WSOP Day 46: Ensan Knocks Out Mizrachi in the Main Event, Negreanu Chases Title in 50K NLH

Brunson and Hachem with a Historical Opportunity

Day 5 of the Main Event in Las Vegas is when the field gets narrowed down and the true marathon runners emerge. From the original 533 entrants, only 174 hopeful champions remain.

While fans were eagerly watching the defending champion, Day 5 delivered its final verdict. Last year, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi dominated the poker world, but this time he bowed out in 241st place with a $50,000 reward. Symbolically, he was eliminated by another former champion, Hossein Ensan, when Mizrachi's K-Q ran into Ensan's aces. Ensan remains the last former winner with a chance at a second triumph.

While Mizrachi's dream ended, another is materializing. Daniel Hachem, son of the 2005 world champion Joe Hachem, packed a massive stack of 3,895,000 chips. Daniel has previously gone far in the Main Event (79th in 2019), but this time he has a real shot at something no one in history has achieved.

If he secures the crown, he'd join his father in a historic father-son duo, both holding world champion titles. Todd Brunson (3,690,000) also seeks this unique achievement, trailing right behind Hachem.

Attention is also drawn to Shaun Deeb, entering Day 6 with an above-average stack of 4,305,000. Deeb revealed he's been “stuck” in the Main Event longer than wished while defending the Player of the Year (POY) title, having to miss other point-scoring tournaments. Currently third in the POY rankings, success in the Main Event could propel him towards a historic third Player of the Year title.

Other renowned players also made it through, such as Patrick Leonard (2,860,000), Terrance Reid (2,685,000), Sean Winter (1,885,000), and Brock Wilson (885,000). The only player with an eight-figure stack is Zhao Liu, the clear chipleader.

Icons like Josh Arieh, Alex Foxen, Ryan Riess, Greg Raymer, Stephen Chidwick, and Brian Hastings were eliminated during Day 5.

Top 10 Stacks After Day 5 – Event #82: $10,000 WSOP Main Event

Rezaei Leads the Star-Studded Thirteen

In one of the series' most prestigious tournaments, the field narrowed to the final 13 elite players after a demanding second day of play. Late registration brought the total entries in the $50K NLH to 202, creating a massive prize pool of $9,595,000. Austrian Daniel Rezaei maintained his strong lead for the second consecutive day.

In the hunt for the gold bracelet and the top prize of $2,276,691 are some of the biggest names in poker, including Daniel Negreanu and Hall of Famer Erik Seidel. Canada’s Kristen Foxen remains the only woman in the star lineup.

The unfortunate bubble boy was Santhosh Suvarna after his pocket tens ran into Sebastian Gaehl's kings. Phil Hellmuth also missed out on cashing, having only won in four tournaments during WSOP 2026, further increasing his series losses.

Current Standings for Event #90: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em

Shepsky's Overtime Victory

The $1K Mystery Bounty PLO Tournament (Event #87) required an unplanned third day, with 34 players out of an original 4,764 entries battling for the gold bracelet. American Matthew Shepsky, leveraging his vast cash games experience, bulldozed his way through the final table. Shepsky pocketed $305,000 for first place, plus over $20,000 in bounty rewards.

Austrian Wojciech Barzantny carved a narrative as the “King of Bounties,” eliminating 23 players for $67,000 in rewards, though he settled for 7th place overall.

In the concluding heads-up, Shepsky swiftly dispatched Chile’s Alex Manzano, hitting two pairs in the very first hand to clinch his first career bracelet.

Final Table Results for Event #87: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha

Farhad Jamasi Paves His Way to the Final

A brand-new addition to the schedule, Event #91: $1,500 Pick Your PLO, concluded its dramatic Day 2, narrowing the field of 857 entries to 10 finalists. Each is guaranteed at least $11,441, with the winner taking home $196,431.

American Farhad Jamasi emerged as the day's absolute leader, heading into the final with a massive stack nearly double his closest competitor.

Jamasi also delivered one of the day's funniest moments, eliminating John Racener (12th place) in “Big O,” unaware that the game had changed and thinking it was still PLO.

Day 2 saw eliminations of legends like Eli Elezra (28th place), Mike Matusow (30th place), and Benny Glaser (45th place), with two bracelet holders, Justin Liberto and Maxx Coleman, surviving.

Top 10 Finalists for Event #91: $1,500 Pick Your PLO

Hunichen Leads After T.O.R.S.E. Opening Day

The packed schedule also kicked off the $3K T.O.R.S.E. tournament (Event #92), testing player versatility across five different poker variants. Day 1 attracted 457 entries, creating a prize pool of $1,220,190. After twelve levels, 157 players remain vying for the prestigious bracelet and a $247,842 reward.

American pro Christopher Hunichen claimed the chipleader spot, bagging a stack of 432,500 chips for Day 2. Following closely are Cyprus’s Menikos Panagiotou and American Nicholas Guagenti.

The top ten also includes well-known faces like Allen Kessler, Bryce Yockey, and two-time bracelet winner Brandon Shack-Harris. Nao Kihara (225,000), Phil Hellmuth (63,300), Viktor Blom (117,000), and Benny Glaser (90,500) also advanced to the next rounds.

Top 10 Stacks After Day 1 – Event #92: $3,000 T.O.R.S.E.

Hastings Redeems Himself After Main Event Exit

Event #89: $3K Mid-Stakes Championship concluded its opening battles with the final Day 1c flight, which was by far the largest with 1,634 registrations. The total entries now stand at 3,038, creating a provisional prize pool of over $8 million. Registration remains open during the first level of Day 2, so numbers are expected to grow.

From the third flight, 520 players advanced, led by American Chad Loube with nearly a 900,000 stack. Recognizable names like Ryan Laplante, Michael Rocco, and Brian Hastings are also among those progressing.

Kenniston Dominates Day 3 of Gladiators

The massive battle for the series' cheapest bracelet continued in Event #88: $300 Gladiators of Poker with Day 1c, drawing 2,934 entries. Only 103 survived the 22-level ordeal, proving the Gladiators format is truly a survival of the fittest.

American David Kenniston secured the chipleader position with over 3 million chips. Experienced bracelet holders Yenhan Chen and Benjamin Ector also advanced to the combined Day 2.

Top 10 Stacks After Day 1c – Event #88: $300 Gladiators of Poker

Sources: WSOP, WSOP Live, X