Hair
Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante
Masato Yokosawa
Masato Yokosawa

Heads-up on a flop of 4♦J♠Q♠ with about 8,000 already in the middle, Masato Yokosawa bet 5,000 from the hijack and David Bach called on the button.

The 2♥ fell on the turn and Yokosawa barreled for 13,000. Bach again called.

Yokosawa sized up for a 26,000 bet on the J♥ river, sending Bach deep into the tank.

Bach counted out 26,000 in chips and shuffled them in his hand as he contemplated his decision.

"I'm really not sure you have it," Bach said.

Yokosawa remained stoic and Bach eventually put his calling chips into the middle.

Yokosawa revealed A♠A♥ and Bach offered a "Nice hand" before sending his cards into the muck.

Tags: David BachMasato Yokosawa

Casella Sends Seward into the Blender

Tim Baker
Tim Baker
Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante
Nicholas Seward
Nicholas Seward

Nicholas Seward raised from early position, and Michael Casella defended his big blind.

Casella checked the 8♦J♦10♣ flop, and Seward bet 800. Casella check-raised to 2,500, which Seward called.

Casella continued on the J♠ turn, firing 3,000. Again, Seward called.

The K♥ completed the board, and Casella bet 4,000. Seward raised to 21,500, leaving himself around 23,000 behind. After a few moments, Casella jammed for 48,600.

Seward immediately let out a small shake of the head before settling into a tank. After several minutes of deliberation, he eventually folded, relinquishing the pot to Casella.

Tags: Michael CasellaNicholas Seward

Nakai Continues to Dominate

Stewart Morrison
Stewart Morrison
Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante
Ryuta Nakai
Ryuta Nakai

The action was joined with roughly 25,000 in the pot, and a 3♦4♣6♠ flop face up on the felt.

Robert McGlown maneuvered his stack of 40,700 into the middle from the cutoff and was at risk against under the gun player, Ryuta Nakai.

Robert McGlown: 7♦7♣ All in
Ryuta Nakai: J♠J♥

McGlown had an overpair and an inside straight draw, but the 6♥ turn and 2♥ river offered no improvement, and his stack was sent in the direction of Nakai.

Tags: Robert McGlownRyuta Nakai

Second Break

Dan O'Hair
Dan O'Hair
Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante
Jared Bleznick
Jared Bleznick

Another level has come and gone in Day 1a of the Main Event, and players have been sent on a 20-minute break. The field is now up to 688 entrants. Of those, 648 remain.

Here's a look at some highlights from Level 2:

Bleznick's Main Event Comes to an Early End

Dan O'Hair
Dan O'Hair
Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante
Jared Bleznick
Jared Bleznick

Jared Bleznick raised to 1,000 on the button and was called by Alfredo Arreola in the small blind. Reginald Powell then squeezed to 3,000 from the big blind and Bleznick responded by making it 11,000 to go.

Arreola got out of the way, but Powell moved his entire stack into the middle, which was enough to put Bleznick all in for a bit under 50,000. Bleznick tanked a bit facing a decision for his tournament life, but eventually called all in for a showdown.

Jared Bleznick: Q♥Q♦All in
Reginald Powell: 10♠10♣

It was the right decision from Bleznick, who found himself in great shape to double up against Powell's tens.

The 6♥9♣J♥ flop was safe for Bleznick, but the 10♦ turn improved Powell to a set.

Bleznick was still drawing live with an open-ended straight draw, but the 4♦ river bricked out — eliminating Bleznick early on Day 1 on a bad beat.

"You've gotta have some luck!" Powell said as he collected the massive pot.

Tags: Alfredo ArreolaJared BleznickReginald Powell

Casella Rivers the Higher Flush

Tim Baker
Tim Baker
Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante
Michael Casella
Michael Casella

Carlos Sanchez raised to 800 from early position, and Michael Casella three-bet to around 2,500 from the next seat. Sanchez called.

The flop fell 3♦A♦J♦, and Sanchez checked to Casella, who bet 600. Sanchez check-raised to 2,500, and Casella just called.

The board-pairing J♣ on the turn checked through before the 6♦ completed the board. Sanchez bet 2,500, and Casella quickly called.

Sanchez tabled 9♦8♦ for a flopped flush, but it was second best to Casella's Q♣Q♦, which had rivered the higher flush.

Tags: Carlos SanchezMichael Casella

Vornicu Finds a Boat on the River to Stay in the Main Event

Tim Baker
Tim Baker
Level 2 : Blinds 200/300, 300 ante
Valentin Vornicu
Valentin Vornicu

On the turn of a board reading 6♣A♣2♣10♦, Valentin Vornicu's remaining 11,000 or so found their way into the middle from the hijack, with Aldrice Bell trying to bust him from early position.

Valentin Vornicu: 6♥6♦ All in
Aldrice Bell: J♣4♣

Vornicu had flopped a set, but was trailing Bell's flush.

Fortunately for Vornicu, the A♥ paired the board on the river to give him a full house and keep his Main Event hopes alive.

Tags: Valentin VornicuValentin Vornicu's

Break Time!

Dan O'Hair
Dan O'Hair
Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
Ryan Sands
Ryan Sands

The first level of 2026 WSOP Main Event is now over and players have been sent on a 20-minute break. The field currently stands at 605 entries with 597 players remaining.

Here are some highlights from the first two hours of play:

Tags: Anthony Marini

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