Prague Sets New WSOPE Record With €35.8M Prize Pool And 15,779 Entries

The World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) 2026  marked a historic turning point for the franchise as it made its debut in the Czech capital. Moving from its long-time home in Rozvadov to Prague , the series enjoyed a massive surge in popularity, driven by a more accessible location and a significantly restructured schedule.

The move proved to be a big success, with players from 83 different countries packing the Congress Hall and producing the largest fields ever seen in the European edition of the series.

WSOPE 2026 Final Numbers

The record 15,779 total entries for the entire series shows how many people liked the move to Prague. While only 15 gold bracelets were awarded, the events felt far more accessible, drawing in a wider and more diverse player pool than in previous years.

Prize money also reached impressive heights, with over €35.8 million (~$42.1 million) paid out. This was largely driven by reduced buy-ins in key events, making it easier for more players to take part and keeping the tables active and full throughout the series.

From Rozvadov To Prague

Deciding to move the WSOP Europe from Rozvadov to Prague turned out to be a smart choice. Rozvadov was the home for the series for nearly a decade, but bringing it to the capital gave the event a fresh start. By using the Hilton Hotel, the organizers had enough space for a much bigger setup, and the main room stayed full every single day.

Being in a big city was a nice change for the players. Instead of staying in a small village, they were right in the middle of everything. Between games, they could go out for good food or see the city sights just a short walk away. It made the tournament feel more like a vacation, and the high turnout proved that players were more than ready for the change.

Marius Kudzmanas Wins WSOPE 2026 Main Event

The €5,300 WSOPE 2026 Main Event made history as the largest ever for the European series, made possible by the decision to cut the usual buy-in in half. This move brought in a huge crowd of 2,617 entries, which created a massive €13,085,000 (~$15,083,140) prize pool.

Lithuania’s Marius Kudzmanas claimed the biggest cut, taking home €2,000,000 (~$2,305,410). While he already had two online bracelets to his name, this win marked his first live WSOP bracelet. He won the final hand by beating the pocket kings of Akihiro Konishi with seven-six, a moment people will remember for a long time.

#5 €5,000 Europe Main Event (5,300 EUR)

Total Prize USD

$15,083,140

Total Prize

€13,085,000

Guaranteed

€10,000,000

Entries

2,617

ITM

393

#	Payout	Player	SPI
1	€2,000,000 $2,305,410	MK Marius Kudzmanas Lithuania	9,172.01
2	€1,200,000 $1,383,245	AK Akihiro Konishi Japan	6,485.59
3	€800,000 $922,165	CH Chris Hunichen United States of America	5,295.46
4	€575,000 $662,805	NB Nikolay Bibov Bulgaria	4,586.01
5	€425,000 $489,900	AG Antonio Guimaraens Spain	4,101.85
6	€320,000 $368,865	HZ Hengtao Zhu Finland	3,744.46
7	€245,000 $282,415	TE Thomas Eychenne France	3,466.69
8	€185,000 $213,250	BS Brandon Sheils United Kingdom	3,242.80
9	€140,000 $161,380	JN Joona Nyholm Finland	3,057.34

Check the 393 Payouts & Results ...

Main Event History And Attendance

The jump in the 2026 numbers shows how much things changed. For a long time, the €10,350 buy-in kept the tournament quite small. By dropping it to €5,300, the organizers made it possible for many more people to join, and the entries exploded compared to previous years.

High Attendance Tournaments

While the Main Event was the major headline, three other tournaments also brought in huge crowds. These events were very popular, each getting over 2,000 entries and turning small entry fees into very large prizes.

The COLOSSUS was a favorite for many, bringing in the most players of the whole series with 2,662 entries. It was impressive that a €565 game could build a prize pool of over a million euros. The European Circuit Championship was also big, with a €3.5 million pool from a €1,500 buy-in. Even the very first game of the series, the Mystery Bounty Opener, started things off strong with over 2,000 people.

A New Chapter In Prague

The WSOPE 2026 in Prague did more than just break records, it showed a new way to run the series in Europe. By picking a central location and making the tournament cheaper to enter, the series brought in thousands of new players alongside the regulars, all chasing the chance to win a gold bracelet.

By opening the doors to everyone, the WSOP Europe has finally found its heart in the center of Europe.