PokerNews live coverage of this event will begin on Day 2 (June 22). Until then, we will be keeping readers informed with updates on chip counts and core event statistics, including entries and prize pool. Scroll down to see more.
Brayden Lou managed to improve on an already outstanding year with a remarkable victory in the $500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em at the 2026 World Series of Poker.
After weeding his way through a field of 4,100, the inexperienced Lou wrestled the crown away from Jason Hoffman heads-up to claim the $196,066 winner’s share of a $1,701,500 prize pool.
“It’s pretty amazing,” Lou said. “I guess I can scratch this off my bucket list. I ran well, played well. That’s how it usually goes for tournament winners.”
Not that Lou would know, considering he won a gold bracelet in just his fourth ever live tournament.
The popular Event #59: $500 Salute to Warriors No-Limit Hold'em 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.
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 until 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.
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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Event #59: $500 Salute to Warriors
Day 1 Started
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