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Event #48: $10,000 Razz Championship
Day 1 Completed
2026 World Series of Poker
Event #48: $10,000 Razz Championship
Day: 1
Players Left 80 / 153
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 10
Ante: 1,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
Another day, another championship event kicking off as Day 1 of Event #48: $10,000 Razz Championship saw its first day play to completion at the 2026 World Series of Poker. A total of 118 entrants filled today's seats to generate a prize pool of $1,097,400, with only 54 having any ability to see a piece of it by day’s end.
Leading the way is a player very familiar with this event, Calvin Anderson (343,500). Back in 2018, the Oklahoma poker player claimed his second WSOP bracelet in this particular championship, taking home $309,220 for his efforts. He has since added another bracelet and sits second on his state’s all time money list, with career live tournament earnings sitting just below $7 million, according to TheHendonMob. He looks to utilize his sizable Day 1 stack and turn it into WSOP bracelet #4.
Rounding out the podium are Maximilian Schindler (281,000) and Jay Kwon (269,000), whose WSOP bracelet came in Razz in 2018 in the $1,500 variant.
Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Bets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calvin Anderson | United States | 343,500 | 42 |
| 2 | Maximilian Schindler | United States | 281,000 | 35 |
| 3 | Jay Kwon | United States | 269,000 | 33 |
| 4 | Josh Arieh | United States | 240,000 | 30 |
| 5 | Yuri Dzivielevski | Brazil | 239,000 | 29 |
| 6 | Ray Henson | United States | 203,500 | 25 |
| 7 | Owais Ahmed | United States | 202,000 | 25 |
| 8 | Matt Grapenthien | United States | 181,500 | 22 |
| 9 | Mark Epstein | United States | 180,000 | 22 |
| 10 | Max Kruse | Germany | 180,000 | 22 |
Many of the game’s biggest names also found their way to bags at night’s end. Six-time WSOP bracelet winners Josh Arieh (240,000) and Yuri Dzivielevski (239,000) bagged up sizable stacks. Others that advanced included Ray Henson (203,500), Owais Ahmed (202,000), Jon Turner (175,500), Chris Brewer (162,000), John Monnette (153,000), Jason Daly (138,000), Allen Kessler (117,500), and Eli Elezra (98,500), each one of them looking to be the final Razz champion of the 2026 WSOP.
Last summer’s champion Brian Rast saw his hopes for a title defense dashed as he fell early in the day. Others that came and went included Dario Sammartino, Terrance Reid, Marco Johnson, Chino Rheem, and seven-time WSOP bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu. Their hopes for a bracelet this summer will have to come at a later date.
Players finished tonight after 10 levels were played. Those who bagged will return to play tomorrow at 1:00 pm. Action resumes on Level 11 with a 1,000 ante and a 1,000 bring in, with limits at 4,000/8,000. Registration will remain open until the beginning of the following level at around 2:15 pm.
That concludes today’s coverage of the Razz Championship. Be sure to check back in to PokerNews tomorrow to see more updates on the ground from the 2026 WSOP at the Paris Hotel and Casino.
Level 10
Ante: 1,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
Please note: Late registration remains open into Day 2, so the seat draw is subject to change. Late arrivals will be randomly assigned to the empty seats.
Level 10
Ante: 1,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
Level 10
Ante: 1,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
The remaining 54 players are now bagging and tagging for the evening.
Stay tuned for a recap of Day 1.
Level 10
Ante: 1,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
The tournament floor has announced that three more hands will be played before players bag up for the day.
Level 10
Ante: 1,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
Frank Kassela: 9x4xAx/2xQxJx5x
Chad Eveslage: 10x8x7x/5x9x5x3x
Frank Kassela completed with his deuce and was called by Chad Eveslage.
Kassella called a bet from Eveslage on fourth street, and Eveslage bet again on fifth.
"I see you paired your five," Kassela said as he tossed in a call. "I can't be that far behind."
Kassela called another bet from Eveslage on sixth street and then checked dark on seventh.
Eveslage checked behind and showed his cards for a nine-eight, but it was no good against Kassela's nine-five.
"I was going for a check-raise!", Kassela said as he collected the pot.
Level 10
Ante: 1,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
James Obst completed, Dennis Weiss raised, and Jesse Lonis raised once more to see both Obst and Weiss call.
Jesse Lonis: XxXx/7x4xJx5x
James Obst: XxXx/7x2x8x10x
Dennis Weiss: XxXx/7x10x - Folded on fourth street
Action checked to Lonis on fourth, who bet, and only Obst called.
Obst bet on fifth street to see Lonis call.
On sixth street, Obst bet once more and Lonis raised him all in, eliciting a sigh from Obst.
"Look, if I'm calling for that, I'm calling for the rest," said Lonis, Obst nodding in response.
After a few more seconds, Obst tossed away his hand to leave himself with 3,500 chips. A few hands later he was gone.
Level 10
Ante: 1,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
Scott Seiver: 10x6xAx/7x2x10xJx
Jason Froelich: 4x3x2x/4x2xKx6x
Scott Seiver completed and was called by Jason Froelich.
Both players checked on fourth street and then Froelich called a bet from Seiver on fifth.
Nobody bet on sixth street, but Froelich tossed one in on seventh after being checked to.
Seiver thought a bit before calling, and Froelich shrugged and showed his cards for a king.
Seiver revealed his hand for a ten and was awarded the pot.
Level 10
Ante: 1,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
High Card: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
Jason Daly completed and Hiroyuki Noda called with a Jx up. Andrew "AJ" Kelsall raised to see Daly raise again and Noda put in three 1k chips. The floor ruled that he could either forfeit the 6,000 or match the bet, to which he opted to fold. Kelsall raised again and Daly called.
Jason Daly: XxXx/3x9x7x3x/Xx
Andrew Kelsall: XxXx/8x2xQx5x/Xx
Kelsall bet on fourth street to see Daly call.
Daly bet on fifth street and Kelsall called.
On sixth street, Kelsal check-called a bet from Daly. Action repeated identically on seventh.
"Nine-six," Daly said, before tabling QxAx6x for nine-seven. Daly apologized and corrected himself while Kelsall mucked his hand.
