LAS VEGAS — The 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event has drawn a staggering 9,031 entries, creating a $90 million prize pool. The champion will take home $10 million. Day 6 concluded with 27 players remaining, including 2019 champion Hossein Ensan.
Ensan surged late on Day 6, moving from the middle of the pack to second in chips. He now holds 43.2 million chips. The 61-year-old German-Iranian professional won the Main Event in 2019 for $10 million, defeating Dario Sammartino heads-up. A repeat would make him only the third player in history to win the Main Event twice, after Johnny Moss and Doyle Brunson.
Shaun Deeb remains alive. The six-time WSOP bracelet winner has a notorious history of deep runs without a Main Event final table. Deeb finished 22nd in 2018, 34th in 2021, and 17th in 2024. He currently sits with 18.7 million chips, good for 14th place. “I can’t escape this tournament,” Deeb told reporters after Day 6. “Every year I get close, but close doesn’t pay.”
The 9,031 entries represent a 14% increase from 2025’s record of 7,921. The $10 million top prize, combined with a growing ecosystem of online satellites, fueled the surge. PokerStars, GGPoker, and partypoker combined to award more than 1,200 seats via online qualifiers.
Six notable names remain in the hunt:
Hossein Ensan — 43.2M chips. Former champion. Aggressive post-flop play. Known for reading opponents’ bet sizing.
Shaun Deeb — 18.7M chips. Six bracelets. Deep run curse. Needs to overcome mental fatigue.
Andrew Lichtenberger — 37.1M chips. 2013 WPT champion. Known for mathematical precision. One of the few players with a WSOP bracelet in both online and live events.
Maria Ho — 22.4M chips. WSOP bracelet winner. Final table veteran. Deepest Main Event run since 2017.
David Peters — 31.8M chips. Over $30 million in live earnings. Considered one of the most consistent high-stakes players. Has never made a Main Event final table.
Michael Soyza — 26.5M chips. Malaysian pro. Known for unorthodox play. Has two WSOP bracelets.
The average stack is 33.4 million, with blinds at 150,000/300,000 and a 300,000 big blind ante. Players are deep relative to blinds, but ICM pressure intensifies as the final table approaches.
Day 7 will play down to 18 players. The payout structure pays the top 1,200 finishers, with a minimum cash of $25,000. The final table of nine will be set on Day 8.
Can Ensan repeat? The odds are long. Only two players in WSOP history have won back-to-back Main Events — Johnny Moss (1970-71) and Doyle Brunson (1976-77). Ensan faces a field of younger, more aggressive competitors who grew up watching his win.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: How many players entered the 2026 WSOP Main Event?
- A: 9,031 players entered, creating a $90 million prize pool.
- Q: What is the top prize for the 2026 WSOP Main Event champion?
- A: The champion will win $10 million.
- Q: Can Hossein Ensan win the Main Event again in 2026?
- A: Yes, he is second in chips with 43.2 million and could become the third player to win the Main Event twice, after Johnny Moss and Doyle Brunson.
- Q: How did online satellites affect the 2026 Main Event field?
- A: PokerStars, GGPoker, and partypoker awarded over 1,200 seats via online qualifiers, contributing to a 14% increase in entries.
Extended Reading
Data for this report was sourced from the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Day 6 coverage, Poker.org’s analysis of Ensan’s surge and Deeb’s history, and ESPN’s overview of the 9,000-player field. The 2026 WSOP Main Event continues at the Horseshoe Las Vegas.