PokerNews live coverage of this event will begin on Day 2 (July 4). Until then, we will keep readers informed with updates on chip counts and core event statistics, including entries and the prize pool. Scroll down to see more.
Event #81: $800 Summer Celebration
Day 1a Completed
The first of two flights in Event #81: $800 Summer Celebration saw 2,584 players flock to the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas at the 2026 World Series of Poker. However, after the completion of 22 levels, each spanning 30 minutes, all but 124 of those starters had fallen by the wayside.
Seven-time bracelet winner Josh Arieh (1,295,000) claimed his 12th cash of the summer by progressing to Day 2 from this flight. Arieh's stack was enough to make the top 20 in the Day 1a chip counts.
Georgia's Nino Papava (3,095,000) is, according to the WSOP LIVE app, the Day 1a chip leader, although his stack looks unrealistically large. Canada's Frederick Robitaille (2,745,000) and Sander Ressler (2,365,000) complete the podium places.
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nino Papava | Georgia | 3,095,000 |
| 2 | Frederick Robitaille | Canada | 2,745,000 |
| 3 | Sander Ressler | United States | 2,365,000 |
| 4 | Vladyslav Shovkovyi | Ukraine | 2,180,000 |
| 5 | Eric Ladny | United States | 1,830,000 |
| 6 | Joseph Cutler | United States | 1,820,000 |
| 7 | Bruno Souza | Brazil | 1,690,000 |
| 8 | Graham Cowan | Australia | 1,595,000 |
| 9 | Matt Solano | United States | 1,590,000 |
| 10 | Noah Curhan | United States | 1,575,000 |
Others who punched their Day 2 tickets included Tom Fuchs (1,3500,000), Rich Alsup (1,210,000), Craig Varnell (1,200,000), David Daneshgar (755,000), Howard Mash (745,000), and Matthew Beinner (730,000).
Day 1b shuffles up and deals at 10:00 a.m. local time on July 3, with Day 2 scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. local time start on July 4. Standby to PokerNews for updates from the WSOP.
Here are the chip counts of the 124 players who advanced to Day 2 from today's Day 1a, according to the WSOP LIVE app.
Day 1a of Event #81: $800 Summer Celebration has now concluded. Of the 2,584 entrants to the flight, 124 players have bagged to return for Day 2.
Standby for the full chip counts and recap.
The least and most surprising World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion ever is arguably the same person.
Confused? You won't be in a bit. Poker's most prestigious annual event, with the purpose of crowning a 2026 world champion, kicks off today at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Michael Mizrachi, the newest Poker Hall of Famer, won this $10,000 buy-in tournament last summer for $10,000,000.
"The Grinder's" win brought some excitement around the poker community, but it wasn't a huge surprise like some past champs. Mizrachi didn't come out of nowhere before winning the Main Event. He wasn't an accountant who won a cheap online satellite to enter the tournament or some random amateur low-stakes cash game player.
According to the WSOP LIVE app.
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) kicked off back on May 26, and now it is in the home stretch as June has come to an end and the $10,000 Main Event underway. More than 70 tournaments have awarded bracelets thus far, and the PokerNews Live Reporting team has been on-site all summer long, capturing the action.
During that time, they've reported on some entertaining hands, bad beats, and more, which we're happy to feature in the latest edition of "Hands of the Week" presented by GTOWizard.
It took almost no time, but as per usual, a player has been eliminated early in Level 1 at the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event.
Anthony Marini picked up A♦K♦ just after the World Championship event began and decided to gamble for his entire stack, while Ryan Sands didn't want his opponent to earn an early double-up.
As per the WSOP LIVE app.
It took almost no time, but as per usual, a player has been eliminated early in Level 1 at the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event.
Anthony Marini picked up A♦K♦ just after the World Championship event began and decided to gamble for his entire stack, while Ryan Sands didn't want his opponent to earn an early double-up.
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