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The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) continues at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, and there’s an icy chill in the air (not the aircon), with Event #79: $3,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em, kicking off at 12:00 p.m. local time on July 1.
Freezeout events always carry a different kind of tension, with every decision carrying added weight. Last year was no different, as a huge field of 1,027 was eliminated one by one, not to return, generating a prize pool of $2,742,090 in the process.
📌 Event Snapshot
- Event: #79 – $3,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em
- Date(s): July 1–3, 2026
- Time: 12:00 p.m. local time
- Buy-In: $3,000
- Format: No-Limit Hold’em (Freezeout)
- Late Registration: Open for 9 levels (≈ 7:30 p.m.)
- Starting Stack: 40,000 chips
- Levels: 40 minutes (Day 1), 60 minutes (Day 2–3)
- 2025 Winner: Renat Bohdanov ($451,600)
- 2025 Field Size: 1,027
- 2025 Prize Pool: $2,742,090
Structure and Schedule
Day 1 gets underway at 12:00 p.m. local time on July 1, with players set to complete 17 levels, each lasting 40 minutes. A 15-minute break takes place every three levels, while a 60-minute dinner break is scheduled after Level 9, around 6:30 p.m. Late registration remains open through the first nine levels.
Day 2 resumes at 12:00 p.m. on July 2, with 10 levels planned and the clock increasing to 60 minutes. Players take 15-minute breaks every two levels, with a 60-minute dinner break after Level 23 (approx. 6:30 p.m.).
Day 3’s restart time is to be confirmed, with the remaining field playing down to a winner. As with Day 2, there are 15-minute breaks every two levels, and a dinner break will be announced during play. Should the final table be selected for live streaming, the schedule may be adjusted.
Blinds begin at 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante and increase steadily throughout the event, reaching 800,000/400,000 in the later stages.
Why This Event is Significant
Freezeout tournaments remain a purist’s format at the WSOP. With no re-entry option, every chip matters from the very start, and players must balance survival with accumulation. It’s a format that consistently rewards strong fundamentals and composure under pressure.
Past Champions & History
Renat Bohdanov came out on top in 2025, turning his $3,000 buy-in into $451,600 and a second WSOP bracelet after navigating a tough field and a rowdy final table. In the aftermath of his victory, the Ukrainian told PokerNews "This one was very important because it feels like a bigger one and more important, so I’m excited.”
The event is now into its 6th year at the WSOP, and there has been an international flavor to previous winners. Alongside Bohdanov from Ukraine, Erlend Melsom from Norway won in 2024, Robert Schulz from Germany in 2023, and David Jackson from the US in 2022.
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