PokerNews live coverage of this event will begin on Day 2 (May 27). Until then, we will be keeping readers informed with updates on chip counts and core event statistics, including entries and prize pool. Scroll down to see more.
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Here are the latest leaders at the start of Level 5, according to the WSOP Live app.
According to the WSOP LIVE app.
Jack Effel brought out reigning WSOP Main Event champion Michael Mizrachi to usher in the start of the 2026 World Series of Poker.
The second event of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP), the $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em, gets underway from 2:00 p.m. local time today. Players from far and wide are set to flock to the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas for the first $5,000 buy-in event of the series.
Tournaments with a $5,000 entry point tend to attract some of poker's biggest names, so this event gives you an early opportunity to see some of your favorite players at the felt.
Entrants start their quest for 2026 WSOP glory with 50,000 chips and play to 60-minute levels throughout the four scheduled days. A champion will be crowned on May 29.
$5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em entrants sit down at 2:00 p.m. local time on May 26 with a 50,000-chip starting stack. Blinds start at 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante. Day 1 sees players navigate through 10 levels, with a 15-minute break every two levels.
Those who make it to Day 2 return at 1 p.m. on May 27 to play another 10 levels. Again, 15-minute breaks happen every two levels, with a 60-minute dinner break scheduled after Level 16 at approximately 7:30 p.m. local time.
The plan of action for Day 3 is for the surviving players to return to their seats at 1 p.m. local time on May 28. Regardless of how long it takes, this event will continue until only five players remain. Players will enjoy a well-deserved 15-minute rest every two levels. Anyone who makes it to the end of Level 26, at around 7:30 p.m. local time, will head off for an hour-long dinner break.
The final five competitors battle it out at a yet-to-be-determined time on May 29 until only one player remains.
Spanish native Antonio Galiana Ortega is this event's reigning champion, having topped a field of 693-entrants in 2025. The Spaniard's reward for his impressive victory was $582,008 and his second gold WSOP bracelet.
Shortly after his victory, Galiana told PokerNews that he had spent the past 12 months studying GTO. It seems all that studying paid off.
| Year | Entries | Winner | Country | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 693 | Antonio Galiana | Spain | $582,008 |
| 2024 | 660 | Brent Hart | United States | $660,284 |
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MyStack is a free poker tool that puts you in control of your chip counts on our live reporting pages. Once you have created a free PokerNews account, you can use MyStack to update your chip counts in real time; hopefully, your stack will continue increasing throughout the event!
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Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em
Day 1 Started
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