WSOP Day 2: Unveiling the Prestigious Bracelet, Awaiting the First Champion

Each year, the unveiling of the WSOP gold bracelet design is a closely-watched event, as this piece of jewelry represents the pinnacle of a poker career. For 2026, organizers have crafted a piece that combines tradition with modern luxury.

On the third day of the WSOP, two events will conclude, marking the beginning of the battle for the first gold bracelet winner of this series. Leading Event #2: $5K 8-Max NLH and Event #3: $500 Industry Employees are at the forefront.

First photographs of the winners with this prestigious trophy will be showcased in the upcoming WSOP 2026 daily recap.

Elite Lineup Battles for First Major Finale

The spotlight of the second gaming day was on Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em. With a total of 570 entries, the tournament created a $2,359,800 prizepool, and the winner will take home $502,985. After a grueling second day, only 24 players remain, having bagged their stacks for tomorrow's finale.

Leading the field is Russian Anatoly Nikitin, who has built a commanding stack of 3,290,000 chips (132 big blinds). His compatriot Ivan Ruban closely follows.

Familiar names like Brock Wilson, Justin Saliba, and the controversial and loud Ren Lin, who entertained (or annoyed) his tablemates, have also advanced to the final day. However, the vocal approach didn’t help Martin Kabrhel. The Czech player was eliminated near the end of Day 2, finishing in 28th place ($15,879).

Top 10 Stacks After Day 2 – Event #2: $5K 8-Max NLH:

Lawrence Berg Aims for Second Bracelet

The first non-Hold'em tournament of the summer launched with great success. Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better attracted a total of 828 players, creating a prizepool of $1,099,170. After the first day, the field was trimmed to 179 advancing players vying for a $191,362 top prize.

Leading the tournament is seasoned professional Lawrence Berg, who packed a stack of 373,000 into Day 2. Berg is no newcomer to the circuit, having claimed his first bracelet back in 2016 in Dealers Choice.

The tournament also garnered attention for the return of legendary Vanessa Selbst, who holds steady in the middle of the pack with a stack of 122,000. Other prominent names still in the game include Huck Seed, Blaz Zerjav, and Allen Kessler.

Top 5 Stacks After Day 1 – Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo:

Employee Showdown for First Gold of the Season

The Event #3: $500 Industry Employees, designed for individuals working in the poker industry, kicked off as well. From a total of 906 entries, 136 players have advanced to the final day, competing for the bracelet and a first-place prize of $64,083.

Top 5 Stacks After Day 1 – Event #3: $500 Industry Employees:

Massive Turnout in Mini Mystery Millions

Not to be overlooked is the massive Event #1: $550 Mini Mystery Millions, which has seen its second starting flight (1b) completed. The total number of registrations has already reached an impressive 3,197 entries.

From this massive field, 117 players have secured their spot in Day 2, as well as a place in the money (ITM). The current chipleader is Israel’s Tal Avivi, who dominated Day 1b, turning his starting stack into a commanding 2.8 million chips.

Several top professionals have also secured their spots in Day 2. Notably, three-time bracelet holder David Prociak (stack 1,500,000) and four-time WSOP winner Chad Eveslage (690k) stand out.

The tournament continues with the third flight (1c), which is expected to see another major influx of players. With four starting days remaining, we'll have to wait to see the final numbers.

Sources: WSOP, X, PokerNews