The 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event has reached the moment every poker player dreams about.
After battling through a field of more than 9,200 entrants, only nine players remain. Every finalist has already guaranteed themselves at least $1 million, but only one will lift poker’s most prestigious bracelet and collect the $10 million first prize.
Chip counts only tell part of the story.
Experience, previous success, composure under pressure and the ability to adapt to a televised final table all play a huge role once play resumes on August 3rd.
Here’s our Poker Type power ranking of every remaining player.
1. Lucas Jumalon (United States)
Chip Stack: 194,000,000 (129 big blinds)
Poker Type Chance of Winning: 34%
Prediction Market Probability: ~35%
Everything points towards Lucas Jumalon entering as the favourite.
At just 22 years old, the American has been the breakout star of this year’s Main Event, finishing Day 8 with almost two-and-a-half times as many chips as his nearest rival.
His defining moment came when pocket jacks cracked Malcolm Trayner’s queens before he eliminated the Australian in tenth place to officially set the final table.
Until this summer, Jumalon’s live tournament résumé was relatively modest, making this one of the biggest breakthrough performances in recent WSOP history.
The biggest question is whether his inexperience on poker’s biggest stage becomes a factor.
Holding a huge chip lead creates opportunities, but it also brings pressure. Every other player knows he is the one to catch.
Biggest Strength: Massive chip advantage.
Biggest Concern: No previous experience under the lights of a WSOP Main Event final table.
2. Greg Mueller (Canada)
Chip Stack: 48,500,000 (32 big blinds)
Poker Type Chance of Winning: 15%
Prediction Market Probability: ~9%
If experience outweighs chips, Greg Mueller may be the most dangerous player remaining.
The Canadian already owns three WSOP bracelets, millions in live tournament earnings and more than two decades competing against the world’s best.
Long before poker, Mueller played professional ice hockey, reaching the NHL before transitioning successfully to poker.
Unlike several finalists, nothing about this stage will intimidate him.
His stack isn’t ideal, but it is more than enough to remain a genuine title contender.
Biggest Strength: Experience.
Biggest Concern: Needs to build momentum quickly against larger stacks.
3. Michael Gagliano (United States)
Chip Stack: 46,500,000 (31 big blinds)
Poker Type Chance of Winning: 13%
Prediction Market Probability: ~11%
Few players remaining possess a stronger tournament résumé.
Gagliano has quietly established himself as one of America’s most respected tournament professionals, winning three WSOP bracelets and accumulating millions in live cashes.
Unlike many finalists, he understands exactly how to navigate deep tournament pressure.
He also has one significant advantage over several younger opponents.
Patience.
Expect Gagliano to avoid marginal confrontations while allowing shorter stacks to eliminate one another.
Biggest Strength: Elite tournament experience.
Biggest Concern: Limited room for manoeuvre if blinds increase before doubling.
4. Rami Hammoud (Canada)
Chip Stack: 79,000,000 (53 big blinds)
Poker Type Chance of Winning: 11%
Prediction Market Probability: ~14%
Second in chips but still something of an unknown quantity.
Hammoud has produced one of the most impressive performances of the tournament without attracting many headlines.
His stack gives him flexibility that most of the field simply doesn’t possess.
The challenge is converting that advantage against opponents with considerably more experience.
If he survives the opening levels intact, expect him to become increasingly dangerous.
Biggest Strength: Second-largest stack.
Biggest Concern: Less experience than many rivals.
5. Mario Boos (France)
Chip Stack: 44,000,000 (29 big blinds)
Poker Type Chance of Winning: 9%
Prediction Market Probability: ~8%
European poker fans know Mario Boos well.
The former EPT Barcelona champion has already proven he can win one of Europe’s biggest tournaments.
More than a decade later, he now has an opportunity to add poker’s biggest title.
Boos rarely appears flustered and has quietly stayed among the chip leaders throughout much of the Main Event.
He could easily become Europe’s next WSOP world champion.
Biggest Strength: Big-event pedigree.
Biggest Concern: Needs an early double to challenge the leaders.
6. Jamie Shaevel (United States)
Chip Stack: 56,000,000 (37 big blinds)
Poker Type Chance of Winning: 8%
Prediction Market Probability: ~10%
Shaevel has flown under the radar.
His steady, disciplined approach has kept him out of unnecessary confrontations while others around him have self-destructed.
That’s exactly the style capable of producing deep Main Event runs.
Whether that same approach works against increasingly aggressive opponents remains to be seen.
Biggest Strength: Consistency.
Biggest Concern: May need to become more aggressive.
7. Lauri Saaskilahti (Finland)
Chip Stack: 37,500,000 (25 big blinds)
Poker Type Chance of Winning: 5%
Prediction Market Probability: ~5%
One of Europe’s strongest technical players.
Saaskilahti has earned enormous respect among professionals through years of consistent performances on the international circuit.
He isn’t the biggest name remaining, but few opponents will underestimate him.
Two successful all-ins could completely transform his position.
Biggest Strength: Technical ability.
Biggest Concern: Shorter stack reduces flexibility.
8. Han Feng (United States)
Chip Stack: 25,000,000 (17 big blinds)
Poker Type Chance of Winning: 3%
Prediction Market Probability: ~7%
Feng begins among the shortest stacks, but history shows that’s far from a hopeless position.
The Main Event has seen numerous short stacks double early before making remarkable runs to the title.
He’ll need things to go his way quickly, but survival through the opening orbit could change everything.
Biggest Strength: Nothing left to lose.
Biggest Concern: Limited fold equity.
9. Evagoras Evagorou (Cyprus)
Chip Stack: 22,500,000 (15 big blinds)
Poker Type Chance of Winning: 2%
Prediction Market Probability: ~5%
The Cypriot returns as the short stack.
That naturally makes him the outsider, but nobody reaches the WSOP Main Event final table by accident.
Earlier on Day 8 he briefly held one of the biggest stacks in the tournament before losing ground late in the session.
An early double would immediately put him back into contention.
If anyone is capable of producing a Cinderella story, it’s the player with absolutely nothing to fear.
Biggest Strength: Freedom to play aggressively.
Biggest Concern: Very little room for error.
Poker Type’s Predicted Finishing Order
- Lucas Jumalon
- Greg Mueller
- Michael Gagliano
- Rami Hammoud
- Mario Boos
- Jamie Shaevel
- Lauri Saaskilahti
- Han Feng
- Evagoras Evagorou
Final Verdict
On paper, Lucas Jumalon deserves to be favourite. His commanding chip lead gives him opportunities that nobody else enjoys, and history shows that large stacks often dictate the pace of a WSOP Main Event final table.
However, the experienced trio of Greg Mueller, Michael Gagliano and Mario Boos should not be underestimated. Between them they have won some of poker’s biggest titles and know exactly how to handle the pressure that comes with playing for poker’s ultimate prize.
If there’s one lesson the WSOP Main Event teaches every year, it’s that chip counts don’t guarantee bracelets.
One coin flip, one cooler or one perfectly timed bluff can change everything.
When cards are back in the air on August 3rd, nine players will return with the same dream.
Only one will leave Las Vegas as the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion.
