button in SafariYuri Dzivielevski Fast Out of the Blocks on Day 1 of the $5,000 8-Handed NLHE
The Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas were awash with top-tier poker players as Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em attracted 415 entrants, who created a $1,909,000 prize pool. Only 142 of those starts progressed to Day 2. With late registration open until 3:15 p.m. local time on May 27, those numbers should continue to increase.
Regardless of how many players register fashionably late on Day 2, nobody will sit down with more chips than the Brazilian sensation Yuri Dzivielevski, who bagged up 715,000 chips after the completion of 10 levels, the equivalent of a colossal 286 big blinds. The five-time bracelet winner has started the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in scintillating style, which should please Team Lady Gaga, who spent $90 to acquire Dzivielski's services in the $25K Fantasy Draft.
Peter Cross also enjoyed a fruitful time at the felt on Day 1, ending his night with 525,000 chips, or 210 big blinds, enough for second place. Bulgaria Yuliyan Kolev (470,500), who you may remember sported a KFC bucket for a hat at the 2022 WSOP, rounded off the podium places.
Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuri Dzivielevski | Brazil | 715,000 | 286 |
| 2 | Peter Cross | United States | 525,000 | 210 |
| 3 | Yuliyan Kolev | Bulgaria | 470,500 | 188 |
| 4 | Benjamin Williams | United States | 456,000 | 182 |
| 5 | Daniel Vicente | Spain | 401,000 | 160 |
| 6 | Clemen Deng | United States | 358,500 | 143 |
| 7 | Peter Mugar | United States | 342,000 | 136 |
| 8 | David Chaput | United States | 335,500 | 134 |
| 9 | Fikret Kovac | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 320,000 | 129 |
| 10 | Ren Lin | China | 316,500 | 126 |
Others who punched their Day 2 tickets include Ren Lin (316,500), the controversial Martin Kabrhel (298,000), Matthew Salsberg (258,500), Chris Hunichen (249,500), Dan Charlton (246,500), Brian Yoon (226,000), Eugene Katchalov (189,000), Nate Silver (175,500), Christian Harder (133,000), Stephen Song (127,000), Max Neugebauer (98,000), Maria Konnikova (75,000), and Benny Glaser (37,500).
Day 2 shuffles up and deals at 1:00 p.m. local time on May 27, with late registration open until the end of Level 12, at approximately 3:15 p.m. local time. PokerNews' coverage of this event begins on Day 2. We hope to see you there.