WSOP Gears Up for Year's Grand Finale: Deeb, Kihara, and Foxen Separated by Just 29 Points, Millions at Stake

The World Series of Poker is preparing for an exciting year-end finale. Currently, three concurrent online series are underway in the United States, featuring 33 bracelets, 18 rings, and guaranteed prize pools exceeding $5 million. However, the ultimate decision on the season's most successful player will be made at the December WSOP Paradise.

In the Bahamas, the closest WSOP Player of the Year race in recent memory will also reach its conclusion. Defending champion Shaun Deeb leads Naoya Kihara by just 22 points, with Alex Foxen trailing by a mere 29 points. For the first time, the final standings will combine results from the summer's WSOP in Las Vegas, WSOP Europe, and WSOP Paradise.

Deeb Aims for Historic Third Title

Shaun Deeb enters the decisive phase of the season with 3,410 points. If he maintains his lead, he will secure his third Player of the Year title and a new Binion Cup, matching the historic record set by Daniel Negreanu, who won POY in 2004 and 2013.

Deeb has little room for error. Japanese specialist Naoya Kihara has accumulated 3,388 points, while Alex Foxen stands at 3,381. The gap between the first and third place is smaller than the impact of a single strong finish in a bracelet event.

Though not as immediate, other stars remain in contention. Joshua Arieh is fifth, Daniel Negreanu sixth, and Jesse Lonis seventh. Nick Schulman sits in twelfth place, with the current WSOP Main Event champion Lucas Jumalon closing out the Top 15.

Current WSOP Player of the Year 2026 Standings:

One Million Dollars for the Top 100

This year's rankings deliver more than just prestige. The top 100 players will share packages and tournament entries worth a total of $1,000,000. The leaderboard winner and the second and third place finishers will receive $100,000 WSOP Paradise packages. Those ranked from fourth to fifteenth will earn $30,000 Super Main Event packages. Rewards continue with additional packages and entries down to the hundredth position.

WSOP Paradise will take place from December 2 to 17, featuring 20 bracelet events with combined guarantees of $120 million. The highlight will be the $25,000 Super Main Event with a $50,000,000 guarantee.

Three Online Series, 33 Bracelets, and 18 Rings

As the international elite heads towards the decisive clash in the Bahamas, the American WSOP Online network offers three parallel tournament series this fall. The Fall WSOP Online Poker Festival runs from September 27 to November 10. Players in Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey can compete for 33 gold bracelets. Buy-ins range from $400 to $3,200, focusing on No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha.

Simultaneously, the Fall Championships feature 173 tournaments with total guarantees of $3,000,000. Buy-ins start at just $20, with the series culminating in a $500 Main Event on November 8 with a $200,000 guarantee. The winner not only takes home cash but also a special champion's belt.

The third component is the WSOP Online Super Circuit, running from October 4 to 21, offering 18 gold rings and at least $2,000,000 in guaranteed prize pools. The $525 Main Event guarantees $250,000.

WSOP has thus linked the fall online series with the December finale in the Bahamas. American players can compete for dozens of trophies and over $5 million in guarantees throughout October and November, while the world's top names face the critical showdown for Player of the Year.

Sources: WSOP, Pokerfuse, X, PokerNews