WSOP 2026 Day 3 Recap: First Bracelet Awarded as Big Names Flood the Felt

Day 3 of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas delivered the first gold bracelet of the summer, another enormous Mini Mystery Millions flight, and a host of familiar faces deep in multiple events across a six-event day.

Event #3: $500 Industry Employees — Winner

Jerome Neppl etched his name into the WSOP 2026 history books by claiming the first gold bracelet of the series, topping a 906-strong field to take home $64,083. PokerNews’ Brett Slezak and Tyler Boyer both made the final two tables before bowing out in 16th and 18th place respectively.

Event #1: $550 Mini Mystery Millions — Day 1c

The Mini Mystery Millions shows no signs of slowing down. Day 1c drew another 2,450 entries, bringing the running total to 5,647 with three flights still to go — putting this event on course for upwards of 15,000 entrants. The allure of a $1 million mystery bounty envelope is clearly doing its job. Matthew Todd led the flight with 2,300,000 chips, ahead of bracelet winner Shawn Daniels (1,800,000) and Cero Zuccarello (1,700,000). Day 1d fires at 10:00 a.m. on May 29.

Event #1: $550 Mini Mystery Millions — Day 1c Top 10 Chip Counts

Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em — Final Five

China’s Chenxiang Miao goes into the final day of the $5,000 8-Handed event as the clear chip leader with 10,850,000 (90 BBs), having surged late including flopping pocket aces to bust Ivan Ruban in sixth. Daniyal Gheba (8,600,000) sits second, with Xiaohu Liu (3,365,000), Ren Lin (3,000,000), and Peter Mugar (2,640,000) completing the final five. The winner earns $502,985, with play resuming at 1:00 p.m. on May 29.

Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em — Final Five Chip Counts

Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better — Final 17

Two-time bracelet winner Jason Daly holds the narrowest of leads going into the final day, returning with 2,100,000 — just 10,000 ahead of Kelly Vandemheen (2,090,000). Vanessa Selbst (1,050,000) remains very much in contention among the 17 survivors, alongside Renan Bruschi (1,675,000), Valentin Vornicu (1,470,000), and Ryan Bambrick (610,000). Play resumes at 1:00 p.m. on May 29.

Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo — Final Day Top 10 Chip Counts

Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha — Day 1

Two-time PLO bracelet winner Dylan Weisman is in familiar territory, leading the field after Day 1 of the $5,000 PLO with 951,000 chips (119 BBs). Jesse Lonis (906,000), James Chen (856,000), Glen Tinney (801,000), and David Eller (801,000) are the other players returning with triple-figure big blind counts. Notable names also through to Day 2 include Ari Engel (576,000), Robert Mizrachi (414,000), Nick Schulman (336,000), and Ben Lamb (285,000). Day 2 begins at noon on May 29.

Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha — Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts

Event #6: $1,500 Seven Card Stud — Day 1

The first Stud event of the summer drew 359 entrants, whittled to 62 by the end of Day 1. Mixed game specialist Bradley Jansen leads with 363,500, ahead of five-time bracelet winner Brian Yoon (326,000) — a previous Seven Card Stud Championship winner — in second. Scott Seiver (211,000) and Poker Hall of Famer Todd Brunson (73,500) are among the notables also returning. Day 2 begins at 1:00 p.m. on May 29.

Event #6: $1,500 Seven Card Stud — Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts

What’s Coming on Day 4

Six events remain in play on May 29. The Mini Mystery Millions Day 1d fires at 10:00 a.m., followed by Day 2 of the $5,000 PLO at noon. The $5,000 8-Handed final five and the $1,500 Seven Card Stud Day 2 both resume at 1:00 p.m. Two new events also debut: the $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship — won last year by Artur Martirosian — gets underway from noon, and the $1,500 Badugi starts at 2:00 p.m.

All images and data courtesy of PokerNews and the WSOP.