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Event #42: $10,000 Big O Championship
Day 1 Completed
2026 World Series of Poker
Event #42: $10,000 Big O Championship
Day: 1
Players Left 143 / 420
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Day 1 of Event #44: $10,000 Big O Championship saw the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas filled to the brim as five-card enthusiasts from all over the world traveled to the 2026 World Series of Poker for a shot at glory. At the end of the night, the clock showed 362 entries, of which 132 players advanced to Day 2. With two more levels of late registration on Day 2, last year's record turnout of 402 is likely to be shattered, increasing the current $3,375,900 prize pool to unprecedented heights.
One of the bags lying on the tables at the end of the night belonged to none other than Chad Eveslage. The all-round poker player has already secured seven in-the-money finishes this summer and set himself up well for another deep run on Day 1 of the Big O Championship. He ended the night with 489,000 in chips, just over eight starting stacks and worth nearly 200 big blinds when Day 2 starts. The only person with a bigger stack was William Kerkaert, who was the only one to cross the half-million mark and will unload 500,500 onto his new table tomorrow.
Four-time bracelet winner Sam Soverel made it into the top five with 437,000. Bruno Furth may have cut his characteristic hair, but it evidently had no impact on his Omaha prowess as he bagged 436,500 at the end of the night. Naoya Kihara continues hunting his third bracelet of the summer with 405,500 on Day 2, while three-time bracelet winner John Racener and Dylan Linde round out the top ten with 375,000 and 342,000, respectively.
End of Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Day 2 Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Kerkaert | United States | 500,500 | 200 |
| 2 | Chad Eveslage | United States | 489,000 | 196 |
| 3 | Daniel Aharoni | United States | 458,500 | 183 |
| 4 | Philip Long | United Kingdom | 445,000 | 178 |
| 5 | Sam Soverel | United States | 437,000 | 175 |
| 6 | Bruno Furth | United States | 436,500 | 175 |
| 7 | Gary Bolden | United States | 415,000 | 166 |
| 8 | Naoya Kihara | Japan | 405,500 | 162 |
| 9 | John Racener | United States | 375,000 | 150 |
| 10 | Dylan Linde | United States | 342,000 | 137 |
Bobby James battled his way to a stack of 324,000, all the while winning a WSOP Circuit ring in an online tournament at the same time. Omaha visionary Dylan Weisman ended Day 1 with 295,000, while Hall of Famers Nick Schulman (196,000), Jennifer Harman (189,000), and Eli Elezra (70,000) will also return for Day 2.
Defending champion Veerachai Vongxaiburana was one of the many casualties on Day 1, along with 2025 Player of the Year Shaun Deeb, recent Dealer's Choice champion Bryce Yockey, WSOP Europe Main Event winner Max Neugebauer, and hold'em high roller Chris Hunichen. Anyone who has not fired their three allowed bullets already will have the ability to try again on Day 2, however.
Day 2 will commence June 14 at 1 p.m. local time. The blinds will be at 1,000/2,500 with a 2,500 big blind ante, and ten more 60-minute levels are scheduled to be played. The first two will have late registration open, where players can pay $10,000 to get a fresh stack of 60,000.
PokerNews will be back for Day 2 of the $10,000 Big O Championship to provide an in-depth live report from start to finish, so tune back in then for more five-card, split-pot action.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Please note: Late registration remains open into Day 2, so late arrivals will be assigned to random seats
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
All players are putting chips in the bags, marking the end of Day 1 of the $10,000 Big O Championship. Out of the 362 entries, 132 players have made it through to Day 2.
Stay tuned for full chip counts and a recap of the day.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
With 96,000 already in the pot, it checked to Richard Sklar in the cutoff on the 8♥6♦Q♥ flop. Sklar moved in his stack of 41,000, after which Maximilian Schindler rejammed for 179,000 from middle position.
Michael Kamran went into the tank in the hijack as the trio stood up, but he ended up letting his cards go to forfeit a possible share of the pot.
Richard Sklar: A♠J♥10♠8♠2♥ 
Maximilian Schindler: A♥8♣7♦6♠3♣
Sklar made the nut low on the 3♦ turn, and Schindler confirmed the high when the K♠ river did not improve Sklar. The pot was chopped, while Kamran tabled his folded A♦J♠J♣5♣2♣ upon Sklar's request.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Mike Matusow and Bruno Furth each had 15,000 in front of them from earlier action. Matusow checked the 3♦Q♥Q♦2♦7♥ completed board from under the gun to Furth in the next seat over.
Furth bet 45,000, which Matusow snap-called. Furth showed A♣J♠9♣4♣3♠ for a naked nut low, and Matusow received three-quarters when he tabled A♦J♦10♥5♣4♥ for the same low with a flush.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Each table in the Big O Championship will deal three more hands before Day 1 wraps up.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Four players were looking at the 9♠3♣4♦ flop. After two checks, Joao Vieira bet 32,000 from early position and Robert Cowen was the only caller from middle position.
Vieira put Cowen all in for his remaining 80,000 or so on the K♥ turn and Cowen happily called.
Robert Cowen: 6♦5♠4♣4♠2♦
Joao Vieira: A♦Q♥K♣9♣2♣
Cowen's set of sailboats remained best after the J♦ river, and he doubled up to around a quarter of a million.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
In a pot of 14,000, Aaron Rogers bet 4,000 from the small blind on the 9♠Q♥J♠ flop. Coogle raised it to 26,000, and Rogers put his opponent all in for 40,000 in total. Coogle snap-called.
Russell Coogle: A♠A♣10♥10♣7♠
Aaron Rogers: Q♦J♥J♦6♠4♠
"Nice hand," Rogers said as the 8♠ turn made Coogle his flush. The Q♠ river paired the board, however, improving Rogers to a full house to send Coogle to the exit late on Day 1.
