PokerNews live coverage of this event will begin on Day 2 (July 12). Until then, we will keep readers informed with updates on chip counts and core event statistics, including entries and the prize pool. Scroll down to see more.
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas is gearing up for Event #88: $300 Gladiators of Poker No-Limit Hold’em. This two-day tournament starts at 10:00 a.m. local time in Las Vegas on July 8, and we’ll have a bracelet winner on July 13.
The Gladiators of Poker is a No-Limit Hold’em tournament that attracts massive fields each year thanks to its low buy-in and juicy structure. A crowd of 20,000+ is expected to compete for this event's bracelet.
The $300 Gladiators of Poker No-Limit Hold’em event starts at 10:00 a.m. local time on July 8, with the first of four Day 1 starting flights (Day 1b, 1c, and 1d will take place the following days through July 11). Each entrant will receive 30,000 chips at the start of play. Late registration remains open for 11 levels, which should be right around 4:00 p.m. local time.
Day 1 will run until the field has reached its final 15% or 22 levels have been completed, whichever comes first. There will be 30-minute levels on Day 1. Breaks (20 minutes) on Day 1 will occur every four levels, and a 75-minute dinner break is planned for after Level 15 (approximately 6:30 p.m.).
Day 2 restart is set for at 11:00 a.m. on July 12. Levels will jump to 40 minutes, and the day won't conclude until 17 levels have been played. Day 3, on July 13, is the final day when a winner will be crowned.
At the 2025 WSOP, Ian Pelz beat an insanely massive field of 24,629 entries to win $420,680, plus bounties, out of the $6,054,734 prize pool, and of course the bracelet.
Stephen Winters was the 2024 Gladiators of Poker champion. He beat a field with 20,647 entrants for the bracelet and $401,240 first-place prize.
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Event #88: $300 Gladiators of Poker
Day 1a Started
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