button in SafariExperience the Thrill of the Main Event with the Mini Main Event
The excitement of the Main Event arrives a few days early as Event #72: $1,000 Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold'em returns to the WSOP schedule on June 28 at the 2026 World Series of Poker hosted by the Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas. This tournament serves as the ultimate mass-participation event, offering the "Main Event experience" at a fraction of the cost.
With three starting flights and a massive 60,000-chip starting stack, the Mini Main Event is a lock to be one of the largest-field events of the summer. Players from across the globe will descend on Las Vegas with hopes of turning a $1,000 buy-in into a massive six-figure payday and a coveted gold bracelet.
📌 Event Snapshot
- Event: #72 – $1,000 Mini Main Event
- Date(s): June 28 – July 2
- Time: 10 a.m. local time
- Buy-In: $1,000
- Format: No-Limit Hold’em
- Late Registration: 12 Levels (approx. 5 p.m.)
- Reentries: One entry per starting flight
- Starting Stack: 60,000 chips
- Levels: 30 minutes
- 2025 Winner: Martin Kabrhel – $843,140
- 2025 Field Size: 10,794 entries
- 2025 Prize Pool: $9,498,720
Structure and Schedule
The 2026 Mini Main Event kicks off with Flight A at 10 a.m. on June 28, followed by Flights B and C on the following days at the same time. Players will navigate 22 levels on Day 1, each lasting 30 minutes. The rapid-fire nature of the levels ensures the field narrows quickly, while the 60,000-chip stack provides plenty of early play.
Late registration remains open for 12 levels (until approx. 5 p.m. for each starting flight). Players eliminated in Flight A may reenter Flight B or C, and those out in B may reenter Flight C. The field combines on Wednesday, July 1, at 11 a.m. to play down to a winner.
Why is This Event Significant?
The Mini Main Event is the "everyman's" championship. It mirrors the Main Event's energy and prestige but is accessible to recreational players. With a first-place prize that often approaches $1 million, it represents one of the best ROI (Return on Investment) opportunities of the entire series.
Past Champions & History
In 2025, Martin Kabrhel conquered a massive 10,794-entry field to earn $843,140. The sheer scale of the event makes it a marathon of endurance. “Everybody loves me!” Kabrhel joked, adding that he'd have liked the bracelet to have “a few more diamonds on it.”
In 2024, Georgios Skarparis won this tournament for $554,925 when he defeated a field of 6,076 contenders. The previous year, the Mini Main drew 5,257 entrants, who created a $4,678,730 prize pool. America's Brad Gafford came out on top, raking in $549,555 and his first WSOP bracelet.
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