Legends Negreanu and Ivey Bow Out of the Main Event
Following the close of late registration during Day 2d, the official prize pool soared to an astronomical $85,634,400 thanks to 9,208 registered players. Although it didn’t surpass the all-time record from 2024 (10,112 players), the 2026 edition overtook the legendary 2006 event, marking its spot as the fourth largest in history.
Main Event Prize Pool Tops $85 Million
— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) July 8, 2026
The numbers are in!
The 2026 Main Event attracted 9,208 entrants, creating a total prize pool worth $85,634,400.
The final 1,382 players will be in the money and guaranteed at least $15,000, with the eventual champion taking home the… pic.twitter.com/w9P2acqUWH
The payout structure of this year’s Main Event reflects its historic size. Organizers opted for a fairly steep distribution at the top, with the new champion claiming a fairy-tale $10 million for the third consecutive year. All nine players reaching the final table will become millionaires, with the ninth place award set at exactly $1 million.
In the broader field, a total of 1,382 top performers will share the prizes, with minimum payouts starting at $15,000. This means players will receive a guaranteed 1.5 times their original buy-in after the money bubble bursts.
Payout Structure of Event #82: $10,000 Main Event 2026
|
Position |
Prize |
|
1st Place |
$10,000,000 |
|
2nd Place |
$6,000,000 |
|
3rd Place |
$3,750,000 |
|
4th Place |
$2,750,000 |
|
5th Place |
$2,250,000 |
|
6th Place |
$1,750,000 |
|
7th Place |
$1,500,000 |
|
8th Place |
$1,250,000 |
|
9th Place |
$1,000,000 |
|
10th – 11th Place |
$750,000 |
|
12th – 13th Place |
$510,000 |
|
14th – 17th Place |
$410,475 |
|
18th – 26th Place |
$325,000 |
|
27th – 35th Place |
$265,000 |
|
36th – 44th Place |
$215,000 |
|
45th – 53rd Place |
$180,000 |
|
54th – 62nd Place |
$150,000 |
|
63rd – 71st Place |
$125,000 |
|
72nd – 80th Place |
$105,000 |
|
81st – 89th Place |
$90,000 |
|
90th – 98th Place |
$75,000 |
|
99th – 161st Place |
$65,000 |
|
162nd – 224th Place |
$57,500 |
|
225th – 287th Place |
$50,000 |
|
288th – 350th Place |
$45,000 |
|
351st – 413th Place |
$40,000 |
|
414th – 476th Place |
$35,000 |
|
477th – 539th Place |
$32,500 |
|
540th – 602nd Place |
$30,000 |
|
603rd – 665th Place |
$27,500 |
|
666th – 764th Place |
$25,000 |
|
765th – 863rd Place |
$22,500 |
|
864th – 923rd Place |
$20,000 |
|
924th – 1,150th Place |
$17,500 |
|
1,151st – 1,382nd Place |
$15,000 |
The hero of one of Day 2d’s standout moments was Jeff Fenster, an entrepreneur and podcaster who entered the tournament during the late registration at the start of the day. Fenster, who hadn't originally planned to play the Main Event, delivered a spectacular performance, finishing Day 2d in third place with a stack of 747,000.
Successful days were also enjoyed by past champions, including John Cynn, Ryan Riess, Hossein Ensan, Chris Moneymaker, Joe Hachem, and Joe McKeehen.
A host of other world-famous names continue in the quest for poker immortality. The Foxen couple confirmed their form with Alex Foxen bagging a massive 493,000 in chips, while his wife Kristen advances with a stack of 143,000, thanks to her keen insight.
Soul Read by Foxen
— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) July 8, 2026
In the $10,000 Main Event, Kristen Foxen @krissyb24poker faced a pot-sized bet from her opponent, sending her deep into the tank before making an incredible read.
The WSOP Main Event stream is LIVE now on @espn digital and YouTube in select territories.… pic.twitter.com/c1zCDfpYDX
Britain's poker scene will be represented by nine-time bracelet winner Benny Glaser (193,000), along with dangerous players Jesse Lonis (266,500) and defending WSOP PoY Shaun Deeb (368,000).
Some poker icons faced an opposite fate. The dream of a title dissolved for Daniel Negreanu, who battled with a short stack before eventually exiting the tournament. A similar fate struck Phil Ivey, who entered play only on Day 2d, but was out by day's end. Jason Mercier, a six-time WSOP winner, also experienced a painful exit despite flopping a straight in his final hand.
Dream Flop for Mercier, But…@JasonMercier moved his remaining chips all-in against @shaundeeb on Day 2 of the Main Event.
— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) July 8, 2026
Mercier was dominated, but got a dream flop. However, it’s never over in poker...
The WSOP Main Event stream is LIVE now on @espn digital and YouTube in… pic.twitter.com/zkQnicG92Q
Top 10 Stacks of Event #82 (Unofficially after Day 2d):
|
Position |
Player |
Country |
Stack |
|
1. |
Lorenzo Lavis |
France |
808,000 |
|
2. |
Michael Rossitto |
USA |
770,500 |
|
3. |
Jeff Fenster |
USA |
747,000 |
|
4. |
Yannick Schumacher |
Germany |
738,000 |
|
5. |
Robert Gill |
USA |
728,500 |
|
6. |
Joseph Baghdalian |
USA |
705,000 |
|
7. |
Farid Jattin |
Colombia |
630,000 |
|
8. |
Dhiraj Sharma |
Canada |
623,500 |
|
9. |
Victor Dong |
USA |
620,000 |
|
10. |
Patrik Jaroš |
Czech Republic |
614,500 |
Ultra Stack Draws Mammoth Field
The highly popular Event #86: $600 NLH Ultra Stack wrapped up its opening flights with Day 1c, drawing an additional 4,217 entries. The total number of registrations reached an astounding 8,007, creating a prize pool of $4,035,528.
From the third flight, 321 players secured their spots in Day 2, with Ron Arnon amassing the largest stack. Three-time bracelet holder David Prociak also found himself in an excellent position, ending up among the top five. Notable players advancing from Day 1c include Jamie Gold, Michael Moncek, and David Baker.
Strong Start for PLO Mystery Bounty
The first playing day of Event #87: $1K Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha confirmed the format's appeal, attracting 1,922 entries. The game continued until the money bubble burst, ensuring that 15% of the field advanced. As a result, 288 players secured entry to the second day.
While the players already have guaranteed money, the most excitement will come in the next phase with the drawing of Mystery Bounty rewards.
Sources: WSOP, WSOP Live, X
