Chris Frank raised the button to 7,000, and Gruffudd Pugh-Jones defended the big blind. On the A♣9♣4♠ flop, Pugh-Jones check-raised from 9,000 to 27,000 and Frank folded to reveal his 8♣8♠7♠4♥.
"You fold these back doors? Holy sh*t," Eelis Parssinen joked.
Frank then raised to 7,000, and Phillipp Mellon called on the button as did Parssinen in the big blind. The 9♣6♣2♠ flop was checked to Mellon, who bet 13,000 and picked up two calls. Parssinen then bet the 4♠ turn for the pot worth 63,000, and Frank was the only caller.
The K♠ river was checked by both, and Parssinen showed his 8♣8♦5♥2♥ for a pair of eights, which Frank had beaten holding the J♦J♣5♣3♠ for the six-high straight.
The tournament area is ready for the action but so far, only two players have registered including Robert Cowen and Eelis Pärssinen. They will be waiting for more opponents to appear before the cards will go in the air.
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) heats up for one of its marquee high-stakes contests, Event #76: $100,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed), kicking off at 12 p.m. local time on Tuesday, June 30 at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. This three-day event will draw a field of poker’s elite, all vying for a massive payout and the prestige that comes with a bracelet won against one of the toughest fields of the summer.
Expect to see the top PLO specialists at the tables, with action accelerated by the 20-second preflop and 30-second post-flop shot clock, and a gigantic payout once the winner is crowned on July 2.
📌 Event Snapshot
Event: #76 – $100,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed)
Date(s): June 30 – July 2
Time: 12 p.m. local time
Buy-In: $100,000
Format: Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed)
Late Registration: Open for 12 levels (≈ 2:15 p.m. on Day 2)
Reentries: Two per player
Starting Stack: 600,000 chips
Levels: 60 minutes
2025 Winner: Shaun Deeb ($2,957,229)
2025 Field Size: 121
2025 Prize Pool: $11,676,500
Structure and Schedule
Day 1 of the $100,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha shuffles up at 12 p.m. local time on June 30. Each player sits with a 600,000-chip starting stack. Players will contest 10 levels, each lasting 60 minutes, with 15-minute breaks every two levels. A 60-minute dinner break is scheduled after Level 6, around 6:30 p.m.
Day 2 resumes at 12 p.m. on July 1, with surviving players tackling another 10 levels. The schedule mirrors Day 1 with 15-minute breaks every two levels and a dinner break after Level 16, also around 6:30 p.m. Late registration remains open through Level 12 and closes at approximately 2:15 p.m.
Day 3’s start time is to be determined, with play continuing until a champion is crowned. The same 15-minute breaks every two levels are planned, while a dinner break will be announced during play.
Why This Event is Significant
This event is the summer's ultimate proving ground for the world’s top Pot-Limit Omaha players. With a six-figure buy-in, a huge starting stack, and reentry options, the tournament attracts the elite of the elite. Past winners like Shaun Deeb in 2025 have turned their mastery of PLO into multi-million-dollar paydays, and another huge prize pool is expected this year.
Past Champions & History
Last year, Shaun Deeb triumphed over a field of top-tier players, banking $2,957,229 and further cementing his reputation as one of poker's premier Omaha specialists. After his victory, Deeb told PokerNews, "Yeah, I mean, anyone could have won that tournament with the run of cards I had on all ends, you know. I ran so above chip EV in every all-in. I really just won, so there wasn't much skill."
This was a brand-new event for the 2025 WSOP, meaning Deeb is the only champion at the time of writing.
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Stay tuned to PokerNews for all of the exciting updates on the ground of the 2026 WSOP.
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