WSOP 2026 Main Event Final Table Begins In Poker’s Biggest Tournament

The World Series of Poker Main Event begins Aug. 3 in Las Vegas with the final nine players all guaranteed at least $1 million. The winner becomes world champion and cashes in $10 million and the coveted WSOP Main Event Gold Bracelet. Beyond the huge payouts and betting on the felt from the Horseshoe ballroom, leading online sportsbook BetOnline posted odds to win the Main Event along with select props. 

Poker fans can tune into ESPN2 on Aug. 3 starting at 9pm ET, and again on Aug. 4-5 for the WSOP Main Event on ESPN as players are eliminated with the world champion crowned following heads-up play on Aug. 5 starting at 10:30 pm ET.

World Series of Poker Main Event Turnout And Final Table Participants

From the record-breaking WSOP Main Event in 2023 with 10,043 entries to this year’s 9,208, the new featured tables and stage is set at Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas. 

Following last year's WSOP Main Event victory by poker Hall of Famer Michael Mizrachi, none of the gladiators or legends of poker made the 2026 WSOP Main Event Final Table. The $10,000 entry fee Main Event saw 1,387 players make the money (top 15%) and win at least $15,000. I cashed 4-of-7 events I played in at this year's WSOP including a top 1% finish (46th of 4,600+ entries) in the $600 WSOP Deepstack. I also cashed in the only WSOP Circuit event in played in Las Vegas in mid-July. Now I'm back to chippin'-in poker coverage and other players good fortune to play, run good and cash big. 

Day 5 of @WSOP Main Event begins with 533 players remaining & payouts > $32,000. Chris Moneymaker busted with 2 others on $ bubble Day 4, & I was tableside behind him in media coverage, green A's hat. More @pokerorg & #WSOP coverage Sarah @AuntyChardonnay & @DaveJWoods on… pic.twitter.com/htEAasp28G

— Fairway Jay (@FairwayJay) July 10, 2026

I was onsite as credentialed media with select coverage of bracelet events including the WSOP Main Event as players neared the "bubble". I was at the table behind Chris Moneymaker (green hat) as he busted on the bubble at this year's WSOP Main Event. Moneymaker started the poker boom in 2003 following his Main Event victory, and he now has his own poker tour and contributed content this year during the WSOP at Poker.org.

The poker pros have made their picks to win the WSOP Main Event with most taking big chip leader, 22-year-old Lucas Jumalon. But the oldest player remaining, 55-year-old Canadian Greg Mueller, has many friends, fans and supporters in the poker community, and the 3-time WSOP bracelet winner has the most experience and proven poker game including No-Limit Hold 'em. 

WSOP Final Table Players, Chips, Odds and Props

Here are the players and chip stacks along with odds to win, which are subject to change. Play resumes with 56 minutes remaining in Level 39 with blinds of 1,000,000/1,500,000 and a 1,500,000 big blind ante. 

BetOnline offers online poker, and the top online sportsbook sent out WSOP props in late May along with odds on nearly 200 players to win the WSOP Main Event. None of those players made the Final Table, and I don't recall odds on "the field" being available. Here are a few select props.  

How long will the heads-up portion of the final table last? 

Under 1 hour (-200) 
1–3 hours (+125)
3+ hours (+250)

WSOP Main Event Winning Hand

+200: Two Pair
+300: Pair
+500: High Card with an Ace
+600: High Card other than Ace
+1000: Three of a kind
+1400: Flush
+4000: Full House
+6600: Four of a kind
+10000: Straight flush
+100000: Royal flush

Following the WSOP Main Event, the next big World Series of Poker event is in the Bahamas at Atlantis Resort in December. I covered the high-stakes WSOP Paradise Super Main Event in 2024 and was tableside when 17-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth busted on the bubble. Now a new player will reach poker glory at the 2026 WSOP Main Event, and you can follow all the poker action as players check, raise, build chips and bust on their way to bigger poker paydays. 

You can bet on it. 

FairwayJay is a proven poker player in Las Vegas playing cash games and select No-Limit Hold 'em tournaments. He's covered and played in WSOP events for two decades while living in Las Vegas. FairwayJay chips in sports betting and handicapping insight along with reporting on poker and sports news with information you can bet on. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X @FairwayJay.