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Event #41: $250,000 Super High Roller No-Limit Hold'em
Day 1 Completed
Who will succeed Seth Davies, the defending champion of Event #41: $250,000 Super High Roller No-Limit Hold’em at the World Series of Poker (WSOP)?
That question is beginning to take shape after Day 1 of the biggest High Roller of the summer at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. After eight levels of play, 41 entries had been recorded, with late registration still open for two more levels. Nevertheless, the prize pool has already reached $10,045,000.
Of those entrants, 31 players found a bag, led by Samuel Mullur, who finished as the chip leader with 4,315,000. Mullur enjoyed a strong day and climbed to the top of the counts after flopping a straight to send Alexandros Theologis to the rail, then catching Alex Foxen bluffing.
He later did the same against Daniel Negreanu. Despite this hand, "DNegs" still managed to finish the day with one of the top five stacks, bagging 2,970,000. Foxen, meanwhile, ended the night with 1,255,000, slightly below the starting stack.
Among the chip leaders, Brandon Wilson (4,295,000) sits just one big blind behind Mullur, while Christoph Vogelsang rounds out the top three. The German first eliminated Adrian Mateos with kings against ace-king and then knocked out Danny Tang on the final hand of the day to finish with 4,220,000.
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samuel Mullur | Austria | 4,315,000 | 173 |
| 2 | Brandon Wilson | United States | 4,295,000 | 172 |
| 3 | Christoph Vogelsang | Germany | 4,220,000 | 169 |
| 4 | Daniel Negreanu | Canada | 2,970,000 | 119 |
| 5 | Sean Winter | United States | 2,870,000 | 115 |
| 6 | Aleksejs Ponakovs | Latvia | 2,730,000 | 109 |
| 7 | Dejan Kaladjurdjevic | Montenegro | 2,650,000 | 106 |
| 8 | Artur Martirosian | Russian Federation | 2,445,000 | 98 |
| 9 | Johannes Straver | Netherlands | 2,325,000 | 93 |
| 10 | Biao Ding | China | 2,050,000 | 82 |
Aleksejs Ponakovs (2,730,000) had an early double-up with aces against Dejan Kaladjurdjevic (2,650,000). Artur Martirosian (2,445,000) doubled up as well during the day, and looks set to avenge his $100,000 bubble finish in Event #36.
Martin Kabrhel entered during the last minutes of Day 1 (2,045,000), and so did Jesse Lonis, who finished fourth in the $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship earlier today. Lonis will return with 2,035,000, alongside Jason Koon (2,000,000), Stephen Chidwick (1,735,000), the $50,000 champion Santhosh Suvarna (1,665,000), Mateos, who re-entered (1,655,000), Emilien Pitavy (1,520,000), Nick Petrangelo (1,520,000) and Kristen Foxen (1,425,000).
Mikita Badziakouski thought he was going to be eliminated a long time ago after being left with only 5,000 by Barak Wisbrod (1,220,000). But, hand after hand, Badziakouski made a miraculous come back to reach 1,430,000, almost a starting stack.
Benjamin Heath (835,000), Alexandros Theologis (665,000) and Alex Kulev (400,000) will also be back on Day 2, with Leon Sturm last in chips with 385,000 despite a late double up.
All 31 remaining players and the new entrants will be back at the tables stronger than ever this Sunday, June 14 at noon local time. Action resumes at Level 9 with blinds of 15,000/30,000 and a 30,000 big blind ante.
Ten 60-minute levels are set to be played, during which the bubble is expected to burst. Last year, Davies took down a massive $4,752,551 and a gold bracelet for his victory.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage of the $250,000 Super High Roller No-Limit Hold'em and all other events during the 2026 WSOP!
Please note: Late registration remains open in this event, so late arrivals will be added to random tables
The remaining 31 players of Day 1 are bagging up for the night and will return for Day 2 on Sunday, June 14 at 12:00 p.m. local time.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for end of day chip counts and a recap of the day's action.
Danny Tang opened to 55,000 from the hijack. Jesse Lonis on the button called but Christoph Vogelsang in the big blind raised to 300,000. Tang moved all in for 1,115,000, Lonis folded and Vogelsang snap-called.
Danny Tang: A♦5♦ 
Christoph Vogelsang: K♥K♦
Tang flopped an ace, but it wasn't enough as Vogelsang hit quads on K♣A♣3♠K♠6♥ to send him to the rail.
Action went heads-up to a flop of 3♥4♦A♥ in a hand between Stephen Chidwick in the cutoff with 10♠10♦ and Emilien Pitavy in the big blind with 5♥5♦.
With 150,000 in the middle, Pitavy check-raised to 170,000 over Chidwick's continuation-bet of 40,000. Chidwick called and the turn landed the 6♣.
Pitavy slowed down with a check and Chidwick elected to check back. The river fell the 7♥, giving Pitavy the straight, and he led out for 275,000.
Chidwick tossed his cards into the muck and the pot was pushed to Pitavy.
Five more hands will be played tonight before wrapping up.
Santhosh Suvarna raised to 50,000 in the hijack with 7♥4♥, Ignacio Moron flatted in the small blind with 6♥6♣, and Biao Ding defended in the big blind with 10♣9♦.
The flop came Q♥6♦J♣ and it checked through to the 8♠, where Moron led out for 175,000 with his set of sixes. Suvarna folded and Ding called with the straight.
The river fell the 9♠ and Moron bet 175,000 again, prompting Ding to raise to 450,000. Moron thought for a moment before making the correct fold.
Emilien Pitavy raised to 50,000 from under the gun with 3♠3♦, Samuel Mullur three-bet to 160,000 in early position with A♦K♠, and Dejan Kaladjurdjevic cold four-bet to 405,000 in the big blind. Pitavy got out of the way, and Mullur five-bet jammed to put Kaladjurdjevic at risk, who had 1,410,000 behind. Kaladjurdjevic made the call.
Dejan Kaladjurdjevic: Q♦Q♣
Samuel Mullur: A♦K♠
The board of 8♣4♣4♦2♦4♥ ran out low and safe for Kaladjurdjevic, earning him the double up late in the day.
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