Nick Schulman Wins Eighth World Series Of Poker Bracelet

Nick Schulman took down the 2026 World Series of Poker $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. occasion for his eighth profession gold bracelet, changing into simply the tenth participant in WSOP historical past with as many wins.

“‘I’m going to keep playing as long as I’m happy out here and feeling like I’m growing and like I’m not burnt out. There’s no target number, but it’s certainly not surpassing [all-time bracelet leader Phil] Hellmuth… That’s just not on my mind,” stated Schulman when requested if he’s seeking to hit a sure bracelet whole. “But you know, if we get close, I might have to get his ass. But, I don’t really see that.”

This was the 41-year-old poker professional’s fourth straight 12 months with at the least one bracelet gained, and his first since being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2025.

“They’re always all so special, but I guess it’s cool to show that, ya know, they made a good decision,” stated Schulman about this newest bracelet. “I feel like I’m just getting into my prime. As we age and stuff, like I don’t want to be the delusional sort of games player, hanging on. But I can feel it that I’m finally starting to kind of come into my own a little bit. A lot of the kind of emotional hangups and stuff that I had along the way… I’m doing a lot better with. I feel like I just want to keep it going and make the people who believed in me proud.”

Schulman, who can be a World Poker Tour champion, first broke by on the WSOP in 2009. That 12 months he gained the primary of his three $10,000 deuce-to-seven lowball championship titles, with the second coming in 2012 and the third in 2025. He additionally took down the $10,000 pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better championship in 2019 and a $1,500 stud title in 2023. Schulman added two bracelets in 2024, taking down a $25,000 no-limit maintain’em occasion inside Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas in the summertime and the $5,000 turbo bounty occasion on the WSOP Paradise within the Bahamas.

Schulman In The Mix In POY Races

This newest victory got here with $183,366 in prize cash. The rating pushed the extremely regarded poker commentator’s lifetime earnings previous the $26.5 million mark. This was the second title of the 12 months for Schulman, who hails from New York however is now primarily based in Las Vegas. The 912 Card Player Player of the Year factors he earned because the winner on this H.O.R.S.E. occasion moved him into thirteenth place within the 2026 POY standings introduced by CoinPoker.

Schulman’s earlier title in 2026 noticed him take down an eight-game occasion on the PGT Mixed Games sequence. He now sits in twenty fourth place within the PokerGO Tour season-long standings, with eight certified cashes to this point in 2026.

While he’s a high contender in these two races, one POY award Schulman is admittedly not chasing is the WSOP’s, which regularly requires a relentless, continuous grind all through the summer time.

“Player of the Year has never motivated me because I just don’t have that endurance to just go,” stated Schulman. “Like it’s never been something that I thought I could really win. However, if it kind of accidentally happens, don’t get me wrong… I’ll be here playing. But, I’m not really chasing that.”

From The Middle Of The Pack To The Shorthanded Chip Leader

This occasion drew 780 entries to create a $1,035,450 prize pool, with the highest 117 finishers making the cash. Plenty of huge names ran deep, together with John Monnette (52nd), Ryutaro Suzuki (thirty eighth), Philip Hui (thirty seventh), Eric Baldwin (thirty third), Scott Clements (twenty seventh), Michael Gagliano (twenty fifth), Brian Hasting (twenty second), and Carol Fuchs (sixteenth).

Clayton Mozdzen

The ultimate day started with Clayton Mozdzen main a area of 14 remaining contenders. Schulman was seventh in chips when play resumed. Matthew Grapenthien (twelfth), Bart Hanson (eleventh), and Philip Stenheimer (tenth) all fell on the march to the ultimate desk. Schulman had moved to the highest of the leaderboard by the point the final 9 converged onto the unofficial ultimate desk.

Mozdzen, who completed fifth within the $1,500 sellers selection occasion every week earlier, scored the subsequent two knockouts, busting Ryan Caskey (ninth – $13,418) and William Klevitz (eighth – $17,390) to skinny the sector to seven. Kent Gugelman (seventh – $22,978) was eradicated by Raymond Smego-Barranco throughout a spherical of razz, with a 10-8 overwhelmed by a clean 6-5.

Smego-Barranco (sixth – $30,944) was finally the subsequent to fall, together with his high pair, high kicker operating into high two for Mozdzen on the flop in restrict maintain’em.

Schulman then knocked out two-time bracelet winner Mike Wattel in fifth place ($42,455) with Ok♣7♣ overcoming A♠10♥ on a J♦6♣2♣2♦Ok♦ runout.

Closing Out No. 8

After loads of back-and-forth throughout four-handed play, Schulman lastly scored the subsequent elimination in a spherical of razz. The UK’s Joe Brindle was despatched packing in fourth place, incomes $59,324 for his efforts. Neither participant made a really robust hand after the chips went in on fourth avenue, however Schulman’s king low was adequate to win the pot and slender the sector to 3.

France’s Jonathan Nebbout was left on fumes after a giant razz conflict with Mozdzen. He received the final of his stack in after seventh avenue in stud with aces up, however had been outdrawn by Schulman, who hit journey eights on fifth avenue. Nebbout earned a career-best rating of $84,397 for his podium end.

With that, Schulman took roughly a 2:1 chip lead into heads-up play with Mozdzen. That hole widened within the early going, however the Canadian quickly discovered a double-up in Omaha eight-or-better to increase the battle. Soon after that he scooped one other pot with a turned wheel to offer himself much more respiration room.

Schulman returned the favor in stud eight-or-better, making the wheel on fifth avenue to win a hefty pot. Not lengthy after that, Mozdzen received the final of his stack in after the deal in the identical sport.

Schulman: (9♣7♠)9♠A♠4♥Q♠(3♠)

Mozdzen: (2♥2♣)2♦6♠Ok♥8♦(A♣)

Mozdzen had rolled-up deuces towards a pair of nines, however Schulman picked up 4 spades on sixth avenue to offer him outs to a profitable flush. Seventh avenue introduced the 3♠ for Schulman, incomes him the pot and the title. Mozdzen earned $122,206 because the runner-up, the second-largest rating of his profession.

Final Table Results

Photo credit score: WSOP / Miguel Cortes, Lennart Hennig, Monique Marestein.