The WSOP Circuit has visited Canada’s Playground many times before, but its first edition in the Super Circuit format immediately raised the bar to a new level. The Main Event featured a CAD 5,000 buy-in with an ambitious CAD 10 million guarantee and offered three separate starting flights, each followed by its own Day 2. This unique format allowed organizers to manage the massive player interest, resulting in the largest prize pool in WSOP Circuit Main Event history.
Ultimately, 2,844 entries generated a prize pool of CAD 13,082,400, exceeding the guarantee by CAD 3,082,400. The margin compared to the previous record is staggering. The past record also originated from Playground, where the Main Event in 2025 attracted 1,978 entries and a CAD 4,450,500 prize pool. The current Super Circuit surpassed that by more than CAD 8.6 million.
The numbers are in for the $5,000 @WSOP Super Circuit Main Event at Playground 🇨🇦
— GGPoker (@GGPoker) September 6, 2026
Field: 2,844 entries
Prize pool: CA$13,082,400 💰
Good luck to all the GGPoker qualifiers and ambassadors left in the field 🍀 pic.twitter.com/sjhFEf2PKQ
Record-Breaking Main Event Concludes Extraordinary Start to the Festival
The Main Event is not the first tournament in the current series to rewrite Playground’s history books. The CAD 500 Mini Main Event drew 3,484 entries over five initial flights, becoming the largest tournament by entries ever held at this casino. The previous record, set in 2025, stood at 1,978 entries.
The festival’s early tournaments already generated about CAD 5,780,000 in winnings. Adding the record-breaking Main Event, the total prize pool now tops at least CAD 18,862,400, with the series continuing until September 12. This has surpassed the previous Canadian record for a single tournament series, set at CAD 15,540,000. Additional large tournaments including the GGMillion$ High Roller for CAD 14,000 and the Super High Roller with a CAD 25,000 buy-in will further increase this total.
The unique atmosphere of the opening days was elevated by Daniel Negreanu. The most famous Canadian poker player participated in the GGPoker Meet-Up Game and officially started the Main Event with the traditional call, 'Shuffle Up and Deal'. With his presence, Playground’s festival not only attracted record attendance but also had the face that has been synonymous with Canadian poker for decades.
Many renowned players remain in contention for the title. Alongside Daniel, WSOP Main Event champion Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, two-time bracelet winner Mike Leah, former WSOP Main Event finalist Griffin Benger, Gabriel Andrade, and popular cash-game content creator Andrew "Andy Stacks" Tsai have advanced. Even after merging all three tournament branches, the Main Event retains its star-studded lineup, with several seasoned pros having a real chance to make a deep run.
Record-Breaking Field Merges Today
All three tournament branches have concluded, and remaining players will meet today for the first time in a combined Day 3. Play will continue with 90-minute levels, during which full payouts, including the champion’s prize, are expected to be confirmed.
The winner will not only claim the biggest financial reward of their career and a WSOP Circuit ring. They will also be forever recorded as the first champion of the Canadian Super Circuit Main Event, marking the largest Main Event ever played under the WSOP Circuit banner.
The WSOP Super Circuit Canada continues at Playground until September 12. Besides the Main Event, the schedule features PLO Bounty, GGMillion$ High Roller, Super High Roller, PLO High Roller, and the closing Closer Turbo Bounty.
Every day of this event includes a live stream; you can revisit yesterday’s broadcast from Day 2C here:
Sources: WSOP, X Playground, YouTube