The opening flight of the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event delivered everything poker fans expect from Day 1A. Familiar faces returned to the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, television cameras were rolling once again, and one of poker’s biggest personalities ensured the tournament’s opening day had plenty to talk about.
While hundreds of players quietly began their pursuit of poker’s most prestigious title, Phil Hellmuth made his now-traditional theatrical entrance, only to discover the spotlight had already shifted elsewhere.
Hellmuth Arrives… But History Was Happening Next Door
For almost two decades, Hellmuth’s elaborate Main Event entrances have become part of WSOP folklore. Whether dressed as a race car driver, Caesar, Gandalf, or another larger-than-life character, the 17-time bracelet winner rarely passes up the opportunity to entertain.
This year was no different.
However, the timing couldn’t have been more awkward.
As Hellmuth made his way into the tournament area in full costume, attention across the room remained fixed on Daniel Negreanu, who had just closed out victory in the $100,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller to capture his eighth WSOP bracelet.
Instead of becoming the center of attention, Hellmuth found himself walking into celebrations already in full swing. He eventually made his way over to congratulate Negreanu before taking his seat on the feature table as ESPN’s cameras followed the opening day’s action.
Despite the unusual circumstances, Hellmuth appeared relaxed throughout the day, joking with players and keeping the table entertained with his trademark humor.
A Steady Start for the Poker Brat
Hellmuth’s opening flight wasn’t filled with fireworks.
After beginning with the standard 60,000-chip stack, he navigated the day without any major confrontations, eventually finishing with a modest increase heading into Day 2.
Speaking after play concluded, Hellmuth admitted that premium hands had been difficult to find and revealed that part of his focus had also been on his son, Nick Hellmuth, who was playing the Main Event at a nearby feature table.
Rather than concentrating on his own stack, Hellmuth was equally interested in how Nick had survived the opening flight.
When he learned his son had successfully bagged chips despite enduring a difficult day, the former world champion emphasized an important lesson that many experienced tournament professionals understand.
Making it through Day 1 is often far more valuable than finishing with one of the biggest stacks.
Japan’s Ryuta Nakai Finishes on Top
When the bags were sealed after Day 1A, it was Japan’s Ryuta Nakai who led the surviving field after building the biggest stack of the flight.
Although chip leaders on the opening day rarely remain in front for long, securing an early advantage provides valuable flexibility as the tournament progresses through increasingly difficult blind levels.
Several other well-known professionals also advanced comfortably, including Scott Seiver, who recovered from an early all-in confrontation to finish among the healthier stacks returning for Day 2.
Not Everyone Survived
As always, Day 1 proved that the Main Event can end almost as quickly as it begins.
Some players saw months of preparation disappear within the opening levels after running into premium holdings or losing unavoidable cooler situations.
One of the biggest casualties was last year’s Main Event finalist Leo Margets. After making one of the deepest runs of her career in 2025, her return ended far earlier this time after kings collided with aces in a brutal confrontation. Although she briefly rebuilt, her comeback ended before the close of play.
Elsewhere, several early all-in confrontations produced huge swings within the tournament’s opening hour, reminding everyone that even with deep starting stacks, fortunes can change quickly.
ESPN Returns as Main Event Coverage Begins
Another notable storyline surrounding this year’s championship is where can poker fans watch the WSOP? The answer came in the form of the return of ESPN’s coverage.
The broadcaster has once again brought full television production back to poker’s biggest stage, with daily broadcasts following the Main Event throughout its run.
Viewers in the United States can watch through the ESPN app, while international poker fans have been able to follow much of the action through the WSOP’s official YouTube broadcasts, giving global audiences another front-row seat to poker’s most famous tournament.
Day 1A Sets the Stage
Although the opening flight drew a smaller field than the corresponding starting day a year ago, Day 1A was never going to define the size of the eventual Main Event field.
With several more starting flights still to come, thousands of additional players are expected to enter before registration closes.
For now, the headlines belong to Ryuta Nakai’s impressive start, Daniel Negreanu’s latest bracelet victory, and another memorable Phil Hellmuth entrance that, for perhaps the first time in years, had to compete with an even bigger story unfolding just a few feet away.
