Action picked up three-ways after the first draw as Nicholas Stille led from the small blind. Ray Fishman called under the gun before Julio Pulrolnik raised from the cutoff. Stille made it three bets, Fishman called all-in for 16,500, and Pulrolnik called.
On the second draw, Stille took one, Fishman took some time before he elected to take one, and Pulrolnik stood pat.
Stille check-called a bet from Pulrolnik on the side pot.
Stille now stood pat, sending Fishman deep into the tank for his drawing decision. The clock was eventually called, and as the countdown reached one Fishman drew one, and Pulrolnik remained pat.
Stille check-called a final bet on the end.
Ray Fishman: 8♥4♣3♦2♣
Julio Pulrolnik: 7♦5♣4♥3♣2♠
Nicholas Stille: 10♠8♣6♥5♦2♦
Pulrolnik had a seven Badugi and the wheel, leaving Fishman drawing dead as he flipped over the final K♠ and Pulrolnik scooped.
Sandeep Nene: XxXx / 4♥6♣2♠7♠ / Xx
Philip Sternheimer: XxXx / A♥5♥Q♦9♣ / Xx - folded on seventh street
Nene completed, Sternheimer raised, and Nene called.
Nene check-called fourth showing the lower board and then led fifth after Sternheimer caught the queen.
He led on sixth and he bet dark on seventh. Sternheimer went deep into the tank, revealing that he started with 6♥2♥ in the hole.
After over a minute in the tank, he decided to let his hand go, prompting Nene to reveal 6x4x4x in his hand for a full house, but Sternheimer's low would have been good for half had he called.
WSOP bracelet winner Lawrence Brandt raised on the button to see both Michael Estes and Terrance Reid call in the small blind and big blind.
Estes drew one, Reid drew two, and Brandt drew one to see action check around to Brandt. Estes raised and Reid matched the bet with Brandt calling behind him.
On the second draw, Estes stood pat to see both Brandt and Reid draw one. Estes bet to earn calls from both of his opponents.
The same drawing action occurred on the final draw and action checked through.
"Please show me a king badugi," said Reid as Estes turned over Q♣8♠6♦4♥ for a queen. Reid turned over Q♦3♠2♥A♣ for a perfect queen and he was awarded the pot.
Michael Mizrachi opened to 9,000 from the cutoff before Nicholas Stille repotted to 28,500 in the big blind. Mizrachi moved all-in for just under 50,000, and Stille called.
Michael Mizrachi: A♥K♠8♦4♣3♦
Nicholas Stille: A♦J♦7♦6♥2♣
The 7♠6♠4♥ flop gave Stille the nut low and two pair, while Mizrachi had bottom pair with straight draws. The board ran out J♠10♠ as Stille improved to jacks and sevens for the high to scoop and eliminate the Poker Hall of Famer.
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
Luis Velador
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.
Never Miss a Moment with MyPlayers on PokerNews
PokerNews MyStack
Stay closer than ever to the action with MyPlayers. This brand new, free feature on PokerNews puts your favorite poker players front and center. Whether you're keeping tabs on legends like Daniel Negreanu or following a friend grinding their way through a Day 2, MyPlayers delivers real-time updates tailored just for you. No subscriptions, no paywalls - just the hands, chip counts, and bustouts that matter most.
It’s simple: log in, search for any player in our live coverage, hit the star, and they’ll be added to your personalized MyPlayers list. You’ll see their progress across all live-reported events, with chip counts and updates pinned right where you need them at the top.
From railbirds to backers, MyPlayers is the smarter way to stay connected to the game.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all of the exciting updates on the ground at the 2026 WSOP.
button in Safari
