2026 WSOP Kickoff: $550 Mini Mystery Millions Day 1a Begins
The 2026 World Series of Poker WSOP kicks off with Event 1: $550 Mini Mystery Millions. Day 1a attracted many players, featuring a mystery bounty format with a potential $1 million top prize for the champion.
2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) officially kicked off in Las Vegas with Event #1: the $550 buy-in Mini Mystery Millions, which launched Day 1a at 11:00 AM local time. This event is renowned for its unique "Mystery Bounty" structure—after advancing, each time a player eliminates an opponent, they randomly draw an envelope containing cash rewards ranging from a few hundred dollars up to $1,000,000.
Day 1a featured multiple starting flights, with players allowed multiple re-entries. According to tournament rules, each player receives a 40,000 starting stack, blind levels last 40 minutes, later adjusting to 60 minutes. The total prize pool is expected to exceed $2,000,000, with a guaranteed first-place prize of $1,000,000, although the actual amount may be higher due to Mystery Bounty distribution.
The 2026 WSOP schedule has been adjusted compared to previous years, with the Mini Mystery Millions serving as the opening event to attract more recreational players. The Tournament Director stated: "The Mystery Millions has become a signature WSOP event, and we look forward to even more surprises." After Day 1a, the chip leader will advance to Day 2, with remaining flights Day 1b through 1d taking place over the following days.
As of now, Day 1a saw over 1,500 entries, with approximately 15% of players qualifying for the next round. Many notable players, including Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth, have confirmed participation in subsequent flights. Live coverage of the event is available via PokerNews and official WSOP channels.
FAQ
- The Mini Mystery Millions is an event in the WSOP series with a relatively lower buy-in but features a mystery bounty mechanism. Players draw an envelope for each elimination, with prizes ranging from hundreds to millions of dollars, and the champion has a guaranteed prize.