LAS VEGAS – The 2026 World Series of Poker continued this week at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas, where a mix of first‑time champions and returning stars added new hardware to their résumés. Nineteen bracelets have been awarded so far as the series moves deeper into its summer schedule.
RECENT RESULTS
Event #11: 10,000GGMillion High Roller No‑Limit Hold’em Winner: Naseem Salem, San Diego — $1,089,964 Salem secured his first bracelet after finishing runner‑up in the 2024 Hall of Fame Bounty event.
Event #13: $1,500 6‑Handed No‑Limit Hold’em Winner: Honghao Zhang, Atlanta — $346,108 Zhang, a PhD student, made his WSOP debut in emphatic fashion with a victory in the six‑handed event.
Event #14: $1,500 Mixed Omaha Hi‑Lo / Big O Winner: Justin Liberto, Baltimore — $265,297 Liberto earned his second bracelet, ending an 11‑year drought that included seven final‑table appearances.
Event #15: $600 Deepstack Pot‑Limit Omaha Winner: Philip Ardire, Kingsport, Tenn. — $171,589 Ardire, who entered the event on a whim, captured his first WSOP title.
Event #16: $1,700 U.S. Circuit Championship No‑Limit Hold’em Winner: Antonio Vargas, Commerce City, Colo. — $439,605 Vargas topped a 2,148‑player field to win the WSOP Circuit’s premier championship event.
Event #17: $10,000 No‑Limit 2‑7 Lowball Draw Championship Winner: Naoya Kihara, Japan — $428,923 Kihara, who became Japan’s first bracelet winner in 2012, staged a dramatic comeback from a single chip to earn his second career bracelet.
Event #20: $1,500 Dealer’s Choice Winner: Jeff Madsen, Santa Monica, Calif. — $161,057 Madsen, who won his first bracelet at age 21 in 2006, claimed his fifth career title two decades later.
Event #21: $1,500 Pot‑Limit Omaha Hi‑Lo 8 or Better Winner: Frederic Normand, Quebec — $235,377 Normand captured his first bracelet in a format he rarely plays, emerging from a deep field in the split‑pot event.
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 9 — Event #31: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty No‑Limit Hold’em A one‑day, fast‑paced event that routinely produces rapid eliminations and dramatic swings. Media note: Notable players may exit early — photos should be taken promptly.
June 10 — Event #34: $500 Colossus A perennial favorite among low‑stakes players, known for drawing one of the largest fields of the summer. Media note: Expect heavy foot traffic throughout both venues.
June 10 — Event #36: $100,000 High Roller No‑Limit Hold’em One of the highest buy‑in tournaments of the series, featuring elite high‑stakes professionals.
