In the 988th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, which is sponsored by FanDuel Poker, Chad Holloway is joined by Mike Holtz and Ben Ludlow are joined at Level 9 Studio by Ryan Depaulo to talk the latest from the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event.
That includes the money bubble bursting and none other than 2003 WSOP Main Event champ Chris Moneymaker being a part of it. See what went down and the aftermath yourself. The crew then talks about the debate surrounding whether or not a player should have to be profitable in order to win WSOP Player of the Year. It's a heated debate between Shaun Deeb and Phil Hellmuth, with Daniel Negreanu and others weighing in.
Other stories include a streaker at the WSOP, Martin Kabrhel's antics, WSOP POY update, and a player who built up a big stack in the Main Event and then decided to abandon it while he went to South Point casino to play $1-$3 NLH and watch a movie.
Finally, Chad previews the upcoming $400 buy-in, $250K GTD PokerNews Cup at the RGPS Thunder Valley.
Find out all about those stories and more in this week's episode of the PokerNews Podcast! Oh, and be sure to check out the audio version of the PokerNews Podcast that is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.
A new PokerNews Podcast drops four times a week in July during the 2026 WSOP! You can expect a new episode every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Emre Nuhoglu raised to 600 from the cutoff, with Matthew Frankland making the call in the small blind. Adekunle Olonoh also came along in the big blind, and the dealer delivered the 2♥4♣5♠ flop.
All three players checked to see the Q♠ turn, where Frankland and Olonoh checked once more. Nuhoglu slid out a bet of 1,200, and Frankland replied with a check-raise to 5,800. Olonoh folded, while Nuhoglu called to the 6♣ river.
Frankland led out for 13,000, and Nuhoglu tossed in a call. Frankland tabled 4♠4♦ for a set of fours, while Nuhoglu showed down A♠3♦ for a flopped wheel to claim the pot.
Malcolm Franchi opened to 600 on the button, and Joao Vieira three-bet to 3,300 from the small blind. Franchi called, and Vieira checked the 7♠3♣Q♥ flop.
Franchi fired 2,800 into the middle, and Vieira took a moment before tossing in a call. Another check from Vieira followed the 10♣ turn, and Franchi sized up to 15,000.
Vieira slid his cards into the muck, and Franchi picked up the pot.
Paul Newey checked the Q♦A♠8♠ flop from the small blind, and Walter Fisher slid out a bet of 600. The call was made, and Newey checked again after seeing the 3♠ turn.
Fisher continued for 1,500, and Newey replied with a check-raise to 4,200. Fisher called, and both players checked down the 5♦ river.
Newey tabled A♣3♣ for two pair, taking down an early pot as Fisher mucked.
It's a 2 p.m. local time start on July 11 for the final championship event of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Event #94 of the 2026 WSOP is the prestigious $10,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Championship,
This is a three-day event that will crown its champion on July 13. If past editions of this tournament are anything to go by, that champion will likely take home in the region of $1 million for their efforts plus, of course, a coveted gold WSOP bracelet.
Late Registration: Open until the end of Level 12 (approx. 3:15 p.m. on Day 2)
Reentries: none
Starting Stack: 60,000 chips
Levels: 60 minutes
2025 Winner: Sam Soverel ($986,337)
2025 Field Size: 546 entries
2025 Prize Pool: $5,077,800
Structure and Schedule
The $10,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Championship entrants start their quest for glory at 2 p.m. local time today armed with a 60,000 starting stack. Day 1 is scheduled to last 10 levels, each spanning 60 minutes, with 15-minute breaks planned every two levels; there is no dinner break on Day 1. Late registration remains open for 12 levels, closing at around 3:15 p.m. local time on Day 2 (July 12).
Those who progress to Day 2 return to the action at 1 p.m. local time on July 12 to play another 10 levels. Fifteen-minute breaks every two levels and a 60-minute dinner break after Level 16 (approx.7:30 p.m. local time) give players a well-deserved rest.
Day 3 runs on July 13, with the restart time yet to be determined. Players will take 15-minute breaks every two levels, and a dinner break will be announced during play. Day 3 is scheduled to play down to a champion.
Past Champions & History
Sam Soverel is the reigning champion of this event, having topped a field of 546 in 2025. Soverel turned his $10,000 investment into $986,337 and won his third WSOP bracelet.
Soverel told PokerNews: “I feel like I’ve been running hot all summer. Day 2 of this one went well, but I kept losing all-ins toward the end. Then on Day 3, I just started winning the most ridiculous ones. I kept shoving on people with absolute dust, and they’d call with jacks or something, and I’d just drill a queen or king or ace. It’s nice to win every all-in for once.”
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It’s simple: log in, search for any player in our live coverage, hit the star, and they’ll be added to your personalized MyPlayers list. You’ll see their progress across all live-reported events, with chip counts and updates pinned right where you need them at the top.
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