PokerNews live coverage of this event will begin on Day 2 (July 13). 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.
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) kicked off back on May 26, and now it is in the home stretch as June has come to an end and the $10,000 Main Event is underway. More than 70 tournaments have awarded bracelets thus far, and the PokerNews Live Reporting team has been on-site all summer long, capturing the action.
During that time, they've reported on some entertaining hands, bad beats, and more, which we're happy to feature in the latest edition of "Hands of the Week" presented by GTOWizard.
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.
The most exciting time in live poker is upon us, with the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event No-Limit Hold'em World Championship now underway.
The WSOP Main Event is considered the most prestigious live poker tournament, drawing thousands of entrants from far and wide, each hoping to become poker's world champion.
The field sizes of the Main Event are massive, despite the five-figure buy-in. With so many of poker's top players in action at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, you're spoiled for choice regarding who to add to your MyPlayers Feed.
Chip counts according WSOP app.
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) kicked off back on May 26, and now it is in the home stretch as June has come to an end and the $10,000 Main Event is underway. More than 70 tournaments have awarded bracelets thus far, and the PokerNews Live Reporting team has been on-site all summer long, capturing the action.
During that time, they've reported on some entertaining hands, bad beats, and more, which we're happy to feature in the latest edition of "Hands of the Week" presented by GTOWizard.
Before Michael Rocco won his first World Series of Poker bracelet two years ago, he'd already decided he was leaving poker behind.
When PokerNews caught up with the high-stakes player during the 2024 WSOP, the conversation wasn't about solvers, Player of the Year races, or the growing list of near-misses that had come to define his career. Instead, Rocco revealed he was preparing to step away from the game to pursue regenerative farming.
And then a few hours later, he finally won the bracelet he'd spent years chasing.
For most players, finally reaching the top would have been the beginning of another chapter. For Rocco, it simply meant he got to leave exactly how he'd hoped.
PokerNews caught up with the now 36-year-old to see how life is on the farm, and whether the poker grind is something that he yearns to go back to.
Anyone entering Day 1b of Event #93: $1,500 The Closer No Limit Hold'em at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas will be looking to beat Dragos-Florin Anton's Day 1a chip lead of 1,185,000.
Day 1b gets underway at Noon and is expected to exceed Day 1a's turnout and prize pool of 1,078 entries and $1,431,045 respectively.
The Closer gives poker players one the last chances to grab a gold WSOP bracelet or to hit it big with a deep run and a large cash.
| Position | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragos-Florin Anton | Romania | 1,185,000 | 79 |
| 2 | Daewoong Song | Korea | 1,180,000 | 79 |
| 3 | Andrew Kelsall | United States | 1,100,000 | 73 |
| 4 | Preston McEwen | United States | 1,035,000 | 69 |
| 5 | Diogo Doliveira | Portugal | 1,020,000 | 68 |
| 6 | Emanuel Goldshide | United States | 950,000 | 63 |
| 7 | Josh Norvock | Australia | 830,000 | 55 |
| 8 | Florian Duta | Romania | 810,000 | 54 |
| 9 | Jakub Sterba | Czechia | 810,000 | 54 |
| 10 | Ray Milare | United States | 805,000 | 54 |
Day 1b of the $1,500 The Closer No-Limit Hold’em event starts at Noon local time on July 12, with players receiving 50,000 starting chips.
Blind levels will be 30 minutes for the entire tournament. The Day 1 flights play 20 levels, with 20-minute breaks every four levels and a dinner break after Level 12 (around 6:40 p.m.).
Late registration is open for 12 levels, or until about 7:40 p.m.
Day 2 on July 13 will have a Noon restart and will play down to a bracelet champion. There will be 15-minute breaks every four levels, and a dinner break prior to the start of the final table.
Lukas Zaskodny is the defending champion in the $1,500 The Closer No-Limit Hold’em. Zaskodny beat a massive field with 4,297 entrants for the bracelet and $648,130 payout.
Ching Da Wu won this same tournament in 2024, taking home $525,500 for outlasting a field of 3,215 entrants.
Stay closer than ever to the action with MyPlayers. This brand new, free feature on PokerNews puts your favorite poker players front and center. Whether you're keeping tabs on legends like Daniel Negreanu or following a friend grinding their way through a Day 2, MyPlayers delivers real-time updates tailored just for you. No subscriptions, no paywalls - just the hands, chip counts, and bustouts that matter most.
It’s simple: log in, search for any player in our live coverage, hit the star, and they’ll be added to your personalized MyPlayers list. You’ll see their progress across all live-reported events, with chip counts and updates pinned right where you need them at the top.
From railbirds to backers, MyPlayers is the smarter way to stay connected to the game.
Event #93: $1,500 The Closer No-Limit Hold’em
Day 1b Started
button in Safari
