WSOP 2026 Week One Recap: First Bracelets Awarded and $1M Bounty Claimed
The 2026 World Series of Poker has completed its opening week at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas, with the first bracelet winners of the summer now confirmed.
In its June 1 update, WSOP listed the series as being on Day 7 of 51. The opening week of the 57th annual WSOP included the reveal of the new WSOP Main Event Final Table set, the first bracelet results of the series, and a $1 million mystery bounty claimed in the $550 Mini Mystery Millions.
Andrew Shelton Claims the $1 Million Mystery Bounty
Event #1, the $550 No-Limit Hold’em Mini Mystery Millions, produced a $1,000,000 mystery bounty winner.
Andrew Shelton of Sacramento, California, claimed the event’s only $1,000,000 Mystery Bounty. WSOP said Shelton fired a single entry and pulled the top bounty late on Day 2.
Daniyal Gheba Wins the First Bracelet of WSOP 2026
The first bracelet awarded at the 2026 WSOP went to Daniyal Gheba in Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em.
Gheba, from Las Vegas, Nevada, earned $502,985 for the win. His victory made him the first bracelet winner of the 2026 WSOP.
Early Bracelet Winners at WSOP 2026
Several other early events also produced winners across No-Limit Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Seven Card Stud.
| Event | Tournament | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event #2 | $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em | Daniyal Gheba | $502,985 |
| Event #3 | $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold’em | Jerome Neppl | $64,083 |
| Event #4 | $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better | Jason Daly | $191,362 |
| Event #5 | $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha | Yang Wang | $595,388 |
| Event #6 | $1,500 Seven Card Stud | James Cheung | $103,185 |
Jerome Neppl, a poker dealer from Albuquerque, New Mexico, won Event #3, the $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold’em, for $64,083.
Jason Daly won Event #4, the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, for $191,362. WSOP noted that Daly now has three bracelets, all of them won in mixed game events.
Yang Wang of China captured Event #5, the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, for $595,388. It was his first WSOP bracelet after three previous WSOP final table appearances, all in PLO events.
James Cheung of Scotland won Event #6, the $1,500 Seven Card Stud, for $103,185. Cheung defeated five-time WSOP bracelet winner Brian Yoon to win his first WSOP gold bracelet.
New WSOP Main Event Final Table Set Revealed
WSOP also used the opening week to reveal the new Main Event Final Table set.
The set will be featured during ESPN’s live coverage of the WSOP Main Event. The reveal gave fans an early look at the new setting planned for the Main Event final table broadcast.
Key Events Listed for Week Two
WSOP’s June 1 update also highlighted several upcoming events on the early summer schedule.
Event #11, the $10,000 GGMillion$ No-Limit Hold’em High Roller, was scheduled for June 1. The $10,000 event carried GGPoker branding and used a multi-flight format, with final table action expected to begin at 4:00 PM on Thursday, June 4.
Event #18, the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack, was scheduled for June 3. The tournament features four Day 1 flights, and WSOP said those flights were expected to attract large fields.
Event #19, the $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller, was also scheduled for June 3. WSOP pointed to the event as a photo-friendly spot for “poker face” and “stare down” shots.
How to Follow WSOP 2026
Fans can follow the series through ESPN’s daily TV coverage, the WSOP YouTube channel, WSOP.com, and WSOP’s official social media accounts.
The WSOP Live app also provides real-time chip stacks, updates, and event registration tools for tournaments held at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas.
