button in SafariMonster Stack Roars Into Day 3 With Ralph Perry Among the Leaders
Welcome to PokerNews' coverage of Day 3 of Event #18: $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP), hosted at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
The event attracted a massive field of 11,933 entries, generating a staggering prize pool of $15,841,057. After two grueling days of action, just 660 players remain in contention.
While all surviving competitors have already locked up a payday, their focus is now firmly fixed on the yet-to-be-announced first-place prize and, of course, the coveted WSOP gold bracelet.
Jason Funke returns for Day 3 atop the chip counts with an impressive stack of 8,500,000. According to The Hendon Mob, Funke has more than $300,000 in recorded live tournament earnings and is well-positioned to add to that total with a deep run in this event.
Close behind him is John Lizzio, who bagged 6,900,000 chips and boasts over $100,000 in lifetime tournament cashes. Tied with Lizzio on 6,900,000 is Ronnie Diaz, who rounds out the top three heading into the day.
Also among the top ten stacks is veteran American pro Ralph Perry. With more than $3 million in live tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob, Perry brings a wealth of experience as he looks to turn his strong position into a run at WSOP glory.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Funke | United States | 8,500,000 | 340 |
| 2 | John Lizzio | United States | 6,850,000 | 274 |
| 3 | Ronnie Diaz | United States | 6,850,000 | 274 |
| 4 | Divakaran Marella | United States | 6,060,000 | 242 |
| 5 | Andrew Rosskamm | United States | 4,300,000 | 172 |
| 6 | Hayden Hetland | United States | 4,075,000 | 163 |
| 7 | Dustin Harrelson | United States | 3,850,000 | 154 |
| 8 | She Wong | United States | 3,800,000 | 152 |
| 9 | Harold Rodriguez | United States | 3,430,000 | 137 |
| 10 | Ralph Perry | United States | 3,320,000 | 133 |
Fantasy Draft Favorites Still Chasing Monster Stack Glory
Several players selected in the 25K Fantasy Draft remain in contention as Day 3 gets underway. Among them are Valentin Vornicu (3,000,000), Joao Simao (2,900,000), Brian Yoon (2,100,000), Gabriel Andrade (2,100,000), David Peters (1,800,000), and Tyler Phillips (1,800,000).
With plenty of chips and a long road still ahead, each will be looking to accumulate valuable fantasy points while making a run toward the final table.
Cards are scheduled to be in the air at 11 a.m. local time. Players will battle through ten 60-minute levels, with a 60-minute dinner break planned after Level 20 at approximately 5:30 p.m.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates and exclusive coverage as the action unfolds in Event #18: $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em at the 2026 World Series of Poker.