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Event #47: $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha
Day 1a Completed
2026 World Series of Poker
Event #47: $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha
Day: 1a
Players Left 27 / 105
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 10
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Day 1a of the $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha event here at the 2026 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas saw 105 entries jump into the field in hopes of securing a place in Day 2. Only 27 players made it through, and they will combine with those who choose to enter Day 1b tomorrow, which kicks off at 12:00 p.m.
It was Joni Jouhkimainen who topped the counts on Day 1a after bagging 1,598,000. His rise to the top came very late in the day. After battling through the field, he was knocked down by Daniel Negreanu just 30 minutes before play ended. Sitting on around 655,000 at the time, Jouhkimainen surged into the lead shortly after when he came back for vengeance and took down four players in one of the final hands of the night.
Jouhkimainen was closely followed by Ka Kwan Lau, who secured 1,205,000 to take into tomorrow. Alex Foxen (1,150,000) rounded out the podium and will return with 230 big blinds to start Day 2. Foxen is fresh off his fourth bracelet win in the $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty event yesterday. He had a steady day, quietly building throughout the ten levels of play.
Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joni Jouhkimainen | Finland | 1,598,000 | 320 |
| 2 | Ka Kwan Lau | Hong Kong | 1,205,000 | 241 |
| 3 | Alex Foxen | United States | 1,150,000 | 230 |
| 4 | Nino Pansier | Netherlands | 1,028,000 | 206 |
| 5 | Artur Martirosian | Russian Federation | 870,000 | 174 |
| 6 | Ian Matakis | United States | 740,000 | 148 |
| 7 | Carlo van Ravenswoud | Netherlands | 710,000 | 142 |
| 8 | Christopher Frank | Germany | 692,000 | 138 |
| 9 | Juha Helppi | Finland | 637,000 | 127 |
| 10 | Stian Usterud | Norway | 625,000 | 125 |
Nino Pansier narrowly missed the top three. He picked up momentum midway through the day, helped by the elimination of Arthur Morris in a set-over-set pot that pushed him near a million and into the lead. He eventually finished fourth after slipping late in the evening.
Not everyone found the same success in today’s flight. Joao Simao had a rough run, first eliminated by Chance Kornuth after getting it in ahead on the turn but busting out on the river. He re-entered, but met the same fate, being eliminated in a three-way all in where both he and Youness Barakat were knocked out by Christopher Frank.
Ren Lin also joined the field but fell quickly; he was at risk multiple times during the last level and survived only once before busting alongside Michael Moncek.
Artur Martirosian found traction on his second bullet after busting early in the day. His first exit came at the hands of Dash Dudley after calling off his stack on the turn while behind. Martirosian re-entered shortly after and quickly turned things around, eliminating Krasimir Yankov. Later in the night, he also ended Biao Ding’s run after Ding joined late and lasted only a few hands.
Negreanu got off to a smooth start after entering with just over two levels remaining. His stack took a hit after doubling up Kornuth once and then again. Negreanu managed a late double through Jouhkimainen, but the Finn got his revenge moments later in a dramatic five-way all-in during one of the final hands of the night, sending Negreanu, Yang Wang, Cary Katz, and Sean Rafael to the rail.
Many of today’s eliminations are expected to return for another attempt in Day 1b, or even on Day 2, as late registration and re-entry remain open through the first two levels of Day 2 (until Level 12 at approximately 2.30 p.m.). With two re-entries permitted per day, players have multiple opportunities to chase the bracelet.
Day 1b begins tomorrow at 12 p.m. and follows the same structure as today. Players will start with 150,000 chips at Level 1 with blinds at 300/500 with a 500 big blind ante. Ten levels will be played before bagging for Day 2. Late registration is open for the entirety of Day 1b. Players are due to take a 60-minute dinner break after Level 6 (~6.30 p.m.) and will take 15 minute breaks after every two Levels.
Be sure to return to the PokerNews live updates tomorrow to continue following all the action from the 100 bracelet events here at the 2026 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Level 10
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Level 10
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
The first ten levels have been completed, and 27 players have bagged up for Day 2.
Stay tuned for a full recap of the day, along with chip counts from Day 1a.
Level 10
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Yang Wang raised to 14,000 in middle position, and Joni Jouhkimainen called in the hijack. Cary Katz then came along in the cutoff, which tempted Daniel Negreanu to call on the button. Sean Rafael saw an opportunity to squeeze and moved all in for 75,000 from the small blind.
Wang responded by announcing pot, making it 271,000, with just a few thousand left behind. Joni Jouhkimainen then moved all in too, with the biggest stack at the table. Cary Katz saw value and put his 175,000 into the pot, which tempted Negreanu for a second time, as he put his stack of 434,000 into the pot. Wang was the last to call, putting his remaining 7,000 into the pot.
Sean Rafael: Q♣J♠10♠10♣ 
Cary Katz: K♦8♦7♣6♥
Yang Wang: A♠Q♠Q♦8♥
Daniel Negreanu: J♣10♦9♦8♠
Joni Jouhkimainen: 6♣5♥5♣3♥
The five-way all-in had four players at risk, with Jouhkimainen the player who could send four to the rail.
As everyone at the table stood up to watch, and others gathered around, the dealer slowly spread a 7♥2♠4♦A♣K♠ board.
Once everyone had taken a good look at the board, it was confirmed that Jouhkimainen had indeed scooped the pot, eliminating four players at once with his wheel straight.
Level 10
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Stian Usterud opened to 14,000 from under the gun and Gruffudd Pugh-Jones called on the button. Jason Mercier called from the small blind and Ian Matakis three-bet to 70,000 from the big blind. Only Usterud called, taking them heads up to the A♥10♠3♣ flop.
Matakis bet 55,000, Usterud quickly called, and the Q♦ was turned. The pot stood at 280,000 and Matakis bet 150,000. Usterud gave up the pot and Matakis took a late night chip up.
Level 10
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Anatoly Zlotnikov checked the 6♣10♣3♠ flop from the small blind, and Alex Foxen tossed in a bet of 16,000 in the big blind.
Ka Kwan Lau made the call before Zlotnikov announced pot to make it 110,000. Foxen folded, while Lau used two time bank cards before potting again to 392,000.
That was enough to put Zlotnikov all in, and he quickly called.
Anatoly Zlotnikov: A♣J♣5♥4♥
Ka Kwan Lau: A♦K♣10♠2♣
Lau had the only pair, while Zlotnikov revealed the best flush draw to go along with a straight draw. Zlotnikov watched the 9♥ turn and 6♥ river, missing all of his draws to hit the rail as Lau stacked his chips.
Level 10
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
The tournament director has instructed the tables to play five more hands before bagging up for the night.
Level 10
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Joni Jouhkimainen opened to 12,000 from middle position and Cary Katz called from the hijack. Daniel Negreanu three-bet to 54,000 and only Jouhkimainen called.
The 8♦6♠8♣ flop saw Jouhkimainen check and Negreanu bet 25,000. Jouhkimainen asked for the size of the pot before flicking in a 25,000 chip to call.
A 4♦ turn was checked by both to see the J♥ river. Both checked to showdown and Negreanu flipped over his A♣A♦9♣4♣ for two pair, which was enough to see Jouhkimainen muck his hand.
Level 10
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Alex Foxen limped in the cutoff, and Eelis Parssinen followed with a raise to 18,000 on the button. Action folded back around to Foxen, who made the call.
Foxen checked the 2♦A♠8♦ flop, and Parssinen continued for 25,000. That was enough to take down the pot, as Foxen let his hand go.
