2026 World Series of Poker

Day: 1
12
Event Info
2026 World Series of Poker
Event Info
Buy-in
$500
Prize Pool
$1,701,500
Total Entries
4,100
Players Left
65
Average Chip Stack
1,576,923
Total Chips
102,500,000
Next Payout
Place 65
$2,995
Level Info
Level
26
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
60,000
Players Info - Day 1
Entries
4,100
Players Left
162
Players Left 65 / 4,100

It's One and Done For Entrants in the $500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout

Craig Savage
Craig Savage

In a world where reentries are the norm, Event #25: $500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout dares to be different. One of the cheapest events on the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) schedule should see a few thousand poker players from far and wide descend on the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, hoping to turn a single $500 investment into a bracelet and a six-figure score.

📌 Event Snapshot

  • Event: #25 – $500 No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout
  • Date(s): June 7–8
  • Time: 10 a.m. local time
  • Buy-In: $500
  • Format: No-Limit Hold’em
  • Late Registration: Open for 10 levels (approx. 4 p.m.)
  • Reentry: None
  • Starting Stack: 25,000 chips
  • Levels: 30 minutes
  • 2025 Winner: Craig Savage ($229,628)
  • 2025 Field Size: 5,082 entries
  • 2025 Prize Pool: $2,109,030

Structure and Schedule

Day 1 begins at 10 a.m. local time on June 7, with players starting their quest for WSOP glory with a 25,000 starting stack. The plan is to complete 22 levels, each spanning 30 minutes, with a 20-minute break every four levels. Whoever reaches the end of Level 14 (approx. 6 p.m. local time) will head for a well-deserved 75-minute dinner break.

It is an 11 a.m. local time start on Monday, June 8, for the second and final day of this event. Levels remain at 30 minutes throughout, with 15-minute breaks every four levels. The tournament director will announce any plans for a dinner break during play.

Past Champions & Notable Winners

In 2025, Craig Savage left a trail of 5,081 opponents in his wake as he turned his $500 investment into his first bracelet and $229,628 in prize money. Savage defeated Tony Harrison heads-up for the title, resigning the runner-up to a still impressive $152,874 consolation prize.

PokerNews traditional coverage of the $500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout begins on Day 2.

Are You Using MyStack?

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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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MyPlayers
MyPlayers

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Tags: Craig SavageTony Harrison