Just over a month in the past, on July 2, the primary playing cards went into the air within the 2026 World Series of Poker major occasion. Now, after battling via 10 days of poker and a area of 9,208 gamers, simply two potential champions stay.
Lucas Jumalon, who has been the chip chief because the begin of the ultimate desk, maintains pole place with 328 million. The 22-year-old from Spokane, Washington bagged up the highest stack after threatening to run away with the title on the second day of WSOP major occasion ultimate desk motion.
“I’ve told everybody this: job’s not finished,” mentioned Jumalon. “I won’t be happy until it’s done. Try not to get too high, too low. I mean, you saw a little bit of emotion from me out here [at the end of the night], but I’m a man of the people, so I try to give them what they want.”
The just one to make an impactful stand in opposition to Jumalon on day 10 was Lauri Saaskilahti. The 39-year-old businessman from Finland made an enormous name for his event life in opposition to Jumalon, gained the most important pot of the 2026 WSOP major occasion up to now, and put himself on a collision course with Jumalon with the championship bracelet and $10,000,000 on the road. He takes 225 million chips into Wednesday night time’s heads-up battle on ESPN.
“He’s a phenomenal player and not scared of anything,” Jumalon mentioned of Saaskilahti. “Since day 5, we’ve been battling back and forth, and I have so much respect for his game. I don’t think there’s a more worthy opponent to get heads up with, and that’s not a shot at anybody [else who was at this final table].”
Big Action, No Waiting
Four-time NBA champion and poker aficionado Draymond Green dealt with the ceremonial shuffle-up-and-deal announcement contained in the Horseshoe Las Vegas round 4:00 PM native time, hyping the group and displaying the championship bracelet that may quickly adorn this yr’s major occasion winner. Green then hopped within the commentary sales space for a stretch, becoming a member of the vaunted duo of Ali Nejad and Poker Hall of Famer Nick Schulman for the early motion.
It didn’t take lengthy for a giant pot to reach. Within the primary half hour, there was an all-in and name that almost despatched Greg Mueller packing. He open-shoved with Okay♥J♦ from UTG+1 and bumped into A♠Okay♠ for Saaskilahti, who known as within the massive blind. Mueller was effectively behind preflop, however the J♥10♦8♦ rolled off to offer him high pair and a wholesome lead within the hand. The 6♣ flip and 3♥ river stored Mueller’s hand finest to see him double into third chip place.
Greg Mueller doubles up, and his rail is LOVING IT! 🔥
He stays alive after cracking Saskilahti’s A♠Okay♠ with Okay♥️J♦ in an enormous all in. pic.twitter.com/Lq8xAzWlJl
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) August 5, 2026
Saaskilahti slid to fifth chip place after beginning the day amongst the highest three. There could be brighter moments forward, although.
Shaevel ‘Feels The Love’ After Seventh-Place Run
Jamie Shaevel had slipped to simply shy of 5 massive blinds by the point the subsequent massive hand arrived. He dedicated the vast majority of them preflop with Okay♥6♥, and Jumalon known as with Okay♦10♥ from the large blind. The flop got here down 7♠4♥3♣ and Jumalon check-called Shaevel’s remaining 1.5 massive blinds. The J♣ left Shaevel needing a six or 5 on the tip. The J♥ appeared on the river, ending Shaevel’s run in seventh place ($1,500,000).
“It’s been unforgettable, and it’s been something that I’ve never experienced anything remotely close to in my life and probably never will again,” mentioned Shaevel. “I hope I’m wrong on that, but it’s just been incredible.”
The 39-year-old poker participant now has over $1.9 million in profession event cashes, regardless of focusing totally on money video games when not serving to with the household panorama lighting enterprise. The Santa Monica, California resident sported a pair of Kobe Bryant jerseys on the 2 nights of ultimate desk motion, a nod to the late Lakers legend who had impressed him in so some ways.
“Kobe was like my god, you know, was a big part of shaping just who I am, and mentally made me a stronger person and better person. This is by far the biggest stage and platform I’ve ever had,” Shaevel instructed Card Player. “I wanted to pay homage to him however I could, and this was what I came up with.”
This was the eighth money in an estimated 18 WSOP major occasions performed for the LA-area no-limit maintain’em money recreation grinder. While he’ll be heading house along with his largest payday but, the recollections eclipse the money.
“I’m really grateful to all of the people that showed the support in the ways that they did. I feel really loved, and honestly I care so much more about that than the money. I just feel loved. It’s a good feeling, you know… I hope everybody gets to feel the feeling that I’ve felt at some point in their lives.”
A Couple Of Doubles
A basic preflop coin flip arrange the subsequent all-in confrontation. Mueller open-shoved for 13 massive blinds with 9♠9♦ from the button. His fellow Canadian, Rami Hammoud, known as holding A♠Okay♥ within the massive blind.
Mueller’s pocket pair had the slight edge to begin, however grew to become a wholesome favourite after the primary three playing cards of 10♣7♥3♠ failed to attach with both participant. The 5♣ flip left Hammoud in dire straights. The river paired the board with the 10♥ and Mueller doubled to the delight of his raucous rail.
After plummeting down the leaderboard early, Saaskilahti bounced again in a significant means due to pocket kings. He acquired all-in with Okay♠Okay♥ from the small blind, three-bet committing over the hijack open of Han Feng, who in the end went along with his A♣J♦. Saaskilahti’s pocket pair held via a Q♥Q♦2♦3♠9♥ runout to see him climb off the mat.
Hammoud Gets Goosebumps After Impromptu National Anthem Farewell From Mueller Rail
Hammoud’s stack was in shambles after dropping the flip in opposition to his countryman. He quickly raised to 12.5 million off of a 16.5 million stack with Q♥J♠ from below the gun. Jumalon known as on his direct left with A♥5♥, and the flop got here down 8♠6♠2♠ to offer Hammoud a flush draw to go along with his reside overcards to the board. He moved all-in for his final 4 million and Jumalon made the decision with ace excessive.
The 2♣ flip paired the board. Hammoud wanted a spade, jack or queen on the river to be able to double up and stay within the occasion. The 4♥ was no assist, although, and Hammoud was despatched house in sixth place ($1,750,000).
“Obviously now, it’s sad, right? So, but it’s important to go through that sadness. It’s important to live that sadness. At some point there will be a time to look back on this, and I’ll be proud of it. For now, let me be sad about it, you know; that’s why I have my rail. They’re going to lift me up. I’ll just remember that I made $1.75 million,” mentioned Hammoud.
As he headed to his rail after being eradicated, Mueller’s rail burst into the Canadian nationwide anthem in honor of Hammoud’s efficiency. The 36-year-old analytics supervisor for Voldex video games was moved by the gesture.
“I’m getting goosebumps, right? It was just so awesome. I already started feeling their love before day 9… Walking in, they’re all dapping me up like, ’We’re rooting for you if it’s not Greg.’ For them to give me their love on my last hand, I’ll never forget that. This is ingrained in my memory, right? I’m just so happy, so appreciative, so grateful.”
With this rating, Hammoud now boasts practically $2.2 million in lifetime earnings.
Jumalon chipped as much as 316,000,000 after taking down the pot, giving him over 105 massive blinds to work with heading into five-handed motion.
Feng’s Aces Cracked For Fifth-Place Finish
Feng loved an nearly good first night time on the WSOP ultimate desk, going from one of many shortest stacks to second place in a single day. But the second night of WSOP final-table motion wasn’t fairly so form.
He misplaced a giant pot with pocket tens in opposition to the pocket sevens of Jumalon, which had flopped sevens stuffed with aces. That left Feng among the many shortest stacks heading into the subsequent massive preflop showdown.
He min-raised to six million with A♦A♣ from below the gun, and Saaskilahti three-bet to 50 million with 9♠9♥ from the button, leaving simply 9.5 million behind. Mueller appeared down at J♦J♣ within the massive blind and went deep into the tank. He ultimately folded the large pocket pair, appropriately. Feng snap-called all in.
The 10♦8♦3♦ flop left Saaskilahti with one reside out to take the lead. When the J♥ hit the flip, Mueller bodily recoiled on the rail, as he would have hit his personal one-outer on Feng had the hand performed out somewhat bit otherwise. That card additionally gave Saaskilahti six extra outs. The Q♠ river delivered Saaskilahti’s queen-high straight, cracking Feng’s aces and sending him to the rail in fifth place.
“It’s fine man, it happens. It’s all good,” Feng instructed the WSOP’s Jeff Platt within the aftermath.
Feng settled for $2,250,000 because the fifth-place finisher, making him the primary multi-millionaire on this 2026 WSOP major occasion. The Houston, Texas resident’s profession haul ballooned to over $4.1 million due to this big end result.
Saaskilahti Makes Game-Changing Call To Close The Gap On Jumalon
On the 142nd hand of the ultimate desk, Saaskilahti took a stand in opposition to the seeming runaway freight prepare of Jumalon. Despite Michael Gagliano‘s short stack, and Mueller’s shrinking pile of chips, Saaskilahti, then comfortably in second, stood as much as the unbelievable aggression of the bullying chip chief.
The key confrontation started with the Finn min-raising to six million from below the gun with 10♠10♣. Jumalon defended his massive blind with 4♥3♦, and the flop got here down 9♠4♦2♥. Jumalon opted to steer out for 10 million with second pair. Saaskilahti raised to 25 million along with his overpair of tens, and Jumalon known as.
The 5♦ flip gave Jumalon an open-ended straight draw to go along with his outs to journeys and two pair. He introduced a wager of 65 million, which lined Saaskilahti’s stack of 61 million. After mulling over the essential spot, Saaskilahti mused, “This is the hand where I catch your bluff? One pair and a draw, or something?”
Saaskilahti nailed his learn, and ultimately known as along with his pocket tens, asking, “You have it?”
Jumalon was behind, however nonetheless had loads of fairness with outs to an ace, six, 4, or three. The Okay♦ rolled off as a substitute, although, giving Saaskilahti an enormous double to 188,500,000 after profitable the most important pot of the 2026 WSOP major occasion up to now. Jumalon fell to 281,500,000 after the hand.
Gagliano Ground Down, Ultimately Eliminated In Fourth Place
Gagliano was essentially the most adorned participant on the ultimate desk, with 4 WSOP bracelets to his identify. He got here inside a couple of spots of including a fifth, however was unable to construct a lot momentum within the late levels of this event.
‘Gags’ entered seven-handed play on Tuesday because the third-shortest stack with simply 17 massive blinds. He was whittled all the way down to only a few massive blind when his ultimate hand arrived. He shoved for 9.5 million from the button with Okay♠Q♠, and Mueller known as from the small blind with pocket fours. Jumalon then three-bet jammed with Okay♦J♥ and compelled Mueller out of the pot, albeit with a sideways look in direction of Jumalon.
Both gamers paired their high card on the Okay♥8♥5♣ flop. The J♦ flip gave Jumalon kings up, and an enormous lead within the hand. The 7♠ river spelled the tip of Gagliano’s run in fourth place ($2,750,000).
Only Gratitude For Gags
As he mirrored on an unbelievable run, Gagliano needed to return a few of the love that had been despatched in his path over the previous couple of weeks.
“A lot of support,” Gagliano instructed Card Player. “Friends, household, folks on-line, all over the place. It’s simply been overwhelming. Really, simply unbelievable. Every time I have a look at my telephone, I’ve so many messages. I haven’t had my telephone all day, however I’m certain I’ll see a bunch ready for me. Support from folks on the ultimate desk, and even different folks’s rails. Fans, all people simply telling me ‘Great job,’ and, ‘We’re rooting for you.’
This was the biggest rating but for the 41-year-old poker professional from Rockaway, New Jersey. The rating elevated his lifetime earnings to greater than $5.3 million. Seventeen years after recording his first ever WSOP money, Gagliano felt that this particular second in his profession couldn’t have come at a a lot better time.
“I think having the years of experience and stuff… obviously, there’s a lot of emotion in a final table like this,” mentioned Gagliano. “Being able to be a bit more level-headed and stay in the game. You guys saw me. I was grinding, like, not a lot of chips for a very long time, and that’s a situation where I certainly would have been much more stressed and frustrated when I was younger. I was able to just fold and see what happens, and that’s been my approach this whole time.”
Mueller Falls In Third
Saaskilahti quickly kicked off the final hand of the night time with a sneaky small blind limp holding Okay♠Okay♦. Mueller checked his choice with 10♣4♥ within the massive blind, and the flop introduced a A♦A♣4♣ board. Saaskilahti checked and Mueller checked behind. The J♥ flip prompted a 3,000,000 min-bet from Saaskilahti.
Mueller known as, and the 3♦ accomplished the board. Saaskilahti introduced an overbet of fifty million, which had Mueller’s remaining 34 million effectively lined. The three-time bracelet winner stared down his opponent, re-checked his playing cards, took a deep breath, and paused. After a minute extra of statement, he introduced name, and was proven the winner.
Mueller settled for $3,750,000 because the third-place finisher. The 55-year-old poker skilled and former hockey professional greater than doubled his profession earnings due to this marquee efficiency. His loud contingent of supporters who had introduced a jubilant vitality to the ultimate desk gave Mueller his personal rendition of the Canadian nationwide anthem, and Mueller couldn’t assist however smile as he waved his arms within the air.
“It was the single most amazing poker experience I’ve ever experienced,” Mueller mentioned to Platt. “And like I said, I’ve had a lot of good moments. This is amazing, and with all these guys, I mean, look at this rail. You said it, maybe the best rail in WSOP history… It means that the poker [itself] really means nothing. It’s about life, like you just having friends and family and support that love you. That’s what life’s all about.”
One More Night
Jumalon and Saaskilahti return on Wed. Aug 5 to play the most important heads-up match of their lives. Each of them has $6 million locked up, and a win’s value an additional $4 million, together with the bracelet and the title of WSOP major occasion champion.
At the tip of day 10 motion, Jumalon’s family and friends lifted him up and tossed him into the air. He’s not trying past Saaskilahti, however he now is aware of that if he wins, he’ll be celebrating somewhat otherwise.
“That was scary,” Jumalon mentioned of flying via the air. “I’m not doing that again. I don’t care if I win. They can dogpile on me in the middle of the stage. But we’ve still got some work to do.”
Action kicks off at roughly 5:30 p.m. native time in Las Vegas. Broadcast protection begins at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, and continues till a champion is topped. Blinds shall be 1,500,000-3,000,000 with a 3,000,000 massive blind ante.
Chip Counts – End Of Day 10
| Player | Chips | Big Blinds |
| Lucas Jumalon | 328,000,000 | 109 |
| Lauri Saaskilahti | 225,000,000 | 75 |
Remaining Payouts and Final Table Results Thus Far:
| Place | Player | Payout |
| 1 | TBD | $10,000,000 |
| 2 | TBD | $6,000,000 |
| 3 | Greg Mueller | $3,750,000 |
| 4 | Michael Gagliano | $2,750,000 |
| 5 | Han Feng | $2,250,000 |
| 6 | Rami Hammoud | $1,750,000 |
| 7 | Jamie Shaevel | $1,500,000 |
| 8 | Mario Boos | $1,250,000 |
| 9 | Evagoras Evagorou | $1,000,000 |
Photo credit: WSOP / Alicia Skillman
