This year, a record 24 teams participated in the draft, creating a massive $600,000 prizepool with a $25,000 buy-in per team. The system is relentless; each team had a virtual budget of $200 to bid on eight players.
Points are awarded throughout the summer for paid placements in open WSOP tournaments, with key events like the Main Event and $50K Players Championship earning triple points.
Prizes are distributed among the top five teams, with the winning team taking home $250,000. The entire draft event was set in a vibrant atmosphere at PokerGO Studio, which fans could enjoy via livestream.
Shaun Deeb Becomes Most Expensive Player, Negreanu Drafts Himself
The biggest battle of the night was for Shaun Deeb, long considered the king of fantasy drafts thanks to his packed schedule and ability to play all poker variants. Team Trump Power and its captain Gary Benson didn't hesitate to pay a staggering $133 for Deeb, making him the most expensive acquisition of 2026.
Right behind him was Michael Moncek, drafted by Team Gators for $130. Poker icon Daniel Negreanu, unsurprisingly, drafted himself for $116 into his team "Team DNegs."
Most Expensive Players of the 2026 Draft:
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Shaun Deeb: $133 (Team Trump Power)
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Michael Moncek: $130 (Team Gators)
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Daniel Negreanu: $116 (Team DNegs)
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Joao Vieira: $101 (Team Noori)
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Brian Rast: $97 (Team Stake Kings)
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Benny Glaser: $94 (Team Chocolate Factory)
An interesting development was the increase in value of online legend Viktor “Isildur” Blom, secured by Team Wasserson for $69. On the flip side, players like Jason Koon and Erik Seidel were considered "steals," going for just $1.
The title of “Mr. Irrelevant,” the last player picked in the draft, went to Jun Weng, purchased for the last remaining dollar by Team Lady Gaga (captain Ren Lin).
The race for points begins, and the poker community will eagerly watch to see if Team Trump Power's investment in Shaun Deeb pays off, or if there's a surprise from one of the draft's "dark horses."
Sources: 25kfantasy, YouTube
