Twenty years is a long time to wait between a first and a fifth. But for Jeff Madsen, the gap only adds weight to what may be the most meaningful WSOP bracelet of his career. At the 2026 World Series of Poker, the Las Vegas-based pro topped a 656-entry field in the $1,500 Dealer’s Choice Seven-Max event, banking $161,057 and cementing himself among the elite multi-bracelet winners in WSOP history.
Madsen Dominates the 2026 WSOP Dealer’s Choice Final Table
The final day of play began with ten players remaining inside the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Madsen entered the session in eighth chip position, near the bottom of the leaderboard with a mountain to climb. Philip Wess held the chip lead as the final day got underway.
Early eliminations came quickly. John Bunch, two-time bracelet winner Nathan Gamble, and Daniel Geyser hit the rail in succession. Madsen delivered the knockout blow to Geyser in a round of Omaha eight-or-better, but despite that elimination, he remained near the bottom of the counts heading into six-handed play.
Clayton Mozdzen continued to apply pressure, eliminating Robert Klein in seventh place ($18,137) by making the wheel in pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better to scoop the pot. Shortly after, Mozdzen sent Kelvin Zhao to the rail in sixth place ($24,766) during a round of badugi when his 5♣4♦2♥A♠ crushed Zhao’s 9♥5♦2♠A♣.
Madsen found his footing across several sizable pots before the five-handed dinner break, seizing the chip lead heading into the final stretch.
Key Moments and Hand History: How Madsen Secured the WSOP Bracelet
The post-dinner action was decisive. Mozdzen bowed out in fifth place ($34,588) after Madsen scooped in stud eight-or-better, holding the only qualifying low alongside a pair of eights.
Next to fall was Dario Sammartino, the Italian pro and 2019 WSOP Main Event runner-up, who finished in fourth place ($49,383). The decisive hand came in badeucy, where Madsen made 9♠7♦6♥3♥2♣ for both a 9-7 low and a 9-7-3-2 badugi to scoop the pot entirely.
Luteng Li was eliminated in third place ($72,042) by Philip Wess in a Big O hand. Li called all-in preflop holding Q♣J♠10♦9♥8♥ but was dominated by Wess’s A♥A♦Q♠9♠8♦, which improved to aces with an 8-4-3-2-A low on the 10♣5♦4♥2♦3♣ runout.
Madsen carried roughly a 3.5-to-1 chip advantage into heads-up play against Wess. He extended that edge in several Big O pots before the final hand arrived in pot-limit double draw high. The chips went in before the draws — Wess held J♥8♥6♥2♥ for a flush draw while Madsen took Q♦Q♣ and drew three cards. Madsen finished with A♣Q♥Q♦Q♣2♣ for trip queens. Wess never completed his flush, ending with jack-high after bricking the final draw with 9♣. The WSOP bracelet was Madsen’s.
2026 WSOP $1,500 Dealer’s Choice Seven-Max Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeff Madsen | $161,057 | 840 |
| 2 | Philip Wess | $107,341 | 700 |
| 3 | Luteng Li | $72,042 | 560 |
| 4 | Dario Sammartino | $49,383 | 420 |
| 5 | Clayton Mozdzen | $34,588 | 350 |
| 6 | Kelvin Zhao | $24,766 | 280 |
| 7 | Robert Klein | $18,137 | 210 |
Player Background: Jeff Madsen’s WSOP Bracelet Journey
Jeff Madsen first burst onto the poker scene in 2006 as a University of California, Santa Barbara student — an unlikely prodigy who went on to win that year’s WSOP Player of the Year title. He claimed two bracelets that summer, both in no-limit hold’em, while also recording deep runs in multiple mixed-game events including third-place finishes in Omaha eight-or-better and stud eight-or-better.
His third WSOP bracelet came in the 2013 $3,000 pot-limit Omaha event. Two years later, he returned to claim a fourth in the eight-or-better version of that same tournament, demonstrating a mastery of mixed formats that few players in the modern era can match.
Now 40 years old — turning 41 the day after this victory — Madsen reflected on what the win meant to him. “Obviously, the first ones were just sort of like the dream, I was a kid with a dream,” he told reporters at the final table. “I felt like this is the best I have played in the last ten years. It’s sort of a big weight off my shoulders again, because I have been putting a lot of work in.”
With this win, Madsen became just the 47th player in WSOP history to earn five or more bracelets — an exclusive club that includes the greatest names the game has ever produced.
Play Poker in New York City — Brought to You by NYCPokerClubs.com
Whether you’re inspired by Jeff Madsen’s fifth WSOP bracelet or you’re just looking to sharpen your mixed-game skills before heading to Las Vegas, New York City has a thriving live poker scene waiting for you. At NYCPokerClubs.com, we cover the best underground and licensed poker clubs across the five boroughs, keeping you up to date on games, venues, and the local players making noise on the national circuit.
From home games in Brooklyn to high-action cash tables in Manhattan, NYC poker has never been more active. Visit NYCPokerClubs.com to find your game today.
Subplots and Context: Notable Stories From the Final Table
Philip Wess, who finished as runner-up for $107,341, recorded the largest tournament cash of his career despite falling one step short of his own WSOP bracelet. His aggressive chip lead entering the final day made him the player to beat, and he pushed Madsen the entire way.
Dario Sammartino’s fourth-place finish pushed his career live tournament earnings past the $18.2 million mark. The Italian veteran, who famously finished second in the 2019 WSOP Main Event, continues to be a consistent force at the highest levels of mixed-game poker.
Nathan Gamble, a two-time bracelet winner himself, was among the first eliminated on the final day — a reminder of just how competitive the Dealer’s Choice format remains even for proven champions.
Trends: Why Mixed-Game Events Are Producing the Biggest Stories at the 2026 WSOP
The 2026 WSOP bracelet race has seen several defining moments come out of mixed-game events rather than the hold’em events that dominate attendance numbers. Dealer’s Choice formats, Omaha variants, and stud games continue to reward players who invest the time to study across multiple disciplines.
Madsen’s win reinforces a broader trend: mixed-game specialists are building some of the most impressive WSOP bracelet résumés in the modern era. His mastery of games like badeucy, Big O, and pot-limit double draw — formats many recreational players have never encountered — is what separates elite tournament poker from the pack.
For players serious about growing their WSOP bracelet count, diversifying beyond hold’em has never been more valuable.
Quick Facts
- Event: 2026 WSOP $1,500 Dealer’s Choice Seven-Max
- Total Entries: 656
- Winner: Jeff Madsen
- Prize: $161,057
- Bracelet Number: 5th career WSOP bracelet
- POY Points Earned: 840
- Milestone: 47th player in WSOP history with five or more bracelets
- Years Since First Bracelet: 20 (2006–2026)
- Runner-Up: Philip Wess ($107,341)
A Legacy Reinforced at the 2026 WSOP
Jeff Madsen’s fifth WSOP bracelet is more than a number — it’s the culmination of two decades of elite-level poker. From a college student playing no-limit hold’em in 2006 to a seasoned mixed-game specialist navigating badeucy, Big O, and pot-limit double draw at 40, Madsen has grown into one of the most complete tournament players the WSOP has ever seen.
His place among the 47 players in history with five or more bracelets is well-earned. With the 2026 series just getting started, don’t be surprised if Madsen makes another deep run before it’s over.
