Brian Butler three-bet to 3,600 preflop, earning calls from Nicolas Godard and Benjamin Luber, both of whom checked to him on the 10♥8♥7♥ flop. Butler made it 7,600 to go and earned two folds, then said, "Only time I gonna show today," as he flashed the A♥A♦.
In one of the first hands of the day, Jason Riesenberg was all in for his last 13,200 from middle position and called by Svetlana Gromenkova on the button.
Jason Riesenberg: A♣K♦
Svetlana Gromenkova: J♥J♣
When the cards were flipped Riesenberg was behind but the K♣9♠Q♠ flop went his way.
He held on the 8♠ turn and 6♣ river, and Riesenberg kept his tournament life. He sat back with just under half a starting stack and was able to play more than a single hand in day 2 of the main event.
Three players went to a flop of A♠4♠K♥ when Mitchell Brown bet 2,100 from middle position. Only Ning Chu called in the small blind.
The turn was the 10♦ and Brown bet 4,100. Chu then moved all in, and Brown flung his arms in the air in frustration before calling for his last 25,000.
Brown turned over A♥K♦ for top two pair, but his suspicions proved correct as Chu showed 4♥4♦ for a set. The 4♣ river improved Chu to quads, and Brown was sent to the rail.
In a three-bet pot to the 8♣8♦3♠ flop, Yaroslav Ohulchanskyi check-called a bet of 4,500 by Graham Cowan and then checked the J♠ on the turn. Cowan announced a bet of 10,000 and that was good enough to win the pot right there.
Play has begun on Day 2abc as a total of 2,612 players have taken their seats to start the day.
Level: 6
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 800
The next chapter of the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event has arrived as the first three flights combine to one, as the dream of being a world champion continues at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas still glimmers with hope for the leagues of hopefuls returning for Day 2abc. The first of two Day 2 flights will feature a total of 2,468 players vying to advance in their pursuit of poker immortality.
Ryuta Nakai (323,000) will walk into the room as the top stack, as the Japanese 25K Fantasy player will look to put an exclamation point on a strong summer in 2026. Nakai has piled up seven cashes thus far, with his best finish coming in the $25,000 No-Limit Heads-Up Championship, where he took third place.
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryuta Nakai | Japan | 323,000 |
| 2 | Yulian Bogdanov | Bulgaria | 315,000 |
| 3 | Igor Pansovoi | United States | 300,300 |
| 4 | Arturas Astrauskas | Lithuania | 296,700 |
| 5 | Lawrence Brandt | United States | 292,800 |
| 6 | Rahul Gangan | United States | 291,600 |
| 7 | Osmar Rockenbach | Brazil | 286,900 |
| 8 | Jourdan Baptiste | United States | 281,600 |
| 9 | Justin Arnwine | United States | 280,600 |
| 10 | Gaspar Fernandez | Argentina | 279,000 |
Bulgarian Yulian Bogdanov (315,000) is not far behind in the standings. The high roller made a run in the 2025 edition of the main event as he finished just outside of the top 100 in 109th place. Bogdanov entered the main event with four cashes under his belt, but he is still searching for the first bracelet of his career.
Speaking of bracelets, these players know all too well the feeling, as a total of seven returning WSOP Main Event Champions will make their return on Day abc. Joe Cada (133,660), Greg Raymer (122,300), Greg Merson (81,200), Daniel Weinman (79,300), Michael Mizrachi (73,200), Phil Hellmuth (60,000), and Damian Salas (54,800) are all still in the running for the dream of a second main event title.
Poker Hall of Famers Brian Rast (119,100), Erik Seidel (86,400), Billy Baxter (19,800), and Bobby Baldwin (15,500) are also among the poker royalty still in contention as they take their seats.
Freddy Deeb (267,000) will come in with a healthy stack. The Lebanese poker legend will have an opportunity to situate himself for a deep run with a strong performance on Day 2abc.
Other notables who will rub elbows with the field include Scott Seiver (177,700), David “Chino” Rheem (171,300), Qiang Xu (168,000), Josh Arieh (158,200), Chris Moorman (148,600), Sam Soverel (112,600), Jeremy Ausmus (109,300), Stephen Chidwick (83,400), Mike Matusow (48,000), and Jason Koon (18,700).
Action is scheduled to resume at 11 a.m. local time. Play is scheduled for a total of five levels on Day 2abc. New entrants are allowed to enter who have not played in any previous flight. There are 20-minute breaks after every two-hour level, with a 60-minute dinner break after Level 8 at approximately 5:40 p.m. local time. Registration for Day 2abc will close at the end of Level 7, about 3:40 p.m. local time.
Check back here at PokerNews for continued coverage of the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Event #82: $10,000 WSOP Main Event NLH World Championship
Day 2abc Started
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