button in SafariHelp The Troops By Playing Event #59: $500 Salute to Warriors!
The popular Event #59: $500 Salute to Warriors returns to the 2026 World Series of Poker, traditionally drawing a large field for the three-day tournament.
The event is once again open to all players at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, and $40 of each entry will be donated to the U.S.O. and other veterans organizations.
📌 Event Snapshot
- Event: #59 - $500 Salute to Warriors
- Date(s): June 21-23, 2026
- Time: 10:00 a.m. local time
- Buy-In: $500
- Format: No-Limit Hold’em
- Late Registration: 9 Levels (approx. 5:00 p.m. on Day 1)
- Reentry: One reentry
- Starting Stack: 50,000 chips
- Levels: 40 minutes
- 2025 Winner: Joey Couden – $187,937
- 2025 Field Size: 3,937 entries
- 2025 Prize Pool: $1,641,170
Structure and Schedule
Action begins at 10 a.m. local time, with players sitting down to a starting stack of 50,000 chips. and blinds of 100/200/200 with 40-minute levels.
Day 1 is scheduled for 17 levels, with 20-minute breaks every three levels and a 75-minute dinner break after Level 12 around 7 p.m.
Registration remains open through the start of Level 10 (about 5 p.m.). Day 2 will pick back up at 11 a.m. Monday and will play for 15 to 17 levels, while Day 3 will determine a champion.
Past Champions & Notable Winners
In 2025, Joey Couden earned his second WSOP bracelet after defeating a massive field of 3,937 entrants for a first-place prize of $187,937.
“I couldn’t be more happy, good timing for me, for sure”, Couden told PokerNews after his victory. “It was easy to be happy and have fun, I mean, this is why we do this, that’s as fun as it gets out here.”
Other recent champions include Ben Collins (2024), Steven Genovese (2023) and James Todd (2022).
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