button in SafariVelador Leads; Glaser Looks To Defend Dealers Choice Title
Many choices are available to players in Event #20: $1,500 Dealers Choice at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. This event holds the distinction of having the largest variety of games of any of the $1,500 bracelet events of the 2026 WSOP. Some 21 games are available for players to choose from, spread between flop, draw, and stud games.
A greater number of players came out this year than last, as 656 entrants generated a prize pool of $870,840. Only 99 of the remaining 133 players will see any piece of that prize pool, with all eyes resting on the $161,057 and WSOP bracelet yet to be awarded to first place.
Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Counts | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luis Velador | Mexico | 366,000 | 122 |
| 2 | Tobias Leknes | Norway | 324,000 | 108 |
| 3 | Christopher McHugh | United States | 310,500 | 103 |
| 4 | Kelvin Zhao | United States | 273,000 | 91 |
| 5 | Allan Le | United States | 265,000 | 88 |
| 6 | Robert Klein | United States | 264,500 | 88 |
| 7 | Danny Chang | United States | 242,500 | 80 |
| 8 | Dario Sammartino | Italy | 236,000 | 78 |
| 9 | Walter Chambers | United States | 234,500 | 78 |
| 10 | John Hardie | United States | 232,000 | 77 |
Leading the way is two-time WSOP bracelet winner Luis Velador (366,000). The Mexican poker player sees his tournament career date back over 26 years, with his first cash coming in 1999. Since then, he has amassed $2.7 million in live earnings, adding two WSOP bracelets in 2008 and 2010 as well as deep runs in various game types. Sitting third on Mexico's all-time money list, a win in this event would further solidify his status in the WSOP as the most decorated player of his home country in the WSOP's history.
Many other familiar faces made their way into this event. Players like Dario Sammartino (236,000), Jeff Madsen (202,500), Chris Vitch (172,500), and Josh Arieh (159,500) are each looking to add another bracelet to their already loaded resumes. Only a few players alive have as many bracelets as the defending champion of this event, Benny Glaser (110,000). Like Velador, Glaser holds the distinction of being the most decorated player in his home country's history, with eight titles to his name. With his bracelets coming in all different types, Glaser holds a familiarity with the various games and looks to make a repeat performance in the 2026 iteration.
Play will begin today at 1 pm with blinds in pot-limit/no-limit games at 1,500/3,000, with a 3,000 and 4,500 big blind ante. In the limit games, the blinds will be 3,000/6,000 with limits at 6,000/12,000. In the stud games, the antes will be 1,000, the bring-in 2,000, with 6,000/12,000 limits. Levels will last one hour each, with a 15-minute break at the conclusion of every two levels. After Level 21, there will be a 60-minute dinner break, after which there will be four more levels played.
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Stay tuned to PokerNews for all of the exciting updates on the ground at the 2026 WSOP.