The WSOP 2026 Main Event final table is underway, and day one sent a clear message: Lucas Jumalon, a 22-year-old pro, bagged 212 million chips — twice his closest rival's stack — with seven players left and $10 million waiting for the champion, to be crowned Wednesday.
The facts: two eliminations and an anime-fueled surge
After roughly six hours of play at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Monday's session produced just two eliminations: Evagoras Evagorou of Cyprus fell in ninth and Mario Boos in eighth. The remaining seven have all locked up $1.5 million — though nobody came this far for the consolation prize.
The story of the day was Han Feng, who played in full cosplay as Doflamingo from the anime One Piece and climbed from eighth to second with 106.5 million. He was on fumes at one point, survived an all-in against Boos to double up, then picked his spots with sharp aggression and closed the night winning a massive pot with pocket queens. Finland's Lauri Saaskilahti, one of the table's most active players, bagged third with 84.5 million. Behind them sit Rami Hammoud (45.5M), Michael Gagliano (42M), Jamie Shaevel (33M) and veteran Greg Mueller, short with about 11 big blinds. The tournament — 9,208 entries, the fourth-largest Main Event ever — resumes Tuesday afternoon.
Why it matters: final tables are played with stacks, not just cards
This table is a free masterclass in ICM (the model that converts your chips into real money value when pay jumps get huge). With double everyone's stack, Jumalon can pressure every pot without risking his tournament; the medium stacks, meanwhile, are squeezed between the next pay jump and the need to accumulate. Feng left the most valuable lesson for your own game: a short stack is not a death sentence. He didn't tilt or punt — he waited for his spot, doubled, and only then turned up the aggression. Mueller, at 11 big blinds, will be playing straight out of the push/fold playbook (all-in or fold preflop). Watch the stream through that lens and you're studying, not just sweating.
Follow it with the community
To be sharp for the finale, revisit our final table guide with all nine player profiles. Then talk hands with us in the community: the champion is crowned Wednesday, and every decision will be worth dissecting.