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Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em
Day 4 Completed
2026 World Series of Poker
Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em
Day: 4
Event Info
2026 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 4
Buy-in
$5,000
Prize Pool
$2,622,000
Total Entries
570
Level
32
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
300,000
Entries
5
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 570
Filter
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Daniyal Gheba has won Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em at the 2026 World Series of Poker, capturing his first WSOP gold bracelet and a career-best score of $502,985 at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Gheba bested a field of 570 entries to claim the second bracelet awarded of the summer, and the first handed out on the WSOP’s new Mothership stage inside the Paris Ballroom.
The event generated a prize pool of $2,622,000, with Gheba defeating Chenxiang Miao heads-up after a short back-and-forth match. Miao earned $335,290 for his runner-up finish, while Xiaohu Liu took third place on the podium for $234,432.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniyal Gheba | United States | $502,985 |
| 2 | Chenxiang Miao | China | $335,290 |
| 3 | Xiaohu Liu | China | $234,432 |
| 4 | Ren Lin | China | $166,448 |
| 5 | Peter Mugar | United States | $120,035 |
| 6 | Ivan Ruban | Russian Federation | $87,945 |
| 7 | Anatoly Nikitin | Russian Federation | $65,479 |
| 8 | Casey Hatmaker | United States | $49,556 |
Winner's Reaction
For Gheba, the win marks the biggest score of his poker career and comes after already making a notable televised final table appearance earlier this year. This time however, the American closed it out, and took home a gold bracelet.
“It’s obviously life-changing money, it’s a lot of money,” Gheba told PokerNews. “But coming into the final table, the pay jumps I wasn’t really concerned about. I don’t think anyone at this table really cared about the pay jumps, they were all wealthy.”
Gheba also credited high-stakes pros Chance Kornuth and Alex Foxen for helping keep him focused throughout the final table.
“I think I was so focused on every hand, every spot, that I didn’t feel the pressure of the situation,” Gheba said. “Having them there at the end on the rail and for the picture was really good. It’s important to stay focused in these spots, think of the strategy, and play each hand at a time.”
Playing For the Bracelet
The final day began with Miao holding the chip lead over the remaining five players, while Gheba was second in chips after spending much of Day 3 around the top of the counts. Peter Mugar was the first player to hit the rail after Liu cracked his pocket aces with a turned flush.
The ever-popular and vocal Ren Lin then sprang to life for the first time at the final table after picking off a huge river bluff from Miao with just a pair of eights, before bellowing to the table and his fans, “Who is the best? Tony the Tiger!”
Lin continued to battle throughout four-handed play and did manage to climb out of the danger zone for a while, but after a few hands didn't go his way, he ended up hitting the rail in fourth. Lin jammed his eight big blind stack into the middle from the button with pocket tens, but ran directly into Miao's two aces.
The chip lead exchanged hands several times between Gheba and Miao when it was three-handed. Gheba managed to pull ahead by getting Miao to fold preflop following a five-bet jam. Liu eventually exited in third place, getting his pocket fives in preflop against Miao's suited connector. Miao paired his seven on the flop and that was enough to set up a heads-up match versus Gheba.
Although Miao entered heads-up play with the chip lead, Gheba quickly turned it around after winning a big three-bet pot by jamming the river. Not long after, the final hand of the tournament saw Miao get it in with an overpair on a paired board against Gheba’s combo draw with four-high. The turn was a blank, but the river brought a diamond to give Gheba the win and his first WSOP bracelet.
The win also changes Gheba’s plans for the remainder of the summer.
“Yeah, it does change it,” Gheba said when asked about his WSOP schedule now. “It means I’ll play some of the higher buy-ins, 25Ks and things, which is great overall.”
That concludes PokerNews coverage of Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em, but stay tuned for continued coverage from the 2026 World Series of Poker throughout the summer.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Daniyal Gheba has become the 2026 WSOP Event #2: $5,000 Eight-Handed No-Limit Hold'em champion. Stay tuned here at PokerNews for a full recap of today's action and a reaction from the winner.
$5,000 8-Handed No Limit Hold'em Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniyal Gheba | United States | $502,985 |
| 2 | Chenxiang Miao | China | $335,290 |
| 3 | Xiaohu Liu | China | $234,432 |
| 4 | Ren Lin | China | $166,448 |
| 5 | Peter Mugar | United States | $120,035 |
| 6 | Ivan Ruban | Russian Federation | $87,945 |
| 7 | Anatoly Nikitin | Russian Federation | $65,479 |
| 8 | Casey Hatmaker | United States | $49,556 |
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Chenxiang Miao opened to 750,000 before Daniyal Gheba called out of the big blind.
Gheba checked the 6♦2♦2♣ flop, which led to a bet of 550,000 from Miao. Gheba chose to check-raise to 1,400,000. Miao responded with a raise to 3,550,000 before Gheba asked for it all.
Miao called to put himself at risk for his tournament life.
Chenxiang Miao: 10♣10♦
Daniyal Gheba: 5♦4♦
Miao had the made hand as his pocket tens gave him two pair, but Gheba had several outs with a flush draw and a straight draw.
The 9♥ turn was a blank, but the river was the final card of the tournament as the 7♦ river gave Gheba a flush to eliminate Miao in second place.
Miao earned $335,290 for his finish.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Daniyal Gheba limped from the small blind, and Chenxiang Miao checked his option to bring the flop of 3♥Q♣J♦.
Both players checked through the flop and the 7♥ turn to bring the 3♦ river.
Miao fired 900,000 and was called by Gheba.
Miao showed 10♥9♦ for ten high, while Gheba claimed the pot with A♦5♠ as ace high was good.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Chenxiang Miao made it 700,000 from the button and was met by a three-bet to 2,400,000 from Daniyal Gheba in the big blind. Miao elected to call.
Gheba slid out a bet of 1,000,000 on the 3♥7♠K♥ flop, and after a few moments, Miao raised to 2,500,000. Gheba continued with a call.
Both players checked the 8♠ turn for the 10♦ to appear on the river. Gheba considered his options before eventually jamming for 6,500,000.
Miao returned his cards to the dealer and surrendered the pot to Gheba.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Chenxiang Miao opened to 700,000 on the button and was called by Daniyal Gheba in the big blind.
Gheba checked the 4♦10♣2♣ before Miao put out a continuation of 700,000. Gheba called.
The 6♣ turn led to another check from Gheba. This time, Miao bet 900,000.
Gheba called to bring the 4♠ river. Miao sized up to 3,500,000 after it was checked to him. Gheba quickly mucked his hand as Miao took down the pot.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Chenxiang Miao completed from the button and Daniyal Gheba checked his option in big blind.
Gheba checked after the dealer spread the K♦A♠3♦ flop, and Miao bet 500,000. Gheba continued via a call.
The 8♦ turn checked through to see a Q♥ appear on the river. Gheba bet 450,000 and Miao reluctantly folded.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Chenxiang Miao raised the button to 675,000 and Daniyal Gheba defended from the big blind.
Gheba check-called a bet of 800,000 from Miao on the 5♥6♦4♠ flop.
A J♠ came on the turn and after Gheba checked, Miao bet 2,000,000, which got Gheba to fold.
Level 32
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Level 31: 125,000/250,000
The first hand took place at the end of the previous level.
Chenxiang Miao limped on the button and Daniyal Gheba checked his option to bring the A♣3♠2♠ flop. Gheba checked before Miao bet 250,000.
Gheba responded with a check-raise to 700,000 and was called by Miao.
The 9♦ turn led to a check from Gheba before Miao bet 1,000,000. Gheba called.
Both checked the 6♠ river. Gheba showed 10♠2♣ for a pair of deuces. Miao was just slightly better when he showed Q♥2♥ for the same pair, but with a better kicker.
Level 32: 150,000/300,000
The next hand took place at the onset of the next blind level.
Gheba opened to 700,000 and was called by Miao.
Both players checked through the 10♣J♥4♦ flop to bring the 9♣ turn. Miao checked before Gheba put out a bet of 700,000. Miao called.
Both players checked the 3♣ river. Miao tabled 5♠4♠ for a pair of fours, which was enough, as Gheba mucked his hand.
