WSOP Day 24: Dealer's Costly Mistake, Shaun Deeb Aims for Ninth Bracelet

$1,000 Seniors Championship – 25 Players Head to the Finale

The Seniors Championship drew significantly closer to its conclusion after the third day of play. From a massive field of 7,538 entries, only 25 players remain, all vying for the bracelet, the champion's title, and a share of the $6,633,440 prize pool. Each remaining player is guaranteed at least $28,000, but the major goal is clear – survive the final day and claim the prestigious bracelet and the $660,000 top prize.

Currently leading the pack is Homan Mohammadi with a stack of 13,955,000, closely followed by Scott Ruegsegger with 13,365,000. Yossi Maymon with 10,940,000 and Ablahad Salim with 10,840,000 also surpassed the 10 million chip mark. Four-time WSOP champion Farzad Bonyadi (5,775,000) and one-time bracelet winner Fred Golberg (5,755,000) are still in contention.

Marco Johnson Tops Chino Rheem in $2,500 Freezeout Heads-Up

Marco Johnson conquered Event #49: $2,500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em at WSOP 2026, clinching his third career gold bracelet after defeating Chino Rheem. The tournament attracted 1,561 entries, creating a $3,473,225 prize pool, with 28 players returning for the final day. Although Faraz Jaka started as the chipleader, he finished in fourth place, while Kenzo Ishida reached the final three before being eliminated by Johnson.

In heads-up play against the seasoned Chino Rheem, Johnson took control despite Rheem doubling up with aces. The decisive moment came in an all-in showdown with Rheem holding A s 4 c against Johnson's A d 5 d. A flop of 4 s 2 h 3 h gave Johnson a straight, sealing Rheem's fate. Rheem took home $341,970 for second place, while Johnson claimed the title, a $513,885 prize, and his first No-Limit Hold'em bracelet.

Event #49 Results:

Dealer's Mistake Impacts Decisive Hand in Colossus

What would a day at the WSOP be without controversy? The $500 Colossus event saw Justin Smith emerge victorious in a heads-up match that lasted only one hand. He went all-in with A s K h against Myles German's 8 s 8 d, securing a bracelet and $550,000 after hitting a river flush. The issue arose upon reviewing video footage – the dealer reportedly dealt the first card to the player on the button, which is incorrect in heads-up play where the button receives the last card.

Effectively, with proper dealing, the players would have held opposite hands. German would have held A-K while Smith had pocket eights and with the same board runout, German would have doubled up instead of finishing second with $367,000. The result remained unchanged as the hand was played and action accepted. The incident sparked a debate on dealer responsibility, player accountability, and whether there should be more active floor presence at WSOP final tables.

Shaun Deeb a Massive Chipleader in $3k Nine Game Mix

In the $3,000 Nine Game Mix event, Shaun Deeb made a significant impact on the second day of play. From a starting field of 472 entries, 164 players returned for Day 2, and now, only 21 finalists remain. The event's prize pool reached $1,260,240, and all remaining players are guaranteed at least $9,040.

The boldest story belongs to Deeb. The eight-time WSOP bracelet holder bagged 3,500,000 in chips, giving him more than double the stack of his closest contender. That contender is David Williams, the 2004 WSOP Main Event runner-up, who continues with 1,742,000. Names like Eli Elezra, Mike Gorodinsky, and five-time WSOP champion Jeff Madsen remain in the hunt.

For Deeb, this deep run is crucial. After an outstanding WSOP Europe with two second places and one ninth place, he hadn’t made a significant mark in this WSOP. However, in the Nine Game Mix, he's proving why he ranks among the world's most versatile tournament players, with aggressive, adaptable play that pressures opponents at the right moments.

Top 10 Chipcount:

$25,000 PLO High Roller – Pärssinen Crushes Foxen, Chases Second Bracelet

The last event concluding today was Day 3 of the $25,000 PLO High Roller. The initial field of 451 entries is now down to five players. The prize pool reached $10,598,500, with the champion set to win $2,161,056 and a coveted WSOP bracelet.

Finnish PLO specialist Eelis Pärssinen stole the spotlight. He clashed with Alex Foxen in the evening's largest pot, getting all-in pre-flop with both players holding aces. However, Pärssinen found a set of sevens on the flop and a nut flush on the turn, crushing Foxen and surging into the lead. He ended the day with a stack of 35,225,000, equivalent to 88 big blinds.

Foxen began the day as the chipleader among the last 31 players, pursuing a second bracelet in this WSOP. He managed to eliminate Daniel Negreanu in 26th place and Chance Kornuth in 22nd, but his run concluded in seventh place with a $267,993 payout. Matthew Costanzo finished in sixth, leaving the remaining five to bag up for the final day.

Final Table Chipcount in $25k PLO High Roller:

Event #51: Alex Anton Leads Final Nine in $10,000 Mystery Bounty NLH

The $10,000 Mystery Bounty No-Limit Hold'em event has its final nine after Day 2. A total of 558 entries were recorded, pushing the prize pool to $5,189,400. The remaining competitors will vie for the bracelet, title, and a top prize of $678,300 plus bounty rewards in the final day.

Alex Anton secured the best position, bagging 6,600,000 in chips. Just behind him is Josh Reichard with a stack of 6,555,000, and Kent Stephens completes a strong top three with 5,490,000. Serbian player Jovan Kenjic also holds a solid stack of 5,300,000, while French professional Julien Sitbon remains in the hunt with 2,140,000.

Final Table Chipcount for Mystery Bounty Event:

$10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Brings Another Championship Event

The prestigious $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship kicked off with its first day, hinting at one of the most intriguing mixed-game battles of the WSOP so far. The tournament has seen 153 entries so far, with 69 players bagging chips after Day 1. Leading the provisional standings is Jason Daly, continuing his impressive summer at the World Series of Poker.

Daly is not just a random name at the top of the chip count. Earlier this WSOP, he captured the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better event, securing his third WSOP bracelet and a $191,362 payday. However, in pursuit of another bracelet, he will face tough competition—players like Jesse Lonis, Scott Seiver, Patrick Leonard, Viktor Blom, Jennifer Harman, Anthony Zinno, Nick Schulman, Todd Brunson, Brian Rast, and Josh Arieh all advance to Day 2.

Sources - WSOP, X, PokerNews, PokerStrategy