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Event #37: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.
Day 2 Completed
2026 World Series of Poker
Event #37: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.
Day: 2
Players Left 11 / 780
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 25
Limit Flop: 25,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
The chips have been bagged, and the tables have emptied inside the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, with just 14 players remaining in Event #37: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. Each returns for the final day within touching distance of a World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet.
For much of Day 2, the focus was on reaching the money and surviving the bubble. Once that hurdle had been cleared, attention turned to building a stack capable of making a run at the $183,366 top prize.
Out in front is Clayton Mozdzen, who will take the chip lead into Day 3. Mozdzen has been a constant presence near the top of the counts throughout the tournament, beginning the day second in chips and climbing to first by night's end with 3,105,000, worth 26 big bets when play resumes.
Closest behind, Ryan Caskey ended the day with 2,340,000, while Joe Brindle bagged 2,250,000. Together, they complete an overnight podium consisting of three different nationalities.
$1,500 H.O.R.S.E Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Bets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clayton Mozdzen | Canada | 3,105,000 | 26 |
| 2 | Ryan Caskey | United States | 2,340,000 | 20 |
| 3 | Joe Brindle | United Kingdom | 2,250,000 | 19 |
| 4 | Mike Wattel | United States | 2,130,000 | 18 |
| 5 | Kent Gugelman | United States | 1,775,000 | 15 |
| 6 | William Klevitz | United States | 1,760,000 | 15 |
| 7 | Nick Schulman | United States | 1,595,000 | 13 |
| 8 | Bart Hanson | United States | 1,160,000 | 10 |
| 9 | Jonathan Nebbout | France | 810,000 | 7 |
| 10 | Philip Sternheimer | United Kingdom | 720,000 | 6 |
Further down the counts lurk several players capable of disrupting the overnight leaders. Chief among them is Poker Hall of Fame inductee Nick Schulman, who returns with 1,595,000 as he chases an eighth WSOP gold bracelet.
Also in contention are two players looking to add to their bracelet tallies. Two-time bracelet winner William Klevitz sits sixth in chips, while Philip Sternheimer, who captured his maiden bracelet at the 2025 WSOP, is close behind.
Day 2 Action
When play began, 171 players remained, with just 117 guaranteed a payday. It took only 90 minutes for the field to reach the money bubble, with the likes of James Obst (154th) and Mike Matusow (145th) among the early casualties.
The bubble itself lasted around 30 minutes, with two players surviving all-ins while at risk before Lee Markholt ultimately fell one spot short of the money.
Once the bubble burst, eliminations came quickly. John Racener (93rd), Sean Yu (104th), and Hieu Ma (105th) were among those to collect a min-cash. Several 25K Fantasy Draft selections also made the money before falling, including Phillip Hui (37th), Ryutaro Suzuki (38th), John Monnette (52nd), Jon Turner (57th), Ashish Gupta (74th), and Jon Kyte (76th).
One of the most notable eliminations of the day was that of Brian Hastings. The six-time bracelet winner's deep run came to an end late in the evening, as he exited in 22nd place, narrowly missing out on a spot on the final day.
The 14 surviving players will return for the final day tomorrow, Friday, June 12, at 1:00 p.m. local time, each guaranteed $8,479, with the eventual champion set to walk away with $183,366 and a WSOP gold bracelet.
The blinds will start at 30,000/60,000, with 60,000/120,000 limits. Each level will last 60 minutes, with a short break scheduled after every two levels played. As yet, there are no plans for an extended dinner break.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $183,366 |
| 2 | $122,206 |
| 3 | $84,397 |
| 4 | $59,324 |
| 5 | $42,455 |
| 6 | $30,944 |
| 7 | $22,978 |
| 8 | $17,390 |
| 9 | $13,418 |
| 10-11 | $10,560 |
| 12-14 | $8,479 |
Be sure to tune back into PokerNews to hear about all the action until the 2026 WSOP $1,500 H.O.R.S.E champion is crowned.
Level 25
Limit Flop: 25,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
| Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Bets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | 1 | Ryan Caskey | United States | 2,340,000 | 20 |
| 117 | 2 | Philip Sternheimer | United Kingdom | 720,000 | 6 |
| 117 | 3 | Joe Brindle | United Kingdom | 2,225,000 | 19 |
| 117 | 4 | Nick Schulman | United States | 1,595,000 | 13 |
| 117 | 6 | Thomas Argyros | United States | 355,000 | 3 |
| 117 | 7 | Mike Wattel | United States | 2,130,000 | 18 |
| 117 | 8 | Clayton Mozdzen | Canada | 3,105,000 | 26 |
| 121 | 1 | Matthew Grapenthien | United States | 535,000 | 4 |
| 121 | 3 | Ryan Parsa | United States | 610,000 | 5 |
| 121 | 4 | William Klevitz | United States | 1,760,000 | 15 |
| 121 | 5 | Jonathan Nebbout | France | 810,000 | 7 |
| 121 | 6 | Raymond Smego-Barranco | United States | 375,000 | 3 |
| 121 | 7 | Kent Gugelman | United States | 1,775,000 | 15 |
| 121 | 8 | Bart Hanson | United States | 1,160,000 | 10 |
Level 25
Limit Flop: 25,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Level 25
Limit Flop: 25,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
The 14 surviving players have bagged their chips and headed into the night. They will return for the final day tomorrow, Friday, June 12, at 1:00 p.m. local time, each guaranteed $8,479.
Stay tuned for the full chip counts and a recap of the day's action.
Level 25
Limit Flop: 25,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Seven Card Stud
Mitar Kalezic: 8♠4♣2♦/4♠6♥K♠Q♦
Bart Hanson: J♥6♦/J♣A♣7♥10♣
Ryan Parsa: XxXx/Q♥5♥ - folded on fourth street
Jonathan Nebbout: XxXx/3♦Q♠ - folded on fourth street
Ryan Parsa completed and was called by Bart Hanson, Mitar Kalezic, and Jonathan Nebbout for a four way pot on the last hand of the night.
Hanson bet on fourth street, Kalezic called, and both Parsa and Nebbout folded.
Kalezic called another bet from Hanson on fifth street, and then called all in facing a bet on sixth.
Hanson turned over split jacks, which were ahead of Kalezic's pair of fours.
Hanson peeled first and didn't improve, but Kalezic turned over a brick himself — eliminating him in 15th place.
Level 25
Limit Flop: 25,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Razz
Mike Wattel: 4x3x2x/5x9xAx5x
Jonathan Nebbout: XxXx/8x2x7xKx/Xx
Ryan Parsa: XxXx/3xKx6xQx/Xx - folded on seventh street
Mike Wattel completed and was called by Jonathan Nebbout. Ryan Parsa then raised, and both Wattel and Nebbout called.
Parsa and Wattel called bets from Nebbout on fourth, fifth, and sixth street and then Wattel bet on seventh after being checked to.
Nebbout called, Parsa folded, and Wattel turned over his hole cards for the nuts. Nebbout mucked and Wattel was awarded the large pot.
Level 25
Limit Flop: 25,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Razz
Clayton Mozdzen: AxQx10x/4x9x6x7x
Philip Sternheimer: XxXxXx/Kx6xAxKx
Clayton Mozdzen completed on third street, and Philip Sternheimer called.
Fourth, fifth and sixth streets all followed the same pattern, as Sternheimer called a bet from Mozdzen.
Mozdzen checked on seventh street, and after a lengthy peel of his final card, Sternheimer checked behind.
Mozdzen tabled his nine-seven, and Sternheimer mucked.
Level 25
Limit Flop: 25,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Omaha Hi-Lo
Matthew Grapenthien raised under the gun, which caught the attention of four players. First, Jonathan Nebbout called in the hijack, and Bart Hanson came along on the button. That tempted Mitar Kalezic and Joe Brindle in from the small and big blinds, too.
Kalezic checked on the 8♠J♦J♥ flop, Brindle took over the betting lead, which folded out everybody apart from Hanson.
Brindle bet again on the 5♥ turn, which Hanson called. The 4♥ river saw Brindle hit the brakes, this time electing to check-call when Hanson chose to bet.
Brindle tabled Q♥Q♣J♠10♣ to claim the high, and Hanson took the low with his A♣10♦6♠2♦.
Level 25
Limit Flop: 25,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Stud Games: 20,000-50,000, 50,000-100,000 Limits, 15,000 Ante
Limit Hold’em
Carol Fuchs raised from the hijack and was called by Joe Brindle in the big blind.
Brindle led out for a bet on the 7♦8♣9♥ flop and Fuchs committed the rest of her chips into the middle. Brindle called and a showdown was held.
Carol Fuchs: A♠J♦
Joe Brindle: J♠10♠
Brindle had flopped the nuts, leaving Fuchs drawing to a ten for a chop.
It wasn't meant to be, as the K♣ turn and A♦ river bricked out — eliminating Fuchs in 16th place.
