Daniel Negreanu's WSOP Diary: Day 22 Recap – Dong Chen Wins Gold Bracelet, Bubble Drama, and Huge PLO Pot

Daniel Negreanu WSOP 2026 Day 22: Dong Chen's Bracelet and Tournament Highlights

Poker legend Daniel Negreanu continues to document his journey through the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in his personal VLOG. Day 22 revolves around three core events: player Dong Chen winning a gold bracelet, a nerve-wracking bubble stage, and a PLO (Pot-Limit Omaha) pot large enough to shift the tournament landscape.

Dong Chen's Bracelet Moment

In an earlier event of the day, Dong Chen successfully emerged from a field of strong competitors to claim a WSOP gold bracelet. Negreanu praised Chen's steady play in the VLOG, highlighting the player's excellent reading ability and patience during key hands. Although the VLOG did not detail the specific event name or prize amount, Negreanu emphasized the significance of this bracelet for Chen's career.

The "Purgatory" of the Bubble

Negreanu then turned his camera to the bubble phase of another event (likely the Main Event or a high buy-in tournament). The bubble is one of the most tense moments in any tournament, as elimination means not only no prize money but also losing the chance to compete for higher finishes. Negreanu himself was near the bubble at the time, and he captured the changing expressions of other players during all-in confrontations, as well as the relief that swept the room once the bubble burst. He noted that the pressure of the bubble can be even greater than that of the final table.

PLO Monster Pot: A Split-Second Decision

The highlight of the day came in a PLO event. Negreanu described a massive pot involving multiple players, where the chip swing was enough to double the winner's stack and completely alter the championship race. Negreanu analyzed that in such hands, a player's hand reading and post-flop decisions often hang by a thread. While he did not reveal the specific hole cards or result, he used this hand as an example to emphasize the importance of "variance" in PLO—one correct bluff or call can rewrite the entire trajectory of the series.

Negreanu's Takeaways

At the end of the VLOG, Negreanu summarized that every day at the WSOP is full of uncertainty, and Day 22 was particularly memorable for him. He encouraged viewers to pay attention not only to the champion crowning moments but also to the seemingly small instances that can change everything. As of this writing, Negreanu himself has not yet won a bracelet in the 2026 WSOP, but his VLOG continues to offer fans a behind-the-scenes look at tournament action.