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Day 1b by the Numbers: 1,038 Entries Push the Field to 3,297
Day 1b of the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event drew 1,038 players to the felt at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. At a $10,000 buy-in, the flight added a hefty $37,739,400 to the prize pool and pushed the total field to 3,297 entrants.
This was the second of four starting flights, kicking off a marathon that will eventually decide a final table over the coming days. For a primer on surviving the early stages, see our guide to marathon strategy for the WSOP Main Event.
Day 1b Chip Leaders: Rockenbach Bags 286,900
The headline: Brazil's Osmar Rockenbach topped the unofficial counts with 286,900 chips (478 big blinds). Americans Michael Stembera (270,300) and Damarjai Davenport (263,000) followed in second and third. Other notable stacks included Ali Eslami (256,200), Japan's Shota Nakanishi (242,000), and Cassandra Yong (224,300).
The unofficial top ten at the close of the session — a mix of veterans and newcomers — is below.
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osmar Rockenbach | Brazil | 286,900 | 478 |
| 2 | Michael Stembera | United States | 270,300 | 451 |
| 3 | Damarjai Davenport | United States | 263,000 | 438 |
| 4 | William Watson | United States | 262,000 | 437 |
| 5 | Shawn Savage | United States | 261,500 | 436 |
| 6 | Ali Eslami | United States | 256,200 | 427 |
| 7 | Shota Nakanishi | Japan | 242,000 | 403 |
| 8 | Adam Matues | United States | 228,000 | 380 |
| 9 | Cassandra Yong | United Kingdom | 224,300 | 374 |
| 10 | Tomas Teran | Venezuela | 223,500 | 373 |
- •Rockenbach: 286,900
- •Stembera: 270,300
- •Davenport: 263,000
- •Flopped a set of sevens
- •Outdrawn by a pocket-ace flush
- •One bad beat ended a veteran's run
Contrary to the myth that the Main Event can be won on Day 1, the session was anything but predictable. Seasoned competitor Stephen Lee became the first casualty after flopping a set of sevens and being outdrawn by a pocket-ace flush — a reminder that a single bad beat can erase years of preparation.
Notable Eliminations: Lucas, Young, and Bellande Fall Early
- •Kelly Lucas (bracelet winner, level 2)
- •Justin Young: pocket aces on his first hand
- •Jean-Robert Bellande in the same hand
- •Siegfried Friedl: low flush on a paired board
- •Benjamin Purser: pocket queens
- •Scott Nicol: pocket kings
Beyond Lee, several high-profile players hit the rail early. The key exits:
- Kelly Lucas, a former bracelet winner, was eliminated by Siegfried Friedl in the second level, with Friedl holding a low flush on a paired board.
- Justin Young, who entered late in level one, found pocket aces on his very first hand and was immediately eliminated by Benjamin Purser's pocket queens.
- Jean-Robert Bellande lost in the same hand to Scott Nicol's pocket kings.
Later in the session, Konstantin Held outplayed Oscar Dorantes with a quartet of fours on the river, turning a full house into a high-card win. Meanwhile, former Main Event finalist Malo Latinois flopped a royal flush, only to be outdrawn by a broadway hand that left him with a healthy 136,900 chips. These moments highlighted the razor-thin margins that separate survival from elimination.
The Battle of the Champions: Mizrachi and Raymer in the Field
Day 1b also featured two former Main Event champions. Michael Mizrachi, fresh off defending his title in the 2025 Main Event, played the live-stream table and added 73,200 chips to his stack. Fellow champion Greg Raymer finished with 122,300. Their presence added intrigue, as fans watched to see whether Mizrachi could repeat in a field of more than 3,000 players.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Rigby, a fan favorite with two deep Main Event runs, peaked at nearly three times his starting stack before settling for 75,700 at the end of level five — proof that early aggression can pay off but also carries real risk.
Looking Ahead to Day 2: 760 Players Remain
With 760 players remaining after Day 1b, the field will shrink dramatically over the next two days. Blinds will rise and pressure will mount as players jockey for a shot at the final table. The early heartbreaks, high-profile eliminations, and the presence of past champions will remain central to the drama of this World Series of Poker.
Players who navigate the early volatility and keep a solid chip stack are the ones to watch. If you want another angle on the Day 1B big stacks, check out our Pick 3 fantasy strategy for Day 1B.
Key Takeaways
- •1,038 entries
- •760 remaining at close
- Day 1b drew 1,038 entries, pushing the total field to 3,297 and adding $37,739,400 to the prize pool.
- Brazil's Osmar Rockenbach leads with 286,900 chips (478 big blinds); Japan's Shota Nakanishi bagged 242,000 for 7th.
- Veterans Stephen Lee, Kelly Lucas, Justin Young, and Jean-Robert Bellande were among the early eliminations.
- Former champions Michael Mizrachi (+73,200 on the stream table) and Greg Raymer (122,300) both survived to Day 2.
- 760 players remain after Day 1b, with rising blinds set to cut the field sharply over the next two days.