The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is one of the most prestigious and famous events in the poker world. This tournament brings together the best players from around the world to compete for the title of champion and huge cash prizes. The WSOP attracts both professional and amateur players. As a result, it creates a unique atmosphere of rivalry and excitement.
World Series of Poker 2026
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP 2026) took place in Las Vegas at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas. The series ran from May 26 to July 15, 2026, and featured 100 gold bracelet events.
The highlight of the series was the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event. The tournament started on July 2 and attracted 9,208 participants, creating one of the largest prize pools in WSOP history. After the final nine players were determined, the tournament took a break, with the decisive stage taking place from August 3 to 5.
The 2026 WSOP Main Event was won by 22-year-old American player Lucas Jumalon. In the final heads-up, he defeated Finland’s Lauri Saaskilahti to claim the $10 million top prize and the championship bracelet. Saaskilahti finished runner-up and received $6 million.
The series featured tournaments in No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Seven-Card Stud and other poker variants. Both established professionals and amateur players from around the world took part in the events.
History and Development of the Tournament
The history of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) dates back to 1970. That year, Benny Binion organized a poker tournament in Las Vegas with the aim of determining the world’s best poker player and attracting greater attention to the game.
The first WSOP was held at Binion’s Horseshoe casino and attracted just six participants. The players competed for a $30,000 prize pool. Johnny Moss was declared the winner after being selected as the best player by the other participants.
Over time, the WSOP grew rapidly in popularity. The number of participants, events and prize pools increased significantly, turning the series into the biggest event on the global poker calendar.
In 2003, the poker world was transformed by Chris Moneymaker’s victory in the WSOP Main Event. The amateur player, who had qualified through a satellite tournament with a small buy-in, won $2.5 million. His victory attracted millions of new players to poker and became one of the key factors behind the poker boom of the early 2000s.
Today, the WSOP is considered one of the most prestigious poker series in the world. Every year, thousands of players travel to Las Vegas to compete for championship bracelets and multimillion-dollar prizes.
Tournament Results for the Last Three Years
| Year | Venue | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, USA | Lucas Jumalon (USA) |
| 2025 | Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, USA | Michael Mizrachi (USA) |
| 2024 | Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, USA | Jonathan Tamayo (USA) |
In 2026, Lucas Jumalon won the WSOP Main Event at the age of 22. He became one of the youngest champions in the history of the tournament and claimed the $10 million top prize.
World Series of Poker 2027
The next World Series of Poker is expected to take place in 2027. At the moment, the official dates for WSOP 2027 and the full tournament schedule have not yet been announced. The series is expected to return to Las Vegas, but the exact dates and event schedule will be published by the organizers at a later date.
Follow the dates of poker tournaments and other events in our Sports Events Calendar.
Besides, read our article on "Poker in Films and Series".
