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Event #50: $1,500 Millionaire Maker
Day 5 Completed
2026 World Series of Poker
Event #50: $1,500 Millionaire Maker
Day: 5
Event Info
2026 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 5
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$15,623,347
Total Entries
11,769
Level
43
Blinds
2,000,000 / 4,000,000
Ante
4,000,000
Entries
9
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 11,769
Filter
Level 43
: Blinds 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
Every attempt got a little better. Joseph Liberta went from 537th to 345th, to 195th, to first. That was the progression Liberta made in the $1,500 Millionaire Maker since he first cashed in the event at the 2013 World Series of Poker (WSOP).
The fourth cash proved to be the charm as the 13-year journey reached its conclusion. Liberta's moment of ascension occurred after his supporters called for a five, and it came in a big way as Liberta hit trip fives on the flop. It was an emphatic way to put an exclamation point on a championship run at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas as a newly minted champion was crowned at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) as Liberta conquered Event #50: $1,500 Millionaire Maker.
It was not an easy or short journey for Liberta, as he had to go through one of the biggest fields so far this summer at the WSOP with 11,769 entries, which created a prize pool of $15,623,347. Liberta captured the first WSOP bracelet of his career and the biggest piece of the pot, taking home the $1,250,000 top prize.
Liberta declined to do an interview with PokerNews after a long five days of play, as he left the stage area with his supporters after joining the WSOP champions club, but did talk to Jeff Platt in the afterglow of his millionaire-making moment.
"It's completely surreal. I've been here for a long time," Liberta said. "I'm just extremely grateful."
Liberta entered the heads-up match with the chip lead over Michael Monroig and used that lead to his advantage as he leaned on his opponent to push Monroig into a corner. Monroig managed to stage a brief rally when he doubled up, but the momentum did not last long as Liberta slammed the door shut to claim WSOP gold.
This easily represents Liberta's biggest single cash and nearly doubles his poker earnings in one swoop as the New Jersey native has now accomplished the greatest achievement of his poker career.
Final Payouts
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joseph Liberta | United States | $1,250,000 |
| 2 | Michael Monroig | United States | $1,000,000 |
| 3 | Bradley Gafford | United States | $750,000 |
| 4 | Halford Fairchild | United States | $530,000 |
| 5 | Joseph Baghdadlian | United States | $410,000 |
| 6 | Alex Kim | United States | $315,000 |
| 7 | Jacob Gagnon | United States | $245,000 |
| 8 | Garry Gurevich | United States | $190,000 |
| 9 | Yifu He | United States | $150,068 |
Final Table Action
Yifu He was the first to fall at the final table at the hands of Monroig after tumbling to just two big blinds. Gary Gurevich then got it in preflop and was called in two spots before bowing out in eighth place.
Jacob Gagnon was the next to go after he jammed on the button and was called by Bradley Gafford. Gagnon’s ace was dominated, but he managed to outflop his opponent by hitting his kicker. Unfortunately for Gagnon, the board went running cards to counterfeit his pair as he went out in brutal fashion at the hands of Gafford.
Alex Kim was the sixth-place finisher after he shoved over the top of an open from Monroig and was called. Monroig hit a pair on the flop to take the lead. Kim was unable to recover and was left with ace high to hit the rail.
Gafford left Joseph Baghdadlian with crumbs before Baghdadlian got the last of his chips in against Liberta. Baghdadlian was unable to pull off the upset against Liberta’s big slick to see the payout desk in fifth place.
Halford Fairchild was the next to go when he shipped it from under the gun and was called by Liberta. Liberta flopped a full house to eliminate Fairchild in fourth place.
Liberta would claim another knockout; this time, it was Gafford. Gafford turned two pair, but that proved to be fatal, as Liberta hit his straight on the turn also. Gafford jammed on the river and was quickly called by Liberta to find out the bad news as he exited in third place.
The final knockout of the tournament came at the expense of Monroig, who watched his stack dwindle after getting a double up during the heads up match before getting it in good against Liberta. Unfortunately for Monroig, Liberta flopped trip fives to overcome his dominated hand preflop to bounce Monroig and claim the top spot.
That concludes the PokerNews coverage of the Millionaire Maker, but stay tuned for live reporting from the rest of the 2026 WSOP.
Level 43
: Blinds 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
Level 43
: Blinds 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
Michael Monroig was forced to make folds in a series of pots preflop and was low in chips before he went all-in on the button for 22,500,000. He was called by Joseph Liberta to be at risk for his tournament life and the championship.
Michael Monroig: 10♦8♥
Joseph Liberta: 8♣5♦
Monroig had Liberta's hand dominated, but that amounted to nothing when the flop came 5♣2♣5♠ to give Liberta trips fives and a near lock on the hand.
The Q♥ turn was all she wrote for Monroig as the 2♥ completed the board to eliminate him in second place.
Monroig earned $1,000,000 for his finish.
Level 43
: Blinds 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
This hand was picked up on the flop of 3♥6♠5♦ with 20,000,000 in the middle.
Michael Monroig checked with Q♣9♦ and Joseph Liberta followed with a check with K♣5♠ to bring the 10♠ turn.
Both players checked the turn before the 4♥ hit the river.
Monroig bet 6,000,000 and was quickly called by Liberta as Liberta took down the pot.
Level 43
: Blinds 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
This hand was picked up on the J♠10♠5♦ flop. Joseph Liberta checked with Q♦10♥. Michael Monroig followed with a bet of 13,000,000 with 7♠3♠. Liberta called.
The 10♣ turn led to a check from Liberta. Monroig slowed down with a check.
Liberta went all-in on the 7♥ river. Monroig gave it some thought before he folded.
Level 43
: Blinds 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
Joseph Liberta limped on the button with 10♥4♦, and Michael Monroig checked the big blind with Q♦5♠.
Both players checked the 5♥Q♠7♦ flop to bring the 8♣ turn.
Monroig bet 10,000,000 and Liberta folded.
Level 43
: Blinds 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
Joseph Liberta shoved on the button, and Michael Monroig called to put himself at risk for 34,000,000.
Michael Monroig: K♦7♠
Joseph Liberta: Q♦6♦
The flop was all Monroig when it came A♣K♠K♣ to give him trip kings.
Monroig held on the 2♠ turn and the 6♣ river to secure the double up.
Level 43
: Blinds 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
Joseph Liberta with 10♦7♠ limped on the button before Michael Monroig checked his option with 8♥5♥.
The flop came A♣K♠2♦, which led to a check from Monroig. Liberta bet and Monroig folded to award the pot to Liberta.
The next hand started with a raise to 8,000,000 by Monroig with J♦2♥ on the button. Liberta called with Q♠6♦.
The Q♦K♠7♠ flop led to a check from Liberta. Monroig continued for 5,000,000 and was called by Liberta.
Both players checked the Q♥ turn to bring the 10♥ river.
Liberta went all-in, and Monroig folded as Liberta continued to add to his chip lead.
Level 43
: Blinds 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
This hand was picked up on the 2♣6♠K♠ flop. Michael Monroig with 10♣3♣ and Joseph Liberta with Q♦7♣ checked to bring the 7♠ turn.
Monroig checked again before Liberta checked back to bring the 4♥ river.
Monroig opted to fire 9,000,000 and was quickly called by Liberta as Liberta took down the pot.
Monroig limped on the button with A♦4♥ the next hand. Liberta opted to go all-in with K♥10♣ from the big blind. Monroig folded as Liberta captured the early momentum in the heads up match.
