122 Entries and a Dream Run in the Main Event
Deeb’s approach to the series can be summed up in one motto: “I want to play everything”. Over the summer, he fired a staggering 122 entries in bracelet events. While he cashed in only six, the quality of those finishes was exceptional.
He shone brightest in the world’s most-watched tournament, the $10K Main Event. After eight exhausting days, he finished 15th, earning $410,475. His calm demeanor after being knocked out surprised many fans. Just 10 minutes after his elimination from the Main Event, Deeb registered for two more tournaments, continuing his quest for Player of the Year points.
Shaun Deeb Opens the Books: Was He in the Black?
A debate sparked in the poker community over whether the POY title should go to someone financially in the red at the end of the series. Deeb decided to end the debate with hard evidence by releasing his official “Player Tournament Profit Report.”
Here’s a look at Deeb’s WSOP 2026 accounting:
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Total Buy-ins: $866,800
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Total Winnings (Prizes + Bounties): $956,086
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Net Profit: +$89,286
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Number of Entries: 122
His positive balance was significantly boosted by winning a bracelet in the $1,500 8-Game Mixed with a prize of $181,625, finishing second in the $3K 9-Game Mixed ($166,540), and fifth in the $10K No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw, earning $99,557.
Title Defense Within Reach: Current POY Leader
Entering this year as the reigning WSOP Player of the Year, Deeb has his sights set on a historic title defense. Thanks to momentum from WSOP Europe and several deep runs at WSOP 2026, he managed to surpass his biggest rivals late in the Las Vegas leg.
Though closely chased by Alex Foxen and Japan’s Naoya Kihara, the official standings after the U.S. events clearly show Deeb back on the throne.
Current WSOP Player of the Year 2026 Standings (Top 3):
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Shaun Deeb (USA) – 3,410 points
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Naoya Kihara (Japan) – 3,388 points
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Alex Foxen (USA) – 3,381 points
The margins among the top three are razor-thin, and the battle for the title will be definitively decided at the WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas this December, where Deeb heads as the man to beat. If he maintains his pace and resilience, we might witness a rewriting of World Series history.
Source: WSOP, X