WSOP 2026 Main Event Final Table Preview: Nine Players, $10M on the Line

The 2026 WSOP Main Event final table is set. Nine players return to the Paris Las Vegas on August 3–5 to battle for the $10 million first prize, the gold bracelet, and the title of World Champion of Poker. With 9,208 entrants generating an $85.6 million prize pool — the fourth-largest in WSOP history — every finalist is guaranteed at least $1 million.

Leading the way is 22-year-old Lucas Jumalon, who arrives at the final table with a commanding 194 million in chips — more than double his nearest rival. If Jumalon closes it out, he’ll become one of the youngest Main Event champions ever, joining a lineage that includes Joe Cada (21 in 2009) and Peter Eastgate (22 in 2008).

Final Table Chip Counts

Here are the nine players returning for the August final table, listed by chip count:

Players to Watch

Lucas Jumalon — The Chip Leader

At just 22, Jumalon is the story of the tournament. He built his stack aggressively through Days 6–8, accumulating nearly triple the chips of the second-place finisher. His age and the sheer size of his lead have drawn comparisons to some of poker’s most dominant final table performances. The question is whether the three-week break helps or hurts a young player riding that kind of momentum.

Greg Mueller — The Veteran

Mueller is the most decorated player at this final table with three WSOP bracelets to his name. The Canadian pro brings decades of high-stakes experience to what will be the biggest final table of his career. ESPN published a feature on Mueller’s journey, noting he almost didn’t register for the event.

Michael Gagliano — Four-Time Bracelet Winner

Gagliano enters the final table with four career bracelets and deep Main Event experience. He sits fifth in chips but is close enough to the middle of the pack to make a serious run. Among the finalists, he has the most hardware and arguably the most proven track record in pressure spots.

International Contenders

This final table features five nationalities across nine players. Rami Hammoud (Canada) sits second in chips and will look to use his position to apply pressure. Mario Boos (France), Lauri Saaskilahti (Finland), and Evagoras Evagorou (Cyprus) represent the European contingent — any of them winning would be a significant moment for poker in their respective countries.

ESPN Broadcast Schedule

The entire final table will be broadcast live on ESPN:

• August 3 — ESPN2, 9 PM ET to midnight: Final nine play down to six
• August 4 — ESPN, 9 PM ET: Six play down to three
• August 5 — ESPN, 10:30 PM ET: Heads-up for the championship

This marks a return to the delayed final table format that became popular in the mid-2000s. The three-week gap between Day 8 and the finale gives players time to prepare, hire coaches, and review hand histories — but it also introduces an element of psychological pressure that favors experienced campaigners.

Notable Exits Before the Final Table

Several big names fell short of the final nine. Defending champion Michael Mizrachi busted on Day 5 in 241st place ($50,000). Mizrachi won his eighth bracelet in last year’s Main Event and picked up his ninth at an event earlier this summer, making him a co-leader in the all-time bracelet race.

Shaun Deeb, the reigning WSOP Player of the Year and fellow nine-time bracelet winner, made a deep run but fell in 15th place ($410,475) on Day 8. Chris Moneymaker, the 2003 champion whose victory launched the poker boom, was eliminated on the money bubble — simultaneously with two other players, meaning all three received their $10,000 buy-in back.

Malcolm Trayner entered the final day as chip leader with 63.2 million but could not hold on, finishing 10th for $750,000 — the last man out before the million-dollar guarantee kicked in.

2026 WSOP Main Event Payout Structure

The top nine payouts from the $85.6 million prize pool:

What to Expect

With Jumalon’s enormous chip lead, the early dynamic will likely revolve around the short stacks trying to survive while the mid-stacks jockey for position. Evagorou (22.5M) and Feng (25M) are the most at-risk players and will need to pick their spots carefully.

The format favors patience early and aggression later, but a player like Mueller — with three bracelets and nothing to prove — could take a fearless approach that disrupts Jumalon’s game plan.

Stay tuned for live updates as the final table plays out August 3–5 on ESPN.