Event #97: $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E. | 2026 World Series of Poker

Jul 15, 2026

Beinner is on the Short Stack

Dan O'Hair

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

Razz

Naoya Kihara: XxXx/7x3xAx
Matthew Beinner: XxXx/4x10x8x - folded on fifth street

Naoya Kihara completed and called a raise from Matthew Beinner.

Beinner called a bet from Kihara on fourth street, but folded facing another bet from Kihara on fifth.

Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx/3x9x6xAx/Xx
Matthew Beinner: XxXx/3xAxJxKx/Xx - folded on seventh street
Yueqi Zhu: XxXx/3xQx - folded on fourth street

A few hands later, Yueqi Zhu completed and was called by Alexander Kostritsyn and Beinner.

Beinner led out for a bet after catching best on fourth street, which got a fold from Zhu and a call from Kostritsyn.

Kostritsyn then led out and was called by Beinner on fifth and sixth street.

Kostritsyn bet a final time on seventh, sending Beinner deep into the tank. Beinner eventually decided to lay his hand down and was left with just 300,000 following the hand.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Matthew Beinner Naoya Kihara Yueqi Zhu

Jul 15, 2026

Was Adding a Poker Shot Clock to WSOP Main Event Unfair to Players? | PokerNews Podcast #990

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Chad Holloway

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

In the 990th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, which is sponsored by FanDuel Poker, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are at Level 9 Studios in Las Vegas, where special guest cohost Remko Rinkema joins them.

The crew discusses the impromptu introduction of poker shot clocks on Day 7 of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. It was an unexpected development implemented after a 15-minute tank by Loren Klein on Day 6, and while it was technically allowed by Rule 80, a lot of players took issue with it, such as Chris Brewer and Patrick "Pads" Leonard. However, some players came out in support of it, such as Shaun Deeb, who was still in the tournament.

Speaking of Pads, some thought he wasn't getting the airtime he deserved during his deep run in the Main Event. Was he blacklisted, or was it just bad luck? Chad then talks about live reporting on Jamie Dwan winning the $50K High Roller event over a stacked final table that included Daniel Negreanu, Bryn Kenney, and Kristen Foxen. Finally, Remko talks about PokerGO's "He Brought $1,000,000 to the Biggest Poker Game of His Life" video featuring Andrew "Ace" Pacheco, his new podcast, and other upcoming PokerGO plans.

Oh, and did we mention that Chad is headed to California's Thunder Valley Casino this weekend for the $400 buy-in, $250K GTD PokerNews Cup as part of the RGPS Passport Season Finale?

Be sure to check out the audio version of the PokerNews Podcast that is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.

A new PokerNews Podcast drops four times a week in July during the 2026 WSOP! You can expect a new episode every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!

Click here to listen to the new PN Podcast!

Jul 15, 2026

Redraw of the Unofficial Final Table

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

There are just over 40 minutes left in the second level of the day and the remaining nine players have received the following new seat assignments.

Seat	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Bets
1	Naoya Kihara	Japan	1,025,000	6
2	Walter Chambers	United States	2,660,000	17
3	Shaun Deeb	United States	1,000,000	6
4	Yueqi Zhu	China	2,575,000	16
5	Alexander Kostritsyn	Russian Federation	3,530,000	22
6	Matthew Beinner	United States	1,125,000	7
7	Julien Sitbon	France	3,580,000	22
8	Ari Engel	United States	2,025,000	13
9	Ali Eslami	United States	4,585,000	29

The action commences with Razz and each rotation will feature nine hands, the amount will be reduced later on depending on how many players remain.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami Ari Engel Big Bets Julien Sitbon Matthew Beinner Naoya Kihara Shaun Deeb Walter Chambers Yueqi Zhu

Jul 15, 2026

Alex Foxen Eliminated in 10th Place ($60,789)

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Dan O'Hair

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

Razz

Alex Foxen: 5x2x/10xAxKxQx/Kx All in
Alexander Kostritsyn: 5x3x/6x8xJx9x/6x

Alex Foxen completed with his ten and called a raise from Alexander Kostritsyn.

Kostritsyn continued for a bet on fourth street, and Foxen raised all in. Kostritsyn quickly called, and boards were run.

Foxen's board ran out badly for him, and he was drawing dead by sixth street. Kostritsyn ended with a nine, and Foxen was eliminated in 10th place to set up an unofficial final table of nine.

Shaun Deeb ran over to the table to thank Kostritsyn personally for eliminating Foxen, as it likely pulled Deeb ahead in the WSOP Player of the Year race.

Tags: Alex Foxen Alexander Kostritsyn Shaun Deeb

Jul 15, 2026

Engel Beats Eslami in Showdown

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

Omaha Hi-Lo

Up until now, Ali Eslami had barely lost any pot, let alone a significant amount, and had skyrocketed to a comfortable lead.

He was then in the big blind, and Ari Engel raised. "You again ..." Eslami said and defended to see the K♦Q♦2♠ flop. Both players checked, and Eslami bet the J♠ turn; Engel raised, and Eslami called.

On the 6♣ river, Eslami check-called a bet, albeit very reluctantly, and Engel showed A♠10♥5♠3♦ for the nuts to win the pot.

Tags: Ali Eslami Ari Engel

Jul 15, 2026

Can Phil Hellmuth Spin Up a Stack and Save His 2026 WSOP on the Final Day?

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Jon Sofen

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

Phil Hellmuth has one last shot this summer to extend his World Series of Poker bracelet record to 18.

The "Poker Brat," however, will need to run hot on the final day of the series to pull it off. Hellmuth will return to action at 1 p.m. PT for Day 2 of Event #99: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em, along with 71 others.

Hellmuth isn't the only big name still standing, hoping to win the bracelet and the $695,256 first-place prize. Adam Hendrix, Cliff Josephy, Joseph Cheong, and Brian Rast are among a number of notables coming back for the finale.

Read the Full Story Here

Jul 15, 2026

Kostritsyn Slips as Eslami Soars

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Dan O'Hair

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

Omaha Hi-Lo

Alexander Kostritsyn raised from the cutoff and called a three-bet from Ali Eslami on the button.

Kostritsyn check-called a bet from Eslami on the 6♣Q♣6♠ flop, but check-folded facing a barrel from Eslami on the 4♦ turn.

A few hands later, Kostritsyn raised first to act, and Matthew Beinner defended his big blind.

Beinner check-called a bet from Kostritsyn on the 8♦6♦9♠ flop, and then both players checked on the A♦ turn.

The 6♥ completed the board, and Beinner led out for a bet, which got a quick fold from Kostritsyn.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami Matthew Beinner

Jul 15, 2026

William Kerkaert Eliminated in 11th Place ($60,789)

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

Omaha Hi-Lo

Just before the blinds went up, William Kerkaert got his short stack of just over one big bet into the middle from the button against Naoya Kihara in the big blind.

William Kerkaert: A♥J♣10♣7♦ All in
Naoya Kihara: A♠A♦4♥3♦

Kerkaert was in rough shape and needed to improve. The K♠8♦5♣6♣ turn gave Kihara a strong lead with his pair of aces and the made low, while Kerkaert needed a club to chop. The river was the 5♠, and that spelled the end for Kerkaert in 11th place for $60,789.

The other table needed to finish their current hand to determine which player was moved to balance the last ten players. On a three-way turn of Q♦8♣6♠10♣, Julien Sitbon checked in the small blind and Ali Eslami bet from the big blind. Matthew Beinner folded and Sitbon called, then check-folded the 2♦ river.

Sitbon was then high-carded to the other table while Alex Foxen became the next big blind.

Tags: Alex Foxen Ali Eslami Julien Sitbon Matthew Beinner Naoya Kihara William Kerkaert

Level: 21

Limit Flop: 40,000-80,000 Blinds, 80,000-160,000 Limits
Stud Games: 20,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 80,000 Completion, 80,000-160,000 Limits

Jul 15, 2026

Luke Schwartz Eliminated in 12th Place ($52,857)

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Dan O'Hair

Level 20

Limit Flop: 30,000-60,000 Blinds, 60,000-120,000 Limits
Stud Games: 15,000 Ante, 20,000 Bring-In, 60,000 Completion, 60,000-120,000 Limits

Limit Hold’em

Luke Schwartz raised for his last 120,000 from the hijack and Shaun Deeb three-bet from the small blind. Naoya Kihara got out of the way from the big blind and a showdown was held.

Luke Schwartz: A♥7♥ All in
Shaun Deeb: A♠10♣

Deeb had Schwartz dominated, and the 10♠4♣4♥10♥8♦ runout further improved Deeb to a full house to eliminate Schwartz in 12th place.