PokerNews live coverage of this event will begin on Day 2 (July 2). Until then, we will keep readers informed with updates on chip counts and core event statistics, including entries and the prize pool. Scroll down to see more..
Event #78: $600 Deepstack Championship No-Limit Hold'em
Day 1 Started
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) rolls into one of its biggest field events of the summer with Event #78: $600 Deepstack Championship, kicking off at 10:00 a.m. local time on July 1 at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. This four-day No-Limit Hold’em marathon is expected to draw thousands of players, all chasing a life-changing score and a coveted WSOP bracelet.
A deep structure and four-day schedule give players plenty of room to build a stack, but with such a large field expected, there’ll be no shortage of pressure as the tournament progresses.
Day 1 gets underway at 10:00 a.m. local time on July 1, with players navigating 17 levels of 40 minutes each. Breaks last 20 minutes and occur every three levels, while a 75-minute dinner break is scheduled after Level 12, around 7:00 p.m.
Day 2 and Day 3 both restart at 11:00 a.m.. Ten levels are planned for Day 2, while Day 3 plays down to just five players. Levels extend to 60 minutes from Day 2 onward, with 15-minute breaks every two levels and a 60-minute dinner break after Levels 23 and 33 (approximately 5:30 p.m.).
Day 4’s restart time is to be confirmed, with the remaining players returning to play down to a champion. As with previous days, 15-minute breaks occur every two levels, and a dinner break will be announced during play.
Blinds begin at 100/100 and steadily climb throughout the tournament, reaching 1,000,000/500,000 by the later stages, ensuring plenty of play early before the pressure ramps up deep into the event.
The $600 Deepstack Championship is one of the best value events on the WSOP schedule. A modest buy-in, combined with a deep structure and a huge field, creates the perfect environment for breakout performances. It’s the kind of tournament where recreational players and seasoned grinders collide, often producing memorable runs and six-figure scores.
Nick Ahmadi emerged victorious in 2025, outlasting a massive field to claim $302,165 and his first WSOP bracelet. His win highlighted the opportunity this event presents, turning a relatively small investment into a career-defining payday.
Speaking to PokerNews after his victory, Ahmadi described his bracelet win as "surreal," before adding, "It’s a pretty awesome experience. I don't know, kind of numb right now, so I'm sure it'll kick in pretty soon, but yeah, it feels awesome." He also described winning a bracelet as “every poker player’s dream, so super happy and fortunate to be in this spot.”
Previous champions from recent years include Hector Berry from the United Kingdom and David Guay from Canada, with winners banking somewhere in the region of $300,000.
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According to the WSOP live app.
This year's nominees for the Poker Hall of Fame have been announced, with the eight individuals now heading to the living members of the Hall for voting.
Each member can vote for up to four nominees, and anyone receiving votes from 22 or more members earns an automatic induction. This change, from a previous "winner-takes-all" format allowing for only one induction per year, was announced earlier this month.
Five of the eight nominees are first-time nominees, having met the minimum age requirement of 40. Eight-time WSOP bracelet winner Shaun Deeb headlines these players; he is joined by Jason Koon, Isaac Haxton, Chris Moorman, and Justin Bonomo.
According to the WSOP live app.
A poker player with no recorded live poker tournament results entered the $100,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha event at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) nearly for free.
Phillipp Mellon, who doesn't even have a page on The Hendon Mob, showed up with just five other players when the high-stakes tournament began. He sat down at the table to play against crushers such as Alex Foxen and Eelis Parssinen, both 2026 bracelet winners.
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