WSOP Circuit history was made at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas as Darren Rabinowitz emerged as the first Circuit Main Event champion of 2026. Drawing on years of elite tournament experience, the WSOP bracelet winner captured his fifth career Circuit ring and the $175,430 top prize after navigating one of the toughest live poker fields of the season. Poker players inspired by high-level competition like the WSOP Circuit can also find professionally run cash games and tournaments at NYC poker clubs, where serious players gather daily for real action.

A Milestone Victory on the WSOP Circuit Stage

Rabinowitz’s triumph marked his first live Circuit Main Event title, a notable achievement in a career already highlighted by major online and live successes. The win pushed his lifetime tournament earnings beyond $4 million, according to Hendon Mob, and reinforced his standing as one of the most consistent performers on the modern tournament circuit.

Speaking after the win, Rabinowitz reflected on the challenge of competing at a stop widely regarded as one of the most competitive on the WSOP Circuit schedule.

“I’ve played a lot of these events, but this was my first time final-tabling a Circuit Main Event and closing it out. The level of competition here is extremely high, and you have to stay patient the entire way.”

A Final Table Packed With Elite Talent

The Planet Hollywood Main Event featured a final table stacked with proven tournament professionals. Six-time Circuit ring winner Stephen Song was the first to fall among the finalists, followed by four-time ring holder Alan Merdita, who added another deep live run to his résumé.

Ukrainian poker pro Victoria Livschitz continued her strong results with an eighth-place finish, while the final showdown saw Rabinowitz battle David DiBernardi heads-up for nearly three hours. DiBernardi, himself a two-time Circuit winner, ultimately finished runner-up for $116,917.

Planet Hollywood Main Event Final Table Results

• 1st: Darren Rabinowitz – $175,430
• 2nd: David DiBernardi – $116,917
• 3rd: Kayla Clackum – $81,321
• 4th: Katsumoto Sakaguchi – $57,545
• 5th: Drake Kemper – $41,439
• 6th: Jacob Mendelsohn – $30,378
• 7th: Yuanzhi Cao – $22,678
• 8th: Victoria Livschitz – $17,245
• 9th: Alan Merdita – $13,363
• 10th: Stephen Song – $10,556

WSOP Circuit Rings and Paradise Rewards

Beyond prize money and prestige, every ring winner during the 2026 season earns a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package. The reward includes entry into the season-ending championship event and a complimentary stay at Atlantis Paradise in the Bahamas, adding further incentive to succeed on the WSOP Circuit trail.

Rabinowitz topped a long list of winners at the Planet Hollywood stop, which featured events across No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, HORSE, Seniors, and High Roller formats.

A Strong Opening Statement for the 2026 Season

With the Planet Hollywood series complete, the WSOP Circuit season is officially underway, and Rabinowitz’s victory sets an early benchmark for excellence. As the tour continues across major poker destinations, attention now turns to which players will rise next and add their names to the growing list of 2026 champions.

Alex Foxen closed the curtain on the 2025 PokerGO Tour season in emphatic fashion, capturing his 12th career PGT title and surging into the points lead just days before the highly anticipated $1 million PGT Championship freeroll. The victory not only added another trophy to Foxen’s already elite résumé, but also positioned him perfectly for the season-ending showdown at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas.

Foxen claimed the title in PGT Last Chance Series Event #6: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em, earning $232,400 after outlasting a tough field of 83 entrants. The win came at the expense of Brandon Wilson, who fell just short of a second title in the series.

Alex Foxen Delivers Another Signature Comeback

The final table began with Wilson holding a slight edge after eliminating Andrew Lichtenberger in third place for $107,900. Momentum quickly swung further in Wilson’s favor, as his stack ballooned to a dominant 7-to-1 chip lead, seemingly putting him on the brink of another victory.

What followed was a classic Alex Foxen comeback.

Foxen doubled up after winning a critical 60/40 all-in, then repeated the feat moments later to pull nearly even. Wilson briefly regained control, but Foxen once again won another marginal preflop confrontation, this time swinging the chip advantage decisively in his favor. From there, Foxen applied constant pressure and closed out the match—fittingly—by winning yet another preflop all-in on the final hand.

The victory showcased Foxen’s trademark resilience and cemented his reputation as one of the most dangerous competitors in high-stakes tournament poker.

Final Table Results – PGT Last Chance Event #6

PGT Points Race Shifts Ahead of Championship Freeroll

In addition to the cash, Alex Foxen earned 232 PGT points, allowing him to overtake Sam Soverel atop the season-long leaderboard. That shift carries major implications for the upcoming PGT Championship freeroll, where starting stacks are determined by final points standings.

Foxen will enter the freeroll with the largest stack at 350,000 chips, giving him a significant edge over the rest of the field. Soverel will begin close behind with 340,000, followed by:

• Chino Rheem – 330,000
• Michael Mizrachi – 320,000
• Joao Simao – 310,000

Wilson’s runner-up finish earned him 149 PGT points, placing him 40th overall and securing a freeroll seat with a 160,000-chip starting stack.

$1 Million PGT Championship Freeroll Details

A total of 65 players qualified for the invitation-only PGT Championship freeroll, a no-limit hold’em tournament that begins Monday at 1:00 PM PT inside the PokerGO Studio on the Las Vegas Strip.

• Prize Pool: $1,000,000
• First Prize: $500,000
• Format: Day 1 plays down to the final six
• Champion Crowned: Tuesday

The elite field includes several of poker’s biggest names, such as Isaac Haxton, Jason Koon, Jeremy Becker, and Daniel Negreanu, ensuring a fitting finale to the PGT season.

PGT Last Chance Series – Full Results Overview

Alex Foxen Enters the PGT Championship as the Man to Beat

With 12 PGT titles, a commanding points lead, and the largest starting stack in the freeroll, Alex Foxen enters the PGT Championship as the clear favorite. His ability to thrive under pressure and consistently win pivotal moments has defined his career—and now positions him perfectly for one more major victory to close out the season.

As the PokerGO Tour reaches its climax, all eyes will be on Foxen to see if he can convert momentum into yet another landmark achievement.

Clemen Deng has announced his arrival at the top of the PokerGO Tour in emphatic fashion. The Portland, Oregon native captured Event #1 of the PGT Last Chance series, outlasting a stacked field of 109 entries to win the $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament and collect $277,950. The victory marks the first PokerGO Tour title of 2026 and came after Deng navigated one of the most talent-heavy final tables seen this season.

A Breakthrough Win Against Poker’s Best

Deng’s path to the trophy required overcoming several of the game’s most accomplished names. Among those standing between him and the title were 17-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, who finished fourth, and reigning 2025 Card Player Player of the Year Jesse Lonis, who bowed out in third place.

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Despite the star-studded lineup, Deng remained composed throughout the final stages. This win represents the fifth-largest score of his career and pushes his lifetime tournament earnings to nearly $5.9 million. Notably, all of his biggest results have come within the last 18 months, highlighted by a $695,000 payday at a $100,000 Triton Poker event in Jeju, South Korea.

Narrowing the Field: Notable In-The-Money Finishers

The 109-entry field generated a $1,090,000 prize pool, with the top 16 players reaching the money. A long list of established pros cashed, including:

• Jeremy Ausmus (15th)
• Josh Arieh (13th)
• Joe Serock (12th)
• Byron Kaverman (11th)
• Jared Jaffee (10th)
• Connor Rash (9th)
• Aram Oganyan (8th)
• Jonathan Little (7th)

Day 2 began with six players remaining and Jesse Lonis holding a commanding chip lead. Phil Hellmuth scored the first elimination of the day when his pocket eights held against the A-7 of Matthew Wantman, who finished sixth for $54,500 after recently winning the MSPT Venetian Main Event.

Key Eliminations Shape the Final Four

Momentum continued to swing when Lonis won a preflop race, his J♥10♥ besting the pocket eights of Cary Katz, eliminating the PokerGO founder in fifth place for $70,850.

Hellmuth’s run ended shortly after. He committed his stack with A♥2♠ on a 10♥6♣2♦ flop but ran into the overpair of David Baker’s jacks. The board paired twice, sealing Hellmuth’s fate in fourth place for $98,100 and pushing his career earnings beyond $27.5 million.

Deng Pulls Away Three-Handed

The defining moment came during three-handed play. Baker opened short, Lonis shoved with pocket nines, and Deng called with A♣K♦, covering both opponents. Baker folded, and the board ran out A♦7♥3♥A♥3♦, giving Deng aces full and eliminating Lonis in third place for $125,350.

Lonis’ podium finish keeps him well positioned in the PokerGO Tour standings, virtually locking up a seat in the season-ending $1,000,000 freeroll championship.

Heads-Up Finish Seals the Title

Deng entered heads-up play with more than a 26-to-1 chip advantage over Baker. Although Baker managed a quick double-up, the comeback attempt was short-lived. In the final hand, Baker moved all-in with an open-ended straight draw, but Deng’s bottom pair held through the turn and river to close out the tournament.

Baker earned $174,400 for second place, bringing his career tournament winnings to nearly $9.3 million.

Final Table Results – PGT Last Chance Event #1

The Super High Roller Bowl once again lived up to its reputation as poker’s ultimate proving ground, and the 10th edition delivered one of the most dramatic finishes in the series’ history. Brazilian star Joao Simao closed out an extraordinary 2025 campaign by winning Super High Roller Bowl X, earning $1.1 million after surviving a five-hour heads-up war against elite competitor Jason Koon.

Held at the PokerGO Studio, the $103,000 buy-in Super High Roller Bowl X featured a compact but fearsome field of the world’s best players. Over three days of high-stakes action, Simao navigated relentless pressure, multiple near-eliminations, and a relentless final opponent to secure one of the most prestigious titles in modern tournament poker.

Super High Roller Bowl Win Caps Historic Run for Joao Simao

The victory at the Super High Roller Bowl was the latest highlight in what has been a career-defining stretch for Simao. Since early November, the Brazilian standout captured four major tournament titles, including:

• His third WSOP bracelet
• His first Triton Poker title
• A massive $3,067,000 win at WSOP Paradise in a $150,000 buy-in event
• Titles at both the NAPT Las Vegas and BSOP High Roller series

With this Super High Roller Bowl triumph, Simao’s career earnings surged past $17 million, further extending his lead atop Brazil’s all-time money list.

Elite Field and a Brutal $200,000 Bubble

The 2025 Super High Roller Bowl X drew 23 total entries, creating a $2.3 million prize pool. Only four players would reach the payouts, making every decision magnified under extreme ICM pressure.

Five players returned for the final day, with chip counts tightly packed. Jun Obara began as the short stack but mounted a remarkable comeback, briefly taking the chip lead without scoring a clean double-up. Meanwhile, Sam Soverel slid from first to last as momentum shifted repeatedly.

Obara’s run ended in brutal fashion. After pocket kings ran directly into Soverel’s pocket aces, Obara lost the remainder of his stack to Simao shortly thereafter. His fifth-place finish on the $200,000 bubble concluded a breakout year that included a Triton title in South Korea and multiple final tables.

Nick Schulman and Sam Soverel Fall Short

Once the bubble burst, eliminations came quickly.

Nick Schulman, the seven-time bracelet winner and 2025 Poker Hall of Fame inductee, was eliminated in fourth place. His A♦Q♠ found hope when a queen appeared on the flop, but Jason Koon’s pocket jacks immediately spiked a set, ending Schulman’s run and earning him $200,000.

Soverel soon followed in third place for $350,000. Holding pocket tens, he was ahead against Koon’s A♠8♥, but a turned heart flush reversed the outcome. Despite the loss, Soverel pushed his career earnings beyond $31.7 million.

Super High Roller Bowl Heads-Up Turns Into a Five-Hour Classic

The heads-up duel between Joao Simao and Jason Koon became the defining storyline of Super High Roller Bowl X.

Koon appeared poised to close it out early when he had Simao covered and dominated on multiple occasions. In one key hand, Koon’s K♣9♦ stayed ahead of Simao’s Q♠9♥ until the river delivered a miracle queen, keeping Simao alive.

Momentum swung repeatedly. Simao applied pressure and briefly took control, even bluffing the river in a massive pot that forced Koon into a deep tank. Koon made a heroic call—correctly identifying the bluff—but the match was far from over.

Koon later had Simao on the brink again with K♣Q♥ against K♦5♦, only for Simao to flop a straight draw and turn the tables with a miraculous runout that included quad fives.

Final Double-Ups Seal the Super High Roller Bowl Title

As fatigue set in, both players continued trading blows. Koon reclaimed the lead with trip deuces, then once again had Simao at risk holding pocket tens against A♣5♥. For the third time in the match, Simao found salvation, pairing his ace on the turn to secure another critical double.

The final hand of Super High Roller Bowl X saw Simao’s pocket eights hold strong against Koon’s pocket fives, bringing an end to one of the most grueling heads-up matches in recent high-stakes history.

Super High Roller Bowl X Final Results

What This Means for Poker’s All-Time Greats

With this runner-up finish, Jason Koon’s career earnings climbed to nearly $70.7 million, placing him third on the all-time money list, trailing only Bryn Kenney and Stephen Chidwick. Despite falling short, Koon once again demonstrated why he remains one of the most feared competitors in high-stakes poker.

For Joao Simao, the Super High Roller Bowl victory cements his place among poker’s elite and closes the year as one of the most dominant performers in the game.

Why the Super High Roller Bowl Remains Poker’s Ultimate Test

The Super High Roller Bowl continues to stand apart from all other tournaments. Limited fields, extreme buy-ins, and the highest concentration of elite talent ensure that every edition becomes a measuring stick for greatness.

Super High Roller Bowl X delivered everything poker fans expect—skill, endurance, heart-stopping drama, and a champion who proved he belongs at the very top.

The WPT World Championship has once again delivered elite-level drama, massive prize money, and a defining career moment, as the 2025 World Poker Tour season officially wrapped up at Wynn Las Vegas. The flagship event of the festival, the $10,400 buy-in WPT World Championship Main Event, drew a massive 1,865 entries, creating a staggering $18.27 million prize pool and reaffirming its place as one of the most prestigious tournaments in live poker.

After nine days of high-pressure competition, it was Schuyler Thornton who stood alone at the top, capturing his first WPT title and a career-best payday worth $2,258,856.Schuyler Thornton Shines on Poker’s Biggest Stage

The victory at the WPT World Championship marked a watershed moment for the 36-year-old pro from Corpus Christi, Texas. Prior to this event, Thornton was respected within poker circles but had never recorded a seven-figure live score. That changed dramatically in Las Vegas.

This multi-million-dollar win more than doubled Thornton’s lifetime tournament earnings, pushing his career total to nearly $4.3 million. Despite not being a regular on the live tournament circuit, Thornton’s background in online MTTs and high-stakes cash games proved invaluable on poker’s grandest stage.

“I ran hotter than anyone could ever dream of running,” Thornton said after the win. “You’re allowed to run good—it’s not against the rules.”

WPT World Championship Festival Delivers Another Record Performance

Running from December 13–21 at Wynn Las Vegas, the WPT World Championship festival once again attracted the game’s biggest names and deepest fields. A total of 233 players finished in the money, with numerous poker heavyweights making deep runs, including:

• Mohsin Charania (70th)
• Asher Conniff (60th)
• John Hennigan (46th)
• Eugene Katchalov (43rd)
• Jared Jaffee (11th)

The depth of talent on display reinforced the event’s reputation as one of the most challenging tournaments in the world.

Final Table Set as Thornton Builds Momentum

The final six players were determined on Friday, December 19, with play resuming after a scheduled day off. Entering the final session, Soheb Porbandarwala held the chip lead, while Thornton sat comfortably in second position.

From there, Thornton went on an elimination spree that defined the closing stages of the WPT World Championship.

Sixth Place – Maxx Coleman ($540,000)

Two-time bracelet winner Maxx Coleman was the first to fall, when his A♣10♥ couldn’t overcome Thornton’s A♠Q♦. Both players made trip aces, but Thornton’s superior kicker sealed the knockout.

Fifth Place – Jeremy Becker ($710,000)

Rising star Jeremy Becker got the rest of his stack in with A♦2♣, trailing Thornton’s A♥10♥. The board offered no help, ending Becker’s run and pushing his career earnings past $4.1 million.

Four-Handed Play: Thornton Takes Control

Thornton continued his dominant stretch by eliminating Chad Lipton in fourth place. Lipton check-shoved the turn with J♣10♠ on a Q♥J♥4♦2♠ board, only to be called by Thornton holding A♥Q♦. The river changed nothing, sending Lipton home with $940,000, the largest score of his career.

Key Hand Sends Jeremy Brown to the Rail

Three-handed play saw Jeremy Brown as the short stack, but he survived for several orbits before tangling with Thornton in a massive pot. After flopping top pair against Thornton’s set of fours, Brown fired three streets, only to be snap-called on the river when the board paired.

Thornton’s full house ended Brown’s incredible run in third place for $1,250,000, a career-best result.

A Fast and Furious Heads-Up Battle

Heads-up play at the WPT World Championship began with Thornton holding 111.1 million chips, compared to Porbandarwala’s 75.1 million. Before cards were dealt, the two agreed to a deal that locked up $2,098,456 for Thornton and $1,969,344 for Porbandarwala, leaving the title, extra cash, and a seat in the 2026 event to play for.

From there, it was all Thornton.

He won 11 consecutive hands, ballooning his stack to nearly a 12:1 chip advantage. The final hand saw Thornton’s A♦K♠ defeat Porbandarwala’s A♥6♥, as the board paired kings to seal the championship.

WPT World Championship Final Table Results

Why the WPT World Championship Remains Poker’s Crown Jewel

Year after year, the WPT World Championship continues to set the gold standard for live tournament poker. Massive fields, elite competition, life-changing money, and unforgettable storylines make it one of the most sought-after titles in the game.

For Schuyler Thornton, the 2025 edition will forever stand as the moment his career reached new heights.

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The World Poker Tour World Championship festival at Wynn Las Vegas continues to deliver elite-level poker action, and one of the game’s most accomplished tournament professionals has added another prestigious title to his résumé. Darren Elias, a BetMGM ambassador and four-time World Poker Tour champion, captured the $25,000 buy-in High Roller, earning $631,800 and the coveted Wynn replica trophy.

With the victory, Elias further cemented his legacy as one of the most consistent performers in modern tournament poker, pushing his career live earnings to over $15 million, according to The Hendon Mob.

Another Major Title for a World Poker Tour Legend

Elias is one of only two players in history to win four World Poker Tour titles, tied with Brian Altman, and his latest triumph came against a stacked field filled with some of the best high-stakes players in the world. He sealed the win by defeating Neil Warren in heads-up play, closing out the tournament by winning a crucial race to end the match.

While Warren fell just short of the title, his deep run was rewarded with a $398,275 payday.

Stacked High Roller Field at Wynn Las Vegas

The $25K no-limit hold’em High Roller drew a formidable lineup, featuring top-tier talent from across the global poker circuit. The final table was particularly brutal, including:

• Jason Koon (PokerStars ambassador)
• Brock Wilson
• Ben Tollerene
• Punnat Punsri, the current 2025 GPI Player of the Year points leader

Even by high-roller standards, the level of competition was exceptional, making Elias’ run to the title all the more impressive.

Key Eliminations at the Final Table

The path to victory was anything but easy. Brock Wilson exited in ninth place for $63,400, followed shortly by Jason Koon in eighth for $75,650, slightly easing the pressure but leaving plenty of danger still in play.

The remaining eliminations played out as follows:

• 7th – Dinesh Alt ($92,800)
• 6th – Ben Tollerene ($116,800)
• 5th – David Chen ($153,000)
• 4th – Connor Rash ($203,000)
• 3rd – Punnat Punsri ($277,125)

With Punsri’s elimination, the stage was set for a heads-up showdown between Elias and Warren, which ultimately went Elias’ way.

Closing a Breakthrough Year for Darren Elias

The win caps off an already memorable year for Elias. Earlier this summer, he finally captured his first WSOP bracelet, shedding the long-standing label of being among the best players without one. That milestone, combined with this High Roller victory at the WPT World Championship festival, underscores the veteran pro’s continued dominance across poker’s biggest stages.

World Poker Tour World Championship Festival Nears Its Climax

The WPT World Championship festival at Wynn Las Vegas is set to conclude on Sunday, but not before its two marquee events—the WPT World Championship and the WPT Prime Championship—crown their respective champions.

With elite fields, massive prize pools, and historic implications still to come, the festival continues to reaffirm its status as one of the premier destinations on the global poker calendar.

Final Table Results

Bernhard Binder has officially arrived on poker’s biggest stage. The 27-year-old Austrian phenom delivered a career-defining performance by winning the 2025 WSOP Paradise Super Main Event, earning a staggering $10,000,000 and his first World Series of Poker bracelet.

Just weeks earlier, high-stakes regular Mario Mosböck predicted that Binder would emerge as one of poker’s breakout stars in 2026. Binder accelerated that timeline dramatically by conquering Event #11: $25,000 WSOP Paradise Super Main Event, the richest tournament ever held.

From Online Crusher to WSOP Paradise Super Champion

Primarily known as an elite online player, Binder had already made headlines earlier in the year after winning the GGMillion$ Main Event for $1.8 million. However, his victory in the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event dwarfed that achievement, multiplying his biggest prior score nearly tenfold.

Binder sealed the title after an intense, nearly four-hour heads-up battle against France’s Jean-Noel Thorel, one of the most respected and experienced players on the high-stakes circuit.

“He’s a special opponent,” Binder said afterward. “Playing heads-up against him is challenging because unexpected things happen more often than against most players.”

Record-Breaking WSOP Paradise Super Main Event Field

The WSOP Paradise Super Main Event featured a historic $60 million guaranteed prize pool, the largest guarantee ever offered in poker tournament history. A massive 2,891 total entries, including multiple re-entries by several players, pushed the final prize pool to $72,275,000.

The final table showcased a remarkable mix of youth, experience, and diverse poker backgrounds, making it one of the most compelling WSOP finales ever.

WSOP Paradise Super Main Event Final Table Results

1. Bernhard Binder (Austria) – $10,000,000
2. Jean-Noel Thorel (France) – $6,000,000
3. Belarmino De Souza (Brazil) – $4,000,000
4. Terrance Reid (United States) – $3,000,000
5. Eric Wasserson (United States) – $2,350,000
6. Natasha Mercier (United States) – $1,800,000
7. Peter Chien (Canada) – $1,400,000
8. Franco Spitale (Argentina) – $1,100,000

Battle of Generations at the WSOP Paradise Super Final Table

One of the defining storylines of the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event was the striking 51-year age gap between the finalists. Binder was the youngest player at the table, while Thorel was the oldest, symbolizing the evolving landscape of modern poker.

Natasha Mercier was also chasing history, hoping to surpass Liv Boeree’s record-setting $2.8 million cash from the previous year. Meanwhile, poker journalist Terrance Reid made an improbable deep run after trading his press credentials for a tournament seat.

Eric Wasserson added further intrigue, playing the role of tournament antagonist after a controversial slow roll earlier in the event. Despite the drama, his deep run ended in fifth place after falling to Binder’s relentless pressure.

Defining Hands and Key Eliminations

Binder’s path to the title was marked by flawless execution and timely aggression. He eliminated multiple opponents at the final table, including Peter Chien, Eric Wasserson, and Terrance Reid, often holding strong made hands against dominated or drawing opponents.

Belarmino De Souza’s elimination in third place set the stage for the highly anticipated heads-up duel between Binder and Thorel—an online solver expert versus a seasoned live tournament veteran.

Heads-Up Drama in the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event

Despite the enormous stakes, the heads-up match was surprisingly cautious, with very few all-ins until the decisive hand. With stacks dwindling, Thorel moved all in holding king-queen, but Binder’s ace-eight held firm to end the tournament.

The victory marked one of the most significant triumphs by an online-first player in WSOP history.

“It’s Amazing to Have Such Good Friends”

Binder’s emotional celebration was amplified by a raucous rail filled with Austrian poker professionals wearing matching “Team Binder” shirts. Chants echoed through the tournament area as Binder embraced friends who had supported him throughout his career.

“If I was here alone and won this, it wouldn’t mean nearly as much,” Binder said. “Celebrating with friends—especially those who also had a piece—is everything.”

Among them was Samuel Mullur, a close friend and fellow WSOP bracelet winner, underscoring the tight-knit nature of Austria’s elite poker community.

A Defining Moment in WSOP Paradise Super History

With his victory in the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event, Bernhard Binder has not only secured financial freedom but also etched his name into poker history. The combination of a record-breaking prize pool, generational clashes, and elite-level play makes this event a landmark moment for the World Series of Poker.

If this performance is any indication, Binder’s reign at the top of high-stakes poker may only be beginning.

The World Series of Poker stands as the most prestigious and iconic poker festival on the planet. Since its humble launch in 1970 at Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas, the WSOP has grown into a global phenomenon, celebrating elite skills, unforgettable personalities, and legendary performances. Over the decades, hundreds of champions have earned bracelets, but only a select few have cemented themselves as true WSOP greats.

In this long-phrase, SEO-optimized breakdown, we uncover the Top 10 Greatest Performers in World Series of Poker history, judging players by bracelets, longevity, influence, and domination on poker’s biggest stage.

1. Phil Hellmuth – The “Poker Brat” King of the WSOP

When discussing the World Series of Poker, no name appears more often than Phil Hellmuth. With a record-breaking number of bracelets, Hellmuth has led the WSOP rankings for decades. His emotional table talk, unmatched consistency, and ability to outplay massive fields make him the tournament series’ most decorated performer. From Main Event glory in 1989 to modern-era bracelet wins, Hellmuth’s dominance remains a pillar of WSOP history.

2. Doyle Brunson – The Godfather of Poker

The late Doyle Brunson, also known as “Texas Dolly,” helped shape the World Series of Poker in its earliest days. With multiple Main Event titles and a storied career spanning more than 50 years, Brunson’s impact reaches far beyond bracelets. His fearless style, charisma, and influence on poker strategy cement his place as an all-time WSOP legend.

3. Phil Ivey – The Most Feared Man in Poker

Often considered the best all-around player to ever live, Phil Ivey has collected an impressive array of WSOP bracelets across many variants. His calm demeanor and ultra-sharp instincts make him deadly in mixed games and high-stake events. Ivey’s reputation alone forces opponents to tread lightly in any World Series of Poker event he enters.

4. Johnny Chan – Back-to-Back Main Event Dominance

Johnny Chan achieved a historic feat when he won back-to-back Main Events in 1987 and 1988, nearly capturing a third in 1989. His iconic appearance in the movie Rounders immortalized his brilliance. Chan’s tournament execution and consistent WSOP performance place him firmly among poker’s elite.

5. Daniel Negreanu – The People’s Champion

Known for his table presence and uncanny ability to read opponents, Daniel Negreanu has remained a powerhouse at the World Series of Poker for over two decades. With multiple bracelets and several Player of the Year titles, “Kid Poker” is one of the most influential and beloved figures in WSOP history.

6. Johnny Moss – The First Poker Champion

As the inaugural World Series of Poker champion, Johnny Moss is a historic icon. He won the early Main Events based not on tournaments, but on votes from peers who recognized him as the best player. Moss helped shape the competitive spirit of the WSOP and became one of its earliest superstars.

7. Stu Ungar – The Greatest Natural Talent

The late Stu Ungar is widely considered the most naturally gifted poker player ever. A three-time WSOP Main Event champion, Ungar possessed an unmatched ability to read players and control pots. His victories across decades showcased brilliance that still echoes through poker culture today.

8. Erik Seidel – Quiet, Powerful, and Consistent

With a long career filled with deep runs, final tables, and bracelets, Erik Seidel stands as one of the most consistent performers in WSOP history. His strategic approach, adaptability, and longevity make him a fixture in high-roller events and a respected figure in every World Series of Poker season.

9. Chris Ferguson – A Mixed-Game Specialist

Despite controversy surrounding his career, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson posts some of the strongest statistical records in WSOP history. His multiple bracelets and Player of the Year title highlight his technical mastery in various poker formats, especially mixed games.

10. Brian Rast – Modern-Era Tournament Powerhouse

Brian Rast has become one of the most dominant modern performers in World Series of Poker high-stakes events. With multiple wins in the prestigious Poker Players Championship—a true test of all-around skill—Rast has earned respect as one of the best of the new generation.

Final Thoughts: The Legacy of the World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker is more than a tournament series—it’s a celebration of skill, nerve, passion, and poker culture. The ten players above have shaped the WSOP’s identity through iconic victories, unforgettable moments, and elite consistency. As poker evolves, new stars will emerge, but these legends will forever remain benchmarks of greatness.

If you’re a poker fan or aspiring champion, studying the careers of these WSOP icons can offer invaluable insight into the mindset, strategy, and dedication it takes to become one of the greatest performers in World Series of Poker history.