WSOP 2026 Day 44: Sasha Liu Leads Main Event as Bubble Looms

The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is almost entering its final week, and the action at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas is ramping up. No bracelets were awarded on Wednesday, as the 2026 WSOP Main Event field combined for the first time. By the end of the day just 1,389 players remain, with the tournament seven spots off the money.

The field also combined in the $600 Ultra Stack, while Day 1 flights in the Gladiators of Poker, Mystery Bounty PLO and Mid-Stakes Championship all took place.

Event #82: $10,000 Main Event - Bubble Approaching in Fourth-Largest Main Event Ever

After surviving their respective opening flights and the two Day 2s, 3,294 players returned to their seats for Day 3. Out of a field of 9,208 entries, only 1,389 hopefuls remain, and almost all of them will claim at least $15,000 for their efforts. However, the money bubble has to wait for the start of Day 4 on Thursday, July 9, with just seven eliminations to go.

Pot-Limit Omaha cash game crusher Sasha Liu entered at the start of Day 2 and reached more than six starting stacks within the first level. During the dinner break on Day 3, she already had a seven-figure stack at her disposal, yet still more than doubled that figure to an astonishing 2,364,000 in order to surpass Martin Zamani (1,963,000) to top the leaderboard.

With 1,389 players remaining and 1,382 set to be in the money, hand-for-hand play is expected to kick in right away when Day 4 recommences at 11 a.m. local time at Paris Hotel Las Vegas. The blinds will be 4,000-8,000 with a big blind ante of 8,000, and the average stack is nearly 50 big blinds deep.

Event #82: $10,000 WSOP Main Event Top 10 Chip Counts After Day 3

Event #86: $600 Ultra Stack - 16 Remain

There were a total of 8,007 entries into Event #86: $600 No-Limit Hold’em Ultra Stack. Finishing the day on top was Henry Benamram of France, who closed with a last-minute spurt and is the only player with over 70 million in chips. Fresh off a third-place finish in Event #81: £800 Summer Celebration, Michael Moncek finished third in chips with 44,500,000.

Players return to the Paris Ballroom feature tables on July 9 at 1 p.m. local time, with a winner set to be crowned.

Event #86: $600 Ultra Stack Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts

Event #88: $300 Gladiators of Poker Gets Underway

It’s the lowest buy-in of the 2026 WSOP, but that didn’t stop 1,810 players jumping into the action on Day 1a of Event #88: $300 Gladiators of Poker. After 22 levels, just 66 players remain, with Jose Cayetano the only player above two million in chips. Cayetano has picked up two cashes at this year’s WSOP, in the $2,500 NLHE and $800 Summer Celebration, and can look forward to Day 2 on Sunday after bagging the overall chip lead.

Other notables through to Day 2 include Andreas Froehli (1,085,000) and bracelet winners Thong Do (960,000), Ben Yu (750,000), and Andrew Brown (375,400).

Event #88: $300 Gladiators of Poker Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts

Event #87: $1,000 Mystery Bounty PLO - Jason Daly Advances

From a field of 2,842 players, just 426 found bags on Day 1b of Event #87: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha. They are led by China’s Yuhong Liu, with Japan’s Hiroyuki Noda and Alberto Fonseca the only other players above one million in chips.

With mystery bounty prizes not introduced until Day 2, for many it was a case of locking up a stack before then. As a result, plenty of big names jumped into the event and advanced, including three-time WSOP bracelet winner Jason Daly, who picked up his third bracelet earlier this summer in Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo Eight or Better.

The field combines on today for Day 2, with a winner set to be crowned.

Event #87: $1,000 Mystery Bounty PLO Day 1b Top 10 Chip Counts

Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship - John Juanda Headlines 140 Survivors

It was the first starting flight of Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship, with 498 total entries. By the end of ten levels, just 140 remain, led by Hoi Lee. He, along with Alex Difelicele, are the only players above 500,000 chips, good for 200 big blinds when they return for Day 2 on Saturday, July 11.

Also advancing is former WSOP Europe Main Event champion and Poker Hall of Famer John Juanda . He’s already cashed eight times at this year’s WSOP, his best result coming in Event #67: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Championship, where he finished 16th. He also finished 18th in the $3,000 Freezeout less than a week ago.

Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts

WSOP 2026 Schedule: Thursday, July 9

Today sees the bubble burst in the Main Event, but expect it to be a long, drawn-out process with everyone wanting to lock up the $15,000 min-cash.

Meanwhile, bracelets in the $600 Ultra Stack and $1,000 Mystery Bounty PLO will also be awarded, with both events returning at 1 p.m. There are also second flights in the Gladiators of Poker (10 a.m.) and Mid-Stakes Championship (12 p.m.), as the $50,000 High Roller gets underway at 1 p.m. before the brand new $1,500 Pick Your PLO event at 2 p.m.

All figures, images and data courtesy of PokerNews and the WSOP.