World Series Of Poker – Your Guide To The 2026 WSOP
The WSOP – Schedule of Tournaments, Buy-in & Satellite Information. This page covers everything you need to know about the 2026 World Series of Poker, including the up-to-date schedule, information on how to enter and answers to FAQs.
Find out how to win a place at the WSOP.
Learn about WSOP’s history.
All the WSOP games you need to know.
The latest stories from the WSOP.
Remember, there’s more to the world’s biggest poker series than just the Main Event. Our WSOP tournament schedule below features every event for 2026 and all the important information you need to know.
WSOP Schedule 2026
The dates for the 2026 World Series of Poker have not been announced in full yet. The following dates for the domestic and international circuits were announced in December 2025, but you can expect more information in coming months.
| Tournament Dates | Location |
|---|---|
| January 1 – January 12, 2026 | Planet Hollywood (Las Vegas, Nevada) |
| January 8 – January 19, 2026 | Choctaw Casino & Resort (Durant, Oklahoma) |
| January 15 – January 26, 2026 | Thunder Valley Casino (Lincoln, California) |
| January 22 – February 2, 2026 | Horseshoe Tunica (Tunica, Mississippi) |
| January 29 – February 9, 2026 | Harrah’s Pompano Beach (Pompano Beach, Florida) |
| February 12 – February 23, 2026 | Harrah’s Cherokee (Cherokee, North Carolina) |
| February 19 -March 2, 2026 | Horseshoe Baltimore (Baltimore, Maryland) |
| February 26 – March 9, 2026 | Horseshoe Hammond (Hammond, Indiana) |
| March 5 – March 16, 2026 | Hard Rock Tulsa (Tulsa, Oklahoma) |
| March 12 – March 23, 2026 | Turning Stone Resort Casino (Verona, New York) |
| March 19 – March 30, 2026 | Horseshoe Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada) |
| April 2 – April 13, 2026 | Grand Victoria Casino (Elgin, Illinois) |
| April 16 – April 27, 2026 | Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe (Stateline, Nevada) |
| April 16 – April 27, 2026 | Horseshoe Tunica (Tunica, Mississippi) |
| April 23 – May 4, 2026 | Texas Card House (Austin, Texas) |
| May 7 – May 18, 2026 | Commerce Casino (Commerce, California) |
| May 7 – May 18, 2026 | Harrah’s Cherokee (Cherokee, North Carolina) |
| May 14 – May 25, 2026 | Caesars New Orleans (New Orleans, Louisiana) |
| Tournament Dates | Location |
|---|---|
| January 1 – January 13, 2026 | King’s Resort (Rozvadov, Czech Republic) |
| January 7 – January 19, 2026 | Deerfoot Inn & Casino (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) |
| January 16 – January 25, 2026 | Es Saadi Casino (Marrakesh, Morocco) |
| February 26 – March 10, 2026 | Grand Casino (Gamprin, Liechtenstein) |
| March 23 – April 7, 2026 | Playground (Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada) |
| April 10 – April 21, 2026 | Pasino Partouche (Aix-en-Provence, France) |
How To Enter the 2026 WSOP
Events at the WSOP are open to players over 21 years old, however some events have additional eligibility rules. Whichever way you choose to enter, players are required to have a Caesars Rewards account and a WSOP+ account to take part in events. Check the information below to find out more about how to enter.
Enter online WSOP Satellites
By winning a series of online tournaments, or even a single satellite tournament, you can make your way to Las Vegas for next to nothing.
With some buy-ins starting from as low as $1, you’ll normally have to advance through three or four stages before claiming a WSOP seat.
Alternatively, you can buy-in for a greater amount at a later stage of the qualifying tournament.
Sites hosting online satellites include WSOP.com for domestic players and GG Poker for many international markets. For players in the US hoping to enter via an online satellite, you’ll need to be physically located in a state where WSOP Online is licensed to operate; currently those are New Jersey, Nevada, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
Note: while some events award a direct-entry ticket to winners, others give cash prizes, it is then your responsibility to buy into the Main Event.
Enter a local WSOP Satellite
Poker rooms and land-based casinos all over America, Canada and even Europe will be teaming up with 2026 WSOP to host local qualifying events.
These qualifying tournaments will likely take longer and have higher buy-ins than online satellites – but are still a viable option for players looking to grab a seat at the WSOP.
Direct buy-in
Don’t want to play your way to Vegas? Got $10,000 lying around? You can register for the WSOP Main Event directly in Las Vegas or via WSOP+ once registration opens. That saves you from burnout and tiredness so that you’ve got a clear mind when it comes to showtime.
Qualify in Vegas
Short on funds this year? No fear, you can enter a live satellite in Las Vegas.
The WSOP hosts daily tournaments with buy-ins that come in way under the $10,000 Main Event cost. Players can win satellite tickets or tournament credits that can be used towards WSOP event buy-ins (including the Main Event), depending on the satellite format and terms.
A Look Back at WSOP 2025
Michael Mizrachi’s Incredible 2025 WSOP Main Event
Martin Kabrhel in the 2025 WSOP – Good or Bad for Poker?
Practice for the World Series of Poker
Games Offered
-
Slots
Who has won the World Series of Poker?
$10,000,0002025
Michael Mizrachi
2025 saw the Main Event go to Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi to take home a $10 million prize…
Michael Mizrachi
2025 saw the Main Event go to Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi to take home a $10 million prize. This year holds the record for the fastest Main Event final table in at least 20 years, with just 79 hands and Mizrachi himself playing 20 of them.
Already a seven-time WSOP bracelet winner and finalist in the 2010 Main Event, Mizrachi also pulled off a historic double by winning both the WSOP Main Event and the Poker Players Championship in the same summer. Mizrachi’s success in both tournaments earned him induction into the Poker Hall of Fame.
- 2ND PLACE:John Wasnock
- 3RD PLACE:Braxton Dunaway
- # OF PLAYERS:9,735
- PRIZE POOL:$90,535,500
$10,000,0002024
Jonathan Tamayo
The latest name to be added to the world of poker greats was Jonathan Tamayo, who…
Jonathan Tamayo
The latest name to be added to the world of poker greats was Jonathan Tamayo, who defeated Jordan Griff in a back-and-forth heads-up match.
Coming out in first place at the record-breaking 10,112-player field, the new Main Event champion seemed to be in disbelief. “What in the world just happened?” he asked after the win, stating that the enormity of the situation felt more like a dream than real life.
A native of Humble, Texas, the 38-year-old Tamayo is also the friend and sometime roommate of 2015 Main Event champion Joe McKeehen.
- 2ND PLACE:Jordan Griff
- 3RD PLACE:Niklas Astedt
- # OF PLAYERS:10,112
- PRIZE POOL:$94,041,600
$12,100,0002023
Daniel Weinman
This was an absolutely record-breaking year for the WSOP Main Event. Thanks to a field of 10,043 players, 2023 set a…
Daniel Weinman
This was an absolutely record-breaking year for the WSOP Main Event. Thanks to a field of 10,043 players, 2023 set a record with the largest live poker prize pool ever at the time: $93,399,900.
The winner was 35-year-old Daniel Weinman, who walked away with the biggest prize in WSOP history, taking home a $12.1 million prize. Weinman’s run almost ended on Day 8, but he rallied after hitting a two-outer in a pivotal all-in that tipped the scales back his way.
The Main Event’s final table wrapped in 164 hands, with second and third place being decided by a brief but brutal heads-up battle.
- 2ND PLACE:Steven Jones
- 3RD PLACE:Adam Walton
- # OF PLAYERS:10,043
- PRIZE POOL:$93,399,900
$10,000,0002022
Espen Jorstad
2022 topped the previous year’s huge numbers, with more than 2,000 additional players creating…
Espen Jorstad
2022 topped the previous year’s huge numbers, with more than 2,000 additional players creating the second biggest-ever tournament field for the Main Event (not to mention an increase of almost $20 million extra dollars in prize money on 2021).
Norway’s Espen Jorstad eventually emerged as the winner, banking $10 million in the process. His duel with Australia’s Adrian Attenborough almost came to an end on the first hand of heads-up play, after Attenborough tanked for a full 19 minutes before folding the losing hand.
The first thing Jorstad did upon winning the event was to ring his mother – his biggest fan.
- 2ND PLACE:Adrian Attenborough
- 3RD PLACE:Michael Duek
- # OF PLAYERS:8,663
- PRIZE POOL:$80,782,475
$8,000,0002021
Koray Aldemir
Following WSOP 2020, which featured an altered format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WSOP…
Koray Aldemir
Following WSOP 2020, which featured an altered format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WSOP 2021 saw the tournament return to normal with a full schedule of 88 live events, plus a further 11 online events.
German Koray Aldemir was the Main Event winner, beating George Holmes at the final table to take the $8,000,000 first prize.
A virtual unknown prior to the tournament, finalist Holmes was dubbed a “Home Game Hero” by many, as the father of two from Alpharetta, Georgia was mainly a recreational player prior to entering.
- 2ND PLACE:George Holmes
- 3RD PLACE:Jack Oliver
- # OF PLAYERS6,650
- PRIZE POOL:$62,011,250
$2,550,9692020
Damian Salas
Originally scheduled to begin on May 26th at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vega…
Damian Salas
Originally scheduled to begin on May 26th at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, WSOP 2020 was initially postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June, WSOP launched the 2020 World Series of Poker Online, hosted between WSOP.com and GGPoker, which started in July and finished in September – with Stoyan Madanzhiev the overall winner.
The following November it was then announced the $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Main Event would still be held – with play beginning online in November for international players and December for American players.
Once both tournaments reached the final nine players, final tables were held live in the Czech Republic for international players, and at the Rio for American players.
The winners of both final tables, Damian Salas and Joseph Hebert, then met in a heads-up match at the Rio on January 3rd to determine the champion – with Salas winning.
- 2ND PLACE:Brunno Botteon
- 3RD PLACE:Manuel Ruivo
- # OF PLAYERS:1,379 (GG Poker and WSOP.com combined)
- PRIZE POOL:GG Poker $6,470,400 WSOP.com $6,768,000
$10,000,0002019
Hossein Ensan
The winner of the 2019 WSOP Main Event was Iranian-German poker player Hossein Ensan…
Hossein Ensan
The winner of the 2019 WSOP Main Event was Iranian-German poker player Hossein Ensan, who won a staggering $10,000,000. That’s $1,200,000 more than John Cynn won the previous year, and the most Ensan has ever won by over $9,000,000. Ensan eliminated runner-up Dario Sammartino after a four-hour Heads-up play which lasted 101 hands. The final hand that led him to victory was a pair of kings. This was the largest WSOP Main Event since 2006, and the second largest of all time, with 8,569 players.
- 2ND PLACE:Dario Sammartino
- 3RD PLACE:Alex Livingston
- # OF PLAYERS:8,569
- PRIZE POOL:$80,548,600
$8,880,0002018
John Cynn
After a battle that lasted over 10 hours, John Cynn was declared the winner of the 2018 WSOP Main…
John Cynn
After a battle that lasted over 10 hours, John Cynn was declared the winner of the 2018 WSOP Main Event, beating Tony Miles to the coveted title. Scooping up the $8.8 million prize money, it was clear that it had been a game for the ages, with multiple records set during the event. Having entered the tournament with career earnings of under $1 million, it’s safe to say that Cynn has really stepped up his game.
- 2ND PLACE:Tony Miles
- 3RD PLACE:Michael Dyer
- # OF PLAYERS:7,874
- PRIZE POOL:$74,015,600
$8,150,0002017
Scott Blumenstein
Hailing from Brigantine, New Jersey, Scott Blumstein took this year’s WSOP Main Event…
Scott Blumenstein
Hailing from Brigantine, New Jersey, Scott Blumstein took this year’s WSOP Main Event bracelet. This win saw Blumstein take home a huge $8,150,000, almost a whole 150K more than last year, after beating a staggering 7,221 players to the prize pool. Blumstein’s win was one for the underdogs, similarly unknown like the 2016 winner. Overall, 1,084 players took home winnings from the Main Event.
- 2ND PLACE:Dan Ott
- 3RD PLACE:Benjamin Pollak
- # OF PLAYERS:7,221
- PRIZE POOL:$67,877,400
$8,005,3102016
Qui Nguyen
The 2016 World Series of Poker saw Qui place number one spot from a potential 6,737 players…
Qui Nguyen
The 2016 World Series of Poker saw Qui place number one spot from a potential 6,737 players, a few hundred more than the previous year. Nguyen won the Main Event by heads-up against Gordon Vayo on the final table and walked away with $8,005,310. The top 1,011 players finished in the money this year and saw Vayo take second place with Cliff Josephy coming in third.
- 2ND PLACE:Gordon Vayo
- 3RD PLACE:Cliff Josephy
- # OF PLAYERS:6,737
- PRIZE POOL:$63,327,800
$7,683,3462015
Joe Mckeehen
The 46th annual WSOP event took place in 2015, and it was held at Vegas’s famous Rio All Suite…
Joe Mckeehen
The 46th annual WSOP event took place in 2015, and it was held at Vegas’s famous Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino (just like all the WSOP tournaments in the past 9 years). The event drew 6,420 players, creating a prize pool of a whopping $60,348,000. The top 1,000 players won some money, with all the final table players bringing home at least $1 million each. Joe McKeehen, the first-place winner, won $7,683,346. The second-place winner was Joshua Beckley and he won $4,470,896.
- 2ND PLACE:Joshua Beckley
- 3RD PLACE:Neil Blumenfield
- # OF PLAYERS:6,420
- PRIZE POOL:$60,348,000
$10,000,0002014
Martin Jacobson
Once again held at Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the 2014 WSOP tournament had 6,683…
Martin Jacobson
Once again held at Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the 2014 WSOP tournament had 6,683 entrants and a prize pool of $62,820,200. The first person who got out at the final table (also known as the ninth-place winner) was Mark Newhouse, and he brought home $730,725. The second-place winner was Felix Stephensen, and he brought home $5,147,911. Martin Jacobson placed first and brought home a cool $10 million.
- 2ND PLACE:Felix Stephensen
- 3RD PLACE:Jorrytvan Hoof
- # OF PLAYERS:6,683
- PRIZE POOL:$62,820,200
$8,359,53512013
Ryan Riess
The 2013 WSOP tournament had 6,352 entrants and a prize pool of $59,708,800. The first…
Ryan Riess
The 2013 WSOP tournament had 6,352 entrants and a prize pool of $59,708,800. The first-place winner, who was Ryan Riess (also known as “Reiss the Beast”), won $8,359,531. Jay Farber was the second-place winner and he netted himself a prize of $5,174,357. The tournament was held at Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- 2ND PLACE:Jay Farber
- 3RD PLACE:Amir Lehavot
- # OF PLAYERS:6,352
- PRIZE POOL:$59,708,800
$8,531,8532012
Greg Merson
The 43rd annual WSOP event took place at Vegas’s Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in 2012…
Greg Merson
The 43rd annual WSOP event took place at Vegas’s Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in 2012. In this tournament, a prize pool of $62,021,200 was created with 6,598 entrants. Everyone who placed in the top 666 won some money. The top nine players brought home at least $750,000. The second-place winner, Jesse Sylvia, won $5,295,149, and the first-place winner, Greg Merson, won $8,531,853.
- 2ND PLACE:Jesse Sylvia
- 3RD PLACE:Jacob Balsiger
- # OF PLAYERS:6,598
- PRIZE POOL:$62,021,200
$8,715,6382011
Pius Heinz
Hosted by Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the 2011 WSOP tournament attract…
Pius Heinz
Hosted by Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the 2011 WSOP tournament attracted 6,865 entrants and a prize pool of $64,531,000 was put together. The first-place winner, Pius Heinz, got to bring home a good chunk of the prize. More specifically, he won $8,715,638. Martin Staszko, the second-place winner, made a pretty penny, too. In other words, he won $5,433,086.
- 2ND PLACE:Martin Staszko
- 3RD PLACE:Ben Lamb
- # OF PLAYERS:6,865
- PRIZE POOL:$64,531,000
$8,944,1382010
Jonathan Duhamel
With three WSOP bracelets and more than $14 million in poker tournament winnings, Jonat Duhamel…
Jonathan Duhamel
With three WSOP bracelets and more than $14 million in poker tournament winnings, Jonathan Duhamel is a force to be reckoned with. In 2010 he nailed his opponents with a final hand of an Ace of spades and a Jack of hearts, beating out more than 7,000 players – the largest number of participants since 2006.
- 2ND PLACE:John Racener
- 3RD PLACE:Joseph Cheong
- # OF PLAYERS:7,319
- PRIZE POOL:$68,799,059
8,574,6492009
Joe Cada
Joe Cada represented a return to seasoned professionals winning the grand prize. Joe scooped…
Joe Cada
Joe Cada represented a return to seasoned professionals winning the grand prize. Joe scooped the $8.5 million winnings with a pair of 9s, but currently holds 4 WSOP bracelets and has won in excess of $10 million in tournament cashes. His prize remained on par with 2007 and 2008’s prize pool, but failed to reach the stunning highs of 2006.
- 2ND PLACE:Darvin Moon
- 3RD PLACE:Antoine Saout
- # OF PLAYERS:6,494
- PRIZE POOL:$61,043,600
$9,152,4162008
Peter Eastgate
“Isser” landed a win of more than 9 million dollars thanks to a final hand of an Ace of diamonds and a 5 of…
Peter Eastgate
“Isser” landed a win of more than 9 million dollars thanks to a final hand of an Ace of diamonds and a 5 of spades. The 22-year-old poker player beat 6,844 players to do so, and became the youngest Main Event winner, stealing Phil Hellmuth’s record who won in 1989 at the age of 24. He’s won another $300,000+ since then but hasn’t secured any more WSOP bracelets.
- 2ND PLACE:Ivan Demidov
- 3RD PLACE:Dennis Phillips
- # OF PLAYERS:6,844
- PRIZE POOL:$64,431,779
$8,250,002007
Jerry Yang
Jerry Yang, who took home the grand prize with a pair of 8s, was one of over 6,000 play who got in…
Jerry Yang
Jerry Yang, who took home the grand prize with a pair of 8s, was one of over 6,000 players who got in on the action in 2007. At just over 8 million dollars, his winnings were much smaller than what Gold won the previous year. This remains The Shadow’s only win of significance and the source of his sole WSOP bracelet.
- 2ND PLACE:Tuan Lam
- 3RD PLACE:Raymond Rahme
- # OF PLAYERS:6,358
- PRIZE POOL:$59,784,954
$12,000,0002006
Jamie Gold
Perhaps it’s appropriate that a player named Jamie Gold won what was, and continues to be…
Jamie Gold
Perhaps it’s appropriate that a player named Jamie Gold won what was, and continues to be, the largest prize of any WSOP Main Event. Competing against close to 9,000 competitors, Gold secured the big money with a hand comprised of a Queen of spades and a 9 of clubs. It remains his only significant tournament win, and he’s never won any other WSOP bracelets.
- 2ND PLACE:Paul Wasicka
- 3RD PLACE:Michael Binger
- # OF PLAYERS:8,773
- PRIZE POOL:$82,512,162
$7,500,0002005
Joe Hachem
The number of participants in 2005 was more than double that of 2004. The prize pool also more…
Joe Hachem
The number of participants in 2005 was more than double that of 2004. The prize pool also more than doubled, with over $50 million to play for. This was the first year in which the WSOP moved to the Rio All-Suites Casino and Hotel after the tournament was acquired by Harrah’s in 2004. Joe Hachem, the first Australian player to win the Main Event, took home $7.5 million thanks to a 7 of clubs and a 3 of spades.
- 2ND PLACE:Steve Dannenmann
- 3RD PLACE:Tex Barch
- # OF PLAYERS:5,619
- PRIZE POOL:$52,818,610
$5,000,0002004
Greg Raymer
The number of Main Event competitors was more than double that of the previous year with more than 2,500…
Greg Raymer
The number of Main Event competitors was more than double that of the previous year, with more than 2,500 players in the mix and a huge prize pool of close to $25 million. Greg Raymer, or Fossilman, landed a $5 million jackpot with a pocket pair of 8s. This is his only WSOP bracelet win.
- 2ND PLACE:David Williams
- 3RD PLACE:Josh Arieh
- # OF PLAYERS:2,576
- PRIZE POOL:$24,224,400
$2,500,0002003
Chris Moneymaker
As the first WSOP Main Event winner who qualified via an online poker site, the appropriately named…
Chris Moneymaker
As the first WSOP Main Event winner who qualified via an online poker site, the appropriately named Moneymaker took home $2.5 million with a final hand of a 5 of diamonds and a 4 of spades. It’s ironic that such a mediocre hand saw him triumph over more than 800 competitors. Moneymaker doesn’t have many tournament wins except for this one, but remains an important figure to online players.
- 2ND PLACE:Sammy Farha
- 3RD PLACE:Dan Harrington
- # OF PLAYERS:839
- PRIZE POOL:$7,802,700
$2,500,0002002
Robert Varkonyi
The year 2002 saw the grand prize associated with the WSOP Main Event rise yet again. Robert Varkonyi…
Robert Varkonyi
The year 2002 saw the grand prize associated with the WSOP Main Event rise yet again. Robert Varkonyi scooped the $2 million prize with a Queen of diamonds and a 10 of spades, beating out 630 other players along the way. It remains his only WSOP bracelet win. He never made much of a splash in the tournament scene afterwards, but given the size of his Main Event prize, we’re sure he doesn’t mind.
- 2ND PLACE:Julian Gardner
- 3RD PLACE:Ralph Perry
- # OF PLAYERS:631
- PRIZE POOL:$6,130,000
$1,500,0002001
Carlos Mortensen
A record was broken in 2001 when Mortensen, known as El Matador, became the only player…
Carlos Mortensen
A record was broken in 2001 when Mortensen, known as El Matador, became the only player of South American descent to ever win the WSOP Main Event. He picked a fine year to do it, seeing off more than 600 participants and taking home $1.5 million. Since then, he’s more than doubled that figure, gaining over $3 million in tournament winnings.
- 2ND PLACE:Dewey Tomko
- 3RD PLACE:Stanley Schrier
- # OF PLAYERS:613
- PRIZE POOL:$6,130,000
$1,500,0002000
Chris Ferguson
2000 saw Chris Ferguson triumph over more than 500 players to scoop the WSOP Main Event…
Chris Ferguson
2000 saw Chris Ferguson triumph over more than 500 players to scoop the WSOP Main Event bracelet. The grand prize of $1.5 million marked the first time that the winnings associated with the Main Event had risen in 9 years. Chris Ferguson has since racked up more than $5 million worth of tournament wins and an impressive 6 WSOP bracelets.
- 2ND PLACE:TJ Cloutier
- 3RD PLACE:Steve Kaufman
- # OF PLAYERS:512
- PRIZE POOL:$5,120,000
$1,000,0001999
Noel Furlong
The final WSOP Main Event of the 90s was one to remember: 1999’s big game saw an Irish businessman…
Noel Furlong
The final WSOP Main Event of the 90s was one to remember: 1999’s big game saw an Irish businessman named Noel Furlong take the big prize with a pair of fives. It would turn out to be his only WSOP bracelet and the only significant tournament win he’s had to date. It’s perhaps no coincidence that his triumph over established pros would be accompanied by a sharp rise in the number of participants and a larger prize pool the following year.
- 2ND PLACE:Alan Goehring
- 3RD PLACE:Padraig Parkinson
- # OF PLAYERS:393
- PRIZE POOL:$3,930,000
$1,000,0001998
Scott Nguyen
In 1998, The Train (or The Prince of Poker) took home a million-dollar prize thanks to to a Jack of diamonds…
Scott Nguyen
In 1998, The Train (or The Prince of Poker) took home a million-dollar prize thanks to a Jack of diamonds and a 9 of clubs. This accounts for one of his five WSOP bracelets and just a fraction of his $6 million total tournament winnings. Nguyen beat out more than 300 players to take home the grand prize.
- 2ND PLACE:Kevin McBride
- 3RD PLACE:TJ Cloutier
- # OF PLAYERS:350
- PRIZE POOL:$3,500,000
$1,000,0001997
Stu Ungar
After more than 15 years without a top 3 finish in the WSOP Main Event, 1997 saw Stuey take home…
Stu Ungar
After more than 15 years without a top 3 finish in the WSOP Main Event, 1997 saw Stuey take home the grand prize for a third time. He is one of just two people to win the Main Event three times (the other being Johnny Moss). Stu Ungar is regarded by many as the greatest Texas Hold ‘Em player of all time. He clinched the million-dollar prize with an Ace of hearts and a 4 of clubs.
- 2ND PLACE:John Strzemp
- 3RD PLACE:Mel Judah
- # OF PLAYERS:312
- PRIZE POOL:$3,120,000
$1,000,0001996
Huck Seed
One of the most interesting facts about the 1996 Main Event is that Huck Seed’s winning hand – 9 and 8…
Huck Seed
One of the most interesting facts about the 1996 Main Event is that Huck Seed’s winning hand – 9 and 8 of diamonds – is exactly the same as the one Dan Harrington won the 1995 tournament with. Huck now has 4 WSOP bracelets and has won more than $2 million in his professional career. He saw off Bruce Van Horn, John Bonetti, and close to 300 other players in the WSOP Main Event.
- 2ND PLACE:Bruce Van Horn
- 3RD PLACE:John Bonetti
- # OF PLAYERS:295
- PRIZE POOL:$2,950,000
$1,000,0001995
Dan Harrington
Action Dan took home the grand prize at the 1995 WSOP Main Event thanks to a 9 and 8 of diamonds…
Dan Harrington
Action Dan took home the grand prize at the 1995 WSOP Main Event thanks to a 9 and 8 of diamonds, providing a big spark to a professional career that’s seen him rack up more than 6 million dollars in tournament wins. He also added another WSOP bracelet to his Main Event win, so he now has one for each wrist!
- 2ND PLACE:Howard Goldfarb
- 3RD PLACE:Brent Carter
- # OF PLAYERS:273
- PRIZE POOL:$2,730,000
$1,000,0001994
Russ Hamilton
Scoring the $1 million prize with a King of spades and an 8 of hearts, this marks Russ Hamilton’s only WSOP…
Russ Hamilton
Scoring the $1 million prize with a King of spades and an 8 of hearts, this marks Russ Hamilton’s only WSOP bracelet and the biggest win of his career. The Main Event prize in 1994 also included Hamilton’s body weight in silver! Since then Hamilton has, however, added another quarter of a million to his professional poker winnings. He also served as a consultant with Ultimate Bet immediately after winning the WSOP Main Event.
- 2ND PLACE:Hugh Vincent
- 3RD PLACE:John Spadavecchia
- # OF PLAYERS:268
- PRIZE POOL:$2,680,000
$1,000,0001993
Jim Bechtel
With the Main Event on the upswing in 1993 – 30 more players than last year and another $300,000…
Jim Bechtel
With the Main Event on the upswing in 1993 – 30 more players than last year and another $300,000 in the prize pool – Jim Bechtel faced stiff competition to land a $1 million grand prize. He won with a Jack and 6 of spades. Since then he’s won another WSOP bracelet and has almost doubled the value of his winnings playing professional poker.
- 2ND PLACE:Glenn Cozen
- 3RD PLACE:John Bonetti
- # OF PLAYERS:231
- PRIZE POOL:$2,308,000
$1,000,0001992
Hamid Dastmalchi
Armed with just an 8 of hearts and a 4 of clubs, some daring play from Dastmalchi resulted…
Hamid Dastmalchi
Armed with just an 8 of hearts and a 4 of clubs, some daring play from Dastmalchi resulted in him taking home the second $1 million prize awarded at the WSOP Main Event. Since then, Hamid has earned another $600,000+ and a couple of additional WSOP bracelets, but didn’t manage to place highly in the Main Event again.
- 2ND PLACE:Thomas Jacobs
- 3RD PLACE:Hans Lund
- # OF PLAYERS:201
- PRIZE POOL:$2,010,000
$1,000,0001991
Brad Daugherty
In 1991, the grand prize of the WSOP Main Event reached 1 million dollars for the first time. It remained…
Brad Daugherty
In 1991, the grand prize of the WSOP Main Event reached 1 million dollars for the first time. It remained at this level throughout the rest of the ‘90s. Daugherty took home the big money thanks to a King and Jack of spades. This remains his only significant tournament win, and only WSOP bracelet.
- 2ND PLACE:Don Holt
- 3RD PLACE:Robert Veltri
- # OF PLAYERS:215
- PRIZE POOL:$2,150,000
$835,0001990
Mansour Matloubi
The first Main Event of the 1990s saw the Iranian-British Matloubi outlast close to 200 players…
Mansour Matloubi
The first Main Event of the 1990s saw the Iranian-British Matloubi outlast close to 200 players for a grand prize of more than $800,000. He was able to do this with a fairly modest hand – pocket sixes. It remains his only WSOP Main Event win, but he has since made more than 6 million dollars playing poker professionally.
- 2ND PLACE:Hans Lund
- 3RD PLACE:Dave Crunkleton
- # OF PLAYERS:194
- PRIZE POOL:$1,940,000
$755,0001989
Phil Hellmuth
A true star of professional poker, 1989 remains The Poker Brat’s only Main Event win. He won…
Phil Hellmuth
A true star of professional poker, 1989 remains The Poker Brat’s only Main Event win. He won the European Main Event as recently as 2012, however, and holds a world record with his 15 WSOP bracelets. He’s also won more than 14 million dollars in his professional career! In 1989, he had a pocket pair of 9s to thank for taking home the first Main Event prize to top three quarters of a million dollars.
- 2ND PLACE:Johnny Chan
- 3RD PLACE:Don Zewin
- # OF PLAYERS:178
- PRIZE POOL:$1,780,000
$700,0001988
Johnny Chan
More players competed in this Main Event than ever before. Chan took home his second and back…
Johnny Chan
More players competed in this Main Event than ever before. Chan took home his second (and back to back) championship win. This meant he won in excess of a million dollars in just a couple of years. He would go on to quadruple that figure in his professional poker career. His winning hand was a Jack and 9 of clubs.
- 2ND PLACE:Erik Seidel
- 3RD PLACE:Ronald Graham
- # OF PLAYERS:167
- PRIZE POOL:$1,670,000
$625,0001987
Johnny Chan
The Main Event was starting to bounce back in 1987, with more players and a larger grand…
Johnny Chan
The Main Event was starting to bounce back in 1987, with more players and a larger grand prize. Johnny Chan, also known as the Orient Express, took home more than $600,000 with an Ace of spades and a 9 of clubs. He beat out Frank Henderson and Bob Ciaffone to score his first, but not his last, Main Event win, and now boasts 10 WSOP bracelets.
- 2ND PLACE:Frank Henderson
- 3RD PLACE:Bob Ciaffone
- # OF PLAYERS:152
- PRIZE POOL:$1,520,000
$570,0001986
Berry Johnston
The WSOP slowed down a little in the late ‘80s – the number of players in the Main Event remained…
Berry Johnston
The WSOP slowed down a little in the late ‘80s – the number of players in the Main Event remained fairly stagnant and Johnston’s prize was down more than $100,000 from the previous year. Still, Johnston took home more than half a million dollars thanks to an Ace of spades and 10 of hearts. Johnston went on to win a total of 5 WSOP bracelets and more than 2.25 million dollars in his career.
- 2ND PLACE:Mike Harthcock
- 3RD PLACE:Gary Berland
- # OF PLAYERS:141
- PRIZE POOL:$1,410,000
$700,0001985
Bill Smith
A pocket pair of 3s might not seem like the greatest hand in the world, but it was enough for Bill Smith to…
Bill Smith
A pocket pair of 3s might not seem like the greatest hand in the world, but it was enough for Bill Smith to clinch the 1985 Main Event. This was his only major WSOP win and, with the exception of other minor winnings, the only real cash Smith ever made in big-name poker tournaments.
- 2ND PLACE:TJ Cloutier
- 3RD PLACE:Berry Johnston
- # OF PLAYERS:140
- PRIZE POOL:$1,400,000
1984
Jack Keller
Jack Keller, also known as the Gentleman, scored $660,000 in the WSOP Main Event with a pair…
Jack Keller
Jack Keller, also known as the Gentleman, scored $660,000 in the WSOP Main Event with a pair of 10s. This was Keller’s only Main Event win, but he racked up more than 2 million dollars in total tournament winnings and snagged himself a couple of additional WSOP bracelets along the way.
- 2ND PLACE:Byron Wolford
- 3RD PLACE:Jesse Alto
- # OF PLAYERS:132
- PRIZE POOL:$1,320,000
$540,0001983
Tom McEvoy
Grand Rapids Tom, as McEvoy is sometimes known, scored the grand prize in the 1983 Main…
Tom McEvoy
Grand Rapids Tom, as McEvoy is sometimes known, scored the grand prize in the 1983 Main Event with a pair of Queens. A regular on the WSOP circuit, Tom landed 4 bracelets (and well over a million dollars) in his career but this marked his only Main Event win. Even so, he’s a member of the Poker Hall of Fame! You’ll also notice a familiar name, Doyle Brunson, appear in the top 3 once again.
- 2ND PLACE:Rod Peate
- 3RD PLACE:Doyle Brunson
- # OF PLAYERS:108
- PRIZE POOL:$1,080,000
$520,0001982
Jack Straus
Landing the first grand prize totalling more than half a million dollars, Jack Straus landed his big win with…
Jack Straus
Landing the first grand prize totalling more than half a million dollars, Jack Straus landed his big win with an Ace of hearts and a 10 of spades. This was the player known as Treetop’s only major tournament win, but he was able to secure another WSOP bracelet in his career. 1982 also marked the first time the number of players competing in the Main Event exceeded 100 players.
- 2ND PLACE:Dewey Tomko
- 3RD PLACE:Berry Johnston
- # OF PLAYERS:104
- PRIZE POOL:$1,040,000
$375,0001981
Stu Ungar
Another year, another WSOP Main Event victory for Stu! Also known as The Kid, Stu took the grand…
Stu Ungar
Another year, another WSOP Main Event victory for Stu! Also known as The Kid, Stu took the grand prize with a great hand of Ace and Queen, suited in hearts. The grand prize was roughly the same as in 1980, giving Stu winnings of almost three quarters of a million dollars in just two years! This marked Stu’s last top finish at the Main Event for more than a decade but, as we’ll see later, it would not be the end of his story.
- 2ND PLACE:Perry Green
- 3RD PLACE:Gene Fisher
- # OF PLAYERS:75
- PRIZE POOL:$750,000
$365,0001980
Stu Ungar
1980 marked Stu Ungar’s first, but certainly not last, Main Event win at the WSOP. With a hand…
Stu Ungar
1980 marked Stu Ungar’s first, but certainly not last, Main Event win at the WSOP. With a hand of 5 and 4, both spades, he took home a huge $365,000 prize. Ungar was just 26 years old at the time of his victory, making him the youngest Main Event winner in history at the time (and for some time afterwards). This year also saw Doyle Brunson come in 2nd place, his third top 2 finish in the five tournaments held between 1976 and 1980.
- 2ND PLACE:Doyle Brunson
- 3RD PLACE:Jay Heimowitz
- # OF PLAYERS:73
- PRIZE POOL:$730,000
$270,0001979
Hal Fowler
The final WSOP of the 1970s saw Hal Fowler fight off more than 50 players to take home over a quarter…
Hal Fowler
The final WSOP of the 1970s saw Hal Fowler fight off more than 50 players to take home over a quarter of a million dollars with a hand comprised of a 7 of spades and a 6 of diamonds. An unremarkable hand, this marked Hal Fowler’s only WSOP bracelet and only significant poker tournament win. This year’s tournament drew lots of attention because it marked the first time an amateur player triumphed over established pros.
- 2ND PLACE:Bobby Hoff
- 3RD PLACE:George Huber
- # OF PLAYERS:54
- PRIZE POOL:$540,000
$210,0001978
Bobby Baldwin
Bizarrely, despite beating 41 other players (a significant increase on the previous year) with a pocket…
Bobby Baldwin
Bizarrely, despite beating 41 other players (a significant increase on the previous year) with a pocket pair of Queens, Bobby Baldwin took home a grand prize close to half that of the 1977 WSOP Main Event. This marked the third time Crandall Addington took 2nd place in the tournament, never again appearing in the top 3 of the Main Event.
- 2ND PLACE:Crandall Addington
- 3RD PLACE:Louis Hunsaker
- # OF PLAYERS:42
- PRIZE POOL:$420,000
$340,0001977
Doyle Brunson
Texas Dolly snared over half a million dollars in prize money in 1976 and 1977 alone. Unbelievably, his…
Doyle Brunson
Texas Dolly snared over half a million dollars in prize money in 1976 and 1977 alone. Unbelievably, his final hand in 1977 was the same as in 1976 – a 10 and 2 – but wasn’t even suited this time. He saw off 33 other players during the Main Event, a big jump from the previous year’s 22 players.
- 2ND PLACE:Gary Berland
- 3RD PLACE:Milo Jacbobson
- # OF PLAYERS:34
- PRIZE POOL:$340,000
$220,0001976
Doyle Brunson
Doyle Brunson, who won the 1976 WSOP with a 2 and 10 of spades, holds a certain place in WSOP…
Doyle Brunson
Doyle Brunson, who won the 1976 WSOP with a 2 and 10 of spades, holds a certain place in WSOP history: this year was the first tournament during which WSOP bracelets were issued. It’s perhaps fitting, therefore, that Doyle holds 10 WSOP bracelets in total which puts him (tied with Johnny Chan) second only to Phil Hellmuth. With a grand prize of more than $200,000, there’s no denying that 1976 was a good year for Texas Dolly!
- 2ND PLACE:Jesse Alto
- 3RD PLACE:Tommy Hufnagle
- # OF PLAYERS:22
- PRIZE POOL:$220,000
$210,0001975
Bryan Roberts
Thanks to a pocket pair of Jacks, Bryan Roberts took home a grand prize of more than $200,000 after…
Bryan Roberts
Thanks to a pocket pair of Jacks, Bryan Roberts took home a grand prize of more than $200,000 after facing off against 20 opponents. Like Puggy, the player known as Sailor is one of a few early WSOP winners to win the tournament just once. He was, however, able to secure two WSOP bracelets in his poker career.
- 2ND PLACE:Bob Hooks
- 3RD PLACE:Crandall Addington
- # OF PLAYERS:21
- PRIZE POOL:$210,000
$160,0001974
Johnny Moss
Taking first place once again in 1974, Johnny Moss achieved the staggering feat of winning 3 of the first…
Johnny Moss
Taking first place once again in 1974, Johnny Moss achieved the staggering feat of winning 3 of the first 5 WSOP tournaments. Armed with just a pocket pair of threes for his final hand, he took home a grand prize of more than 5 times what he scored last time he won the WSOP. This also marked the first time Crandall Addington came in 2nd place, a feat he repeated several times, though he was never able to win a Main Event.
- 2ND PLACE:Crandall Addington
- 3RD PLACE:Sailor Roberts
- # OF PLAYERS:16
- PRIZE POOL:$160,000
$130,0001973
Walter Pearson
Walter Pearson, also known as Puggy, took home a hefty cash prize in excess of $100,000 with an Ace…
Walter Pearson
Walter Pearson, also known as Puggy, took home a hefty cash prize in excess of $100,000 with an Ace and 7 of spades. 1973 marked the first year that the WSOP Main Event was televised on CBS Sports, and the tournament was off to a fast start with no signs of slowing down. It’s worth pointing out that Johnny Moss – already a two-time WSOP champ – came in 2nd place, hot on the heels of Puggy.
- 2ND PLACE:Johnny Moss
- 3RD PLACE:Jack Straus
- # OF PLAYERS:13
- PRIZE POOL:$130,000
$80,0001972
Thomas Preston
Thanks to a well-timed King and Jack, “Amarillo Slim” was able to win his first WSOP championship…
Thomas Preston
Thanks to a well-timed King and Jack, “Amarillo Slim” was able to win his first WSOP championship, scoring $80,000 – more than double what the previous winner had taken home! His win was regarded by many as an upset, and he went on a publicity tour afterwards that brought the WSOP a great deal of media attention.
- 2ND PLACE:Walter “Puggy” Pearson
- 3RD PLACE:Doyle Brunson
- # OF PLAYERS:8
- PRIZE POOL:$80,000
$30,0001971
Johnny Moss
Taking first place once again in 1974, Johnny Moss achieved the staggering feat of winning 3 of the first…
Johnny Moss
Taking first place once again in 1974, Johnny Moss achieved the staggering feat of winning 3 of the first 5 WSOP tournaments. Armed with just a pocket pair of threes for his final hand, he took home a grand prize of more than 5 times what he scored last time he won the WSOP. This also marked the first time Crandall Addington came in 2nd place, a feat he repeated several times, though he was never able to win a Main Event.
- 2ND PLACE:–
- 3RD PLACE:–
- # OF PLAYERS:6
- PRIZE POOL:$30,000
1970
Johnny Moss
With its freeze-out tournament format, the first WSOP event was decided not with a single hand…
Johnny Moss
With its freeze-out tournament format, the first WSOP event was decided not with a single hand, but with a vote from the players who competed in it. As legend has it, all players voted for themselves as “the best player in the world” but a vote for the “second best player in the world” saw Moss crowned as the winner. Notably, many of the other players who competed in the tournament would go on to win WSOP titles of their own.
- 2ND PLACE:–
- 3RD PLACE:–
- # OF PLAYERS:7
- PRIZE POOL:–
World Series of Poker FAQs
When is the World Series of Poker?
The 2026 WSOP Main Event dates have not been announced yet. The previous tournament in 2025 was held from Tuesday May 27 through July 16 at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas.
How does the WSOP work?
The 2026 World Series of Poker is made up of a full festival of WSOP bracelet events, including both live tournaments in Las Vegas and WSOP Online bracelet events. The exact number and mix can very year to year, so we will be updating the WSOP schedule as the lineup is released.
The events are in a tournament format, and every player in a given tournament starts with the same number of chips. The winner of each event is the last player standing, who then takes home the prize money and a WSOP bracelet.
Most of the events are variants of Texas Hold’em, however games such as Omaha and Seven-card Stud also feature.
All events have different buy-ins, and the number of entrants can differ, so the prize money will also vary. The winner of the WSOP Main Event will take home millions of dollars, as well as a coveted WSOP bracelet, worth approximately $500,000.
What is the buy-in for WSOP 2026?
Buy-ins for the 2026 World Series of Poker will start as low as $400 and go as high as $250,000. The buy-in for the Main Event is $10,000.
How do I enter WSOP 2026?
You can enter the WSOP in person at the Horseshoe or Paris Las Vegas, or you can register online via the WSOP+ app once registration is open. You can also win seats via satellites or online qualifiers. Read more about how to enter the World Series of poker.
WSOP requires players to have both a Caesars Rewards account and a WSOP+ account to take part in events, so it’s worth setting those up.
Where can I find WSOP updates?
We’ll post WSOP news and updates throughout the tournament, so be sure to check out our news page!
Where can I find the WSOP schedule?
The current WSOP schedule has not been released yet. Once we’ve got the schedule, we’ll post it here on this page. It will specify the event, the date, the duration and the buy-in cost.
Who won WSOP in 2022?
Espen Jorstad won the World Series of Poker in 2022. The Norwegian poker player took away $10,000,000 and the coveted gold bracelet. Check out our full list of previous winners.
What channel is the World Series of Poker on?
The WSOP 2026 will be broadcast and live-streamed on PokerGo.
How can I get free chips on WSOP?
You’ll need to buy-in or win your seat to get your WSOP chips. However, for some fun, you can download the WSOP social poker app and get free chips just by signing up.
How much does the winner of the WSOP Main Event get?
The winner of the Main Event gets a multi-million-dollar prize and a WSOP bracelet worth up to $500,000. The exact cash prize amount is dependent on the number of players (the more players that join, the higher the prizepool), but 2023’s winner won a staggering $12,100,000.
How much is a World Series of Poker bracelet worth?
These days, a Main Event bracelet is worth approximately $500,000. As an example, the 2016 bracelet featured almost 500g of white and yellow gold, as well as white diamonds, black diamonds and rubies, making it almost 45 carats.
Not all bracelets are worth so much. In 2010, Peter Eastgate sold his bracelet on eBay for $147,500, while Jamie Gold sold his bracelet for $65,725 at auction in 2013. However, they were probably worth a lot more!